Richardson County 4-H Forecast

Weigh-ins will be held February 21 from 9:00 to 11:00 am at the County Fairgrounds in Humboldt.

If you're interested in competing in the market beef rate-of-gain contest for the 2026 4-H FFA Junior Fair, this weigh in is required. Only animals weighed in by Extension staff on this date will be eligible for entry into the 2026 Market Beef Rate-of-Gain class.

If there is bad weather on February 21st, we will be doing the weigh-in on February 28th, same time and location. Watch our Facebook and the Remind app for weather cancellations.

It's never too early to start preparing for your 2026 County and State Fair livestock entries!

We have the 2026 Richardson County 4-H ear tags available in the Extension Office, both the county fair versions and the EID tags required for the State Fair.

If you are planning on showing at the Nebraska State Fair with market, feeder, or breeding beef cattle, market or breeding sheep, market or breeding swine, or market or breeding meat goats, you are required to submit a DNA envelope for each animal. The envelopes are available in the Richardson County Extension Office.

You will need to enter the animals into the nomination website at www.showstockmgr.com and the Extension Office will need to receive the envelopes with hairs by June 15th.

Formerly known as our take and make kits, 4-H Project Discovery Kits are a kit containing a fun, hands-on project that can be completed at your own pace and are eligible to be entered in the county fair.

Our first kit of the new year is a Beaded Bracelet Stack. The kit makes three bracelets with inspirational words. All supplies will be provided with only scissors needed from home. Register by January 21st and the kits will be ready to pick up the week of January 28th. Register at this link: go.unl.edu/jandiscoverykit

Keep a look out on our Facebook page and our newsletters for new kits throughout the year!

We are planning our 2026 Projectshops, workshops where our Clover Kids and Regular 4-H members can complete a project that they can enter into the county fair.

We're kicking them off on February 2nd with a step-stool project for our 8-18 year old youth. For the Clover Kids (age 5-7), we have wooden porcupine and robot keychain projects. Register by January 21st at go.unl.edu/rcfebworkshop

Future dates are: March 6, May 27, June 2, June 11, June 18, June 24, July 1, & July 9.

• Enroll at 4HOnline.com
• During enrollment on 4HOnline, you will be required to select at least one project but are not required to select all projects you will be participating in for the 2025-2026 4-H year.
• If you are participating in the Shooting Sports or Horse projects, you are required to enroll in those projects online since there are forms that are required to be filled out for those projects.
• Our adult leader volunteers are also required to enroll, if you don't have a current screening, the website will let you know if it's required this year and give instructions on how to complete the required screening.
• See the file below for a quick refresher on how to re-enroll for the new year.

Congratulations to our three winners of their choice of sweatshirt from shop4-H.org!

Bradyn Metzner

Gwen Seeba

Owyn Eickhoff

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to enroll in 4-H before the start of 2026!

We are looking to collect some of your 4-H stories to share in February during National 4-H Month.

Send us in your favorite 4-H photo with a couple sentences about your experiences!

It can be as simple as your favorite event, a contest, a memory at junior fair, your favorite project, a project you learned the most from, or anything discovered during your time in 4-H, we want to hear about it all!

Alumni, we want to hear from you too!

Email your photo and story to richardson-county@unl.edu

This project is open to all youth of 4-H age (8-18) and gives the opportunity to learn about growing, harvesting, and exhibiting this unique flower. The Special Garden Project lets 4-H members try their hand at growing unusual vegetables, flowers, and herbs. The project also allows experienced 4-H gardeners to grow something fun, new, and different while letting those new to gardening get their feet wet in this project area.

The focus of the 2026 project is the Alumia Vanilla Cream marigold. This marigold produces creamy, yellow flowers on compact plants. This variety not only has a unique color, but it also has a very long bloom time.

4-H members participating in the Special Garden Project will:

• Receive a ‘packet’ of Alumia Vanilla Cream marigolds (one packet per youth) in March/April
• Receive a newsletter about:
• Planting & growing marigolds
• Marigold problems & insects
• Harvesting & using marigolds
• Be able to exhibit this unique flower at County and State Fair
• State Fair Special Garden Project Educational Exhibit Class G-775-001
• State Fair Special Garden Project Fresh Cut Flowers or Harvested Vegetables & Herbs Class G-775-002
• Other fun county-only ways to exhibit this unique flower are with a story, poem, or poster.
• Complete an evaluation about their growing experience

Contact us at the office to participate in the Special Garden Project for this 4-H year!

The Above & Beyond Award is awarded to youth who have completed their Above & Beyond point sheet and have reached the threshold of the Above Award recognition or the Beyond Award recognition. This program was designed to enable youth to be recognized for providing outstanding contributions to the 4‑H program in Richardson County.

Above & Beyond Points will come from events attended from January 1 through December 31 and will be awarded at the Junior Fair Awards Program the following July.

Applications are due January 15.

We are excited to offer the Diamond Clover Program as an incentive to 4‑H'ers that are actively involved in their clubs and in their community. The Nebraska 4‑H Diamond Clover Program is designed to encourage 4‑H youth to engage in a variety of projects and activities that will enable members to acquire the life skills necessary to lead successful lives as competent, caring and contributing citizens. The program's overall goal is to provide 4‑H members a rich and diverse learning experience.

The form for this award represents all activities during the previous 4-H year, October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025. Awards are presented at the Junior Fair Awards Program the following July.

Applications are due January 15 and can be found here.

Nebraska 4-H policy requires all 4-H clubs to submit a Year End Treasurer’s Report to account for the dollars raised and spent in the name of 4-H. The county also has a second page to the document for an Annual Club Inventory Report.

Inventory items may include, but are not limited to, physical items such as computers, robots, shooting sports equipment, etc. These reports are due to the Extension Office on or before January 15th and will be kept in your club’s file as support to the e-postcard we file with the IRS on your club’s behalf. You will need to fill out the report even if you have a zero balance for the year.

Community club leaders should be receiving their forms in the mail within the next week.

You can find more information about this by visiting https://4h.unl.edu/4-h-policy-procedures-handbook/section-12-financial-management/.

With our 2026 calendar of events now available, it's time to plan your upcoming 4-H year!

All dates are subject to change, some dates for statewide events are not published yet and based on last year's dates.

We will hopefully have our calendar updated on our website early in 2026.

2026 4-H Horse Stampede will be held on Saturday, April 25 & Sunday, April 26 at the UNL Animal Science Complex in Lincoln.

The 4-H Horse Stampede will have events and contests for youth ages 8-18 to showcase participant's knowledge and talents as they relate to horses.

For more detailed information, please visit https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/horse-program/horse-stampede/

A Farrowed and Owned Breeding and Market Swine division for youth interested in learning more about the swine industry is available for youth statewide in 2026! The Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Swine Cohort is designed to enhance the traditional 4-H swine project and cultivate the next generation of leaders in the swine industry by providing opportunities focusing on swine production as a goal of the 4-H member's project, along with accurate and complete record-keeping, industry knowledge, and engagement by the 4-H member. In order to participate, youth must be 4-H age 8-18 as of January 1, 2026, complete YQCA, farrowed their project animal(s) and participate in monthly virtual educational meetings.

Youth participating in the Farrowed and Owned Cohort will:

• Network with 4-H members across the state who are also participating in the cohort experience.
• Participate in learning opportunities hosted by Extension Swine Specialist Benny Mote about biosecurity, meat science, economics of raising swine and more.
• The cohort will meet virtually the first Sunday of the month at 7:00 p.m. CT, the months of February, March, April, May and June.
• Gain knowledge related to their project and the swine industry as a whole.
• Maintain records related to swine management and basic care.
• Exhibit their Farrowed and Owned project animals at a 2026 Nebraska county fair or the Nebraska State Fair.
• All cohort members will participate in an interview at the 2026 Nebraska State Fair.
• Exhibiting your animal at the Nebraska State Fair is not a requirement for the record book and interview portion of the cohort. Join the first session in February for more details!
• NEW for 2026: virtual tour of the UNL swine teaching facility will be a featured topic!

For more information or to register please go here.

Explore the world of artificial intelligence with the new Google x CLOVER by 4-H AI Activities, now available for FREE to educators, families, and youth nationwide, no account set-up needed. These hands-on experiences introduce young people to how AI is shaping agriculture🌾, technology🖥, and everyday life👩‍💻. Designed to spark curiosity and creativity, the activities help learners understand how AI works and why it matters. From building innovative farm tools to solving real-world problems, youth can turn ideas into action. Start exploring FREE AI learning today on CLOVER by 4-H, supported by Google.

🍀Access FREE Google x CLOVER AI Activities now - https://4-h.org/clover/activities/google-ai/

WHO: Activities are designed for youth in grades 5-12.

WHAT: 6 interactive activities (approx. 15 minutes each).

WHERE: Available anytime, anywhere on CLOVER by 4-H.

HOW: Free access using the link above, no account set-up needed.

📣 Announcing the Heartland Triple Crown Livestock Judging Series!

Get ready for an unforgettable three-day livestock judging experience! The Heartland Triple Crown Livestock Judging Series is coming June 17–19, 2026, bringing together youth from across the region for competition, learning, and celebration as the Great Plains Judging Circuit wraps up its season. This three-day event is open to all states.

Participants will take part in 10 placing classes, enjoy a clinic, and compete for awards in each age division and species. With events hosted in Columbus, Bladen, and Nelson, Nebraska, each day offers something unique—plus fun evening activities, including a BBQ after-party and a final banquet and awards ceremony.

Whether you're a seasoned judge or new to the arena, this is the perfect opportunity to sharpen your skills, meet fellow competitors, and close out the circuit in style.

📅 June 17–19, 2026
📍 Columbus • Bladen • Nelson, Nebraska
🔗 Registration details available at: https://go.unl.edu/lj26

Join us for three exciting days of livestock evaluation, learning, and community. We can’t wait to see you there! More details to come for each day.

January 15

• Above and Beyond Award Application Due
• Diamond Clover Award Applications Due
• Club Treasurer's Reports Due

January 19

• Office Closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day

January 30

• Registration Deadline for 4-H Volunteer Training

FEBRUARY

• Nebraska 4-H Month

February 2

• Projectshop

February 11

• 4-H Volunteer Training - Session 1

February 16

• Office Closed for President's Day

February 21

• Market Beef Weigh-in; 9-11am; Humboldt

February 25

• 4-H Volunteer Training - Session 2

February 28

• Bad Weather Date for Market Beef Weigh-Ins