Seward County 4-H Newsletter

Ongoing: 2026-2027 4-H Enrollment is open

Nov. 8: Achievement Party

Nov. 11: Office Closed in observance of Veteran's Day

Nov. 26-27: Office Closed in observance of Thanksgiving

Dec. 6: Holiday Maker Day 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Dec. 25: Office Closed in observance of Christmas

Dec. 31: End of Year Treasurer Reports due

Dec. 31: Leader Changes & Club Meeting Minutes Due

Jan. 1: Office Closed in observance of New Year's

We still have County Fair Awards! Please stop by the Extension Office to pick up your awards and premium checks from county fair. If you earned a Champion, Reserve Champion, Outstanding, Grand/Reserve Grand or Supreme/Reserve Supreme honor, we have your awards waiting.

It is time to re-enroll in 4-H for 2027. All 4-H'ers and volunteers need to re-enroll each year. The fee will be $8.00 for each 4-H member and may be paid when you enroll online. If paying in person, checks will be made payable to UNL If you have difficulties with this fee (either paying online or affordability), please visit with Extension staff.

Early enrollment date – April 1 – We strongly encourage all 4-H families to enroll as soon as possible. Re-enrolling helps ensure that you are on our mailing list (both email and mailbox). New enrollments and changes to projects will be accepted up to June 15 for fair participation.

Click here to start enrolling today!

Following are a few reminders:

• Project selection is now optional. By successfully completing the 4-H member enrollment by the June 15th deadline, youth will be eligible to participate and exhibit in any project area, contest, county, and state fairs. While project selection is optional, it is encouraged for youth to select projects they are interested in exploring.
  • Please note:
    • Youth are only eligible to exhibit in a project area or contest in a single county.
    • Horse and shooting sports projects will continue to require project enrollment due to the parental consent required to participate in these projects.

Please let us know if you have any questions or need help. You are welcome to set up a time to come to the office to enroll. We are here to help! Thank you!

All Seward County families are invited to attend the 2026 Achievement Day on Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. We will celebrate your year in 4-H with a dessert bar provided by the 4-H Council. Please call the Extension Office to RSVP for an afternoon of fun and celebration!

On October 17th, our Seward County Junior Leaders were busy serving at the Ronald McDonald House in Omaha. They cooked a meal for the families staying in the house and were able to interact with a couple of parents to hear their story. They also donated a large stash of pop tabs. If you have pop tabs that you would like to donate, drop them off at the Extension Office!

Our Junior Leaders got to celebrate their hard work at Spare Time Entertainment with Arcade games and an Escape room. They had a blast!

When: Saturday, December 5

Time: 9am-12pm

Where: 4-H Center, Seward County Fairgrounds

Registration required. Brochure will be mailed out soon! This event is open to all youth in Seward County (do not need to be enrolled in 4-H).

Could you spare an hour or two as a volunteer?

We welcome teens and adults:

• Lead a station – We will have everything ready, but need volunteers to lead each of the day’s activities
• Station Helpers – Assist the main maker station leader
• Serve Hot Cocoa
• Host the waffle iron cinnamon roll station
• Man the registration table

Please contact the Extension Office if you are interested in helping out!

• First place student will receive a $1,000 scholarship for four years. Second place student will receive $500 for four years. Students must apply online https://www.briggscattleco.com/the-briggs-ag-scholarship

1. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to two Seward County students entering Ag classes. Application due December 15, 2026. Application available at the Extension Office. *Mail to Mike Flyr - Jones Bank 203 South 6th St., Seward, NE 68434

1. One $1,000 scholarship to an Ag student. Application available at the Extension Office. * Mail to Mike Flyr - Jones Bank 203 South 6th St., Seward, NE 68434

1. Application due February 1st, 2027. Application available at the Extension Office.

Register here:

Clover Kid Discover Club Please Register your child below. Questions? 402-643-2981 – Fill out form

All Shooting Sports 4-H'ers need to enroll now in order to participate in practices and competitions.

As we reach the end of the 2026 4-H year, 4-H clubs will need to prepare a Year Ending 4-H Club Treasurer’s report. Even if your club does not have a treasury and does not have an EIN number, please complete the Year Ending 4-H Club Treasurer’s Report and submit it to the Extension Office. Extension staff will then forward the information to the IRS for the Form 990 or Form 990 EZ. This is important so that Seward County 4-H and the Nebraska 4-H Foundation can maintain their tax exempt status.

Link to our 4-H Resources page:

https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/seward/4-h/all-other-4-h-resources/

Let us know as soon as possible if your club will be changing organizational leaders so we can update our address lists. Thank you to all of the 4-H club leaders who do the important work of positive youth development.

4-H Club meeting minutes are needed for each organized meeting your 4-H club holds. Thank you to those clubs who have been turning them in after each meeting. If your club has not turned them in yet, please do so before the end of the year.

The Seward County 4-H Council will soon elect new representatives for the upcoming term! The 4-H Council plays an important role in raising funds for Seward County 4-H, setting and interpreting local policies, and providing direction for the 4-H program. All 4-H families are invited to vote during the 4-H Achievement Party on Sunday, November 8, 2026, 4-H Center, 2:00p.m.

We are still seeking candidates to serve on the Council. If you’re interested in adding your name to the ballot, please contact Ann Dobesh at ann.dobesh@unl.edu, or nominate yourself during open floor nominations at the Achievement Party.

Ann Dobesh - ann.dobesh@unl.edu

Jacie Pelikan - jpelikan3@unl.edu

Jill Payne - jpayne15@unl.edu

Lori Hamling - lori.hamling@unl.edu

Julie Roebke - jroebke2@unl.edu

Email: seward-county@unl.edu

Website: https://seward.unl.edu

Location: 322 South 14th, Seward, NE

Phone: 402-643-2981

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExtensionSewardCo

Nebraska Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.