August

Thank you each and every one to all the 4-H’ers, parents, leaders, and volunteers who helped to make the 2026 Boone County Fair a great success! We hope you had fun, made some new friends, and learned some new skills during the past year in 4-H. The Extension staff in the Boone and Nance County offices appreciate all your time, talent, and dedication to the 4-H program. We couldn’t do it without YOU!

CALENDAR

4-H Story

Your 4-H story is a very important part of your 4-H record each year. By completing this story, you have successfully completed your 4-H project year. The 4-H Story is required to earn your 4-H member year recognition. Stories are due at the Extension Office by September 22. Forms can be downloaded at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/boone-nance/boonenance-county-4-h/4-h-clubs-materials/

Share Your Nebraska 4-H Fairtime Photo

Every 4-H fair experience is a chance for youth to put their skills into action. Whether volunteering, exhibiting, showing, or leading, 4-H’ers are demonstrating the confidence, responsibility, and real-world skills at the fair that prepare them to be Beyond ready for work and for life.

Upload ONE favorite photo of yourself, or a favorite 4-H’er, participating in a fair experience that shows those real-world skills in action, or share a favorite fair experience in the guestbook at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hfairseasonphotos. A statewide fair 4-H photo gallery will be created to share during the Nebraska State Fair, celebrating how the impact of the Nebraska 4-H program goes beyond the ribbon, reaching youth in every county across the state.

2027 Boone County Calf Roundup

New project for 2027! 4-H and FFA members age 9 to 18 as of January 1, 2026, are eligible to sign up for the Boone County Calf Roundup. Calves will be sourced from one herd, or purchased at the Salebarn from a single group of steers. Steers will be eligible to compete in Showmanship and Rate of Gain. Must sign up by October 1 and put down a $500 deposit payable to the Boone County 4-H Council. Application and more details can be downloaded at Boone County Calf Round Up application fillable.pdf or stop in at the Extension Office.

Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification & Update

Instructor certification workshop will be offered at Central City August 15 & 16. During this two-day training, volunteers will have the opportunity to become certified as an adult (21 years and older) or apprentice (14-20 years old) leader in one of the following: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol, or Archery.

Instructor update session in Central City on August 15. This Update Session is for adult or apprentice 4-H volunteer instructors who have previously attended a 4-H instructor training workshop in 2020. This is an update for existing instructors, NOT a training for new instructors. More information can be found on the program calendar.

Click Logo for detailed information and links for 4-H at the Nebraska State Fair:

Schedules for Static Exhibits, Fashion Show, Contests, Livestock, and Show Programs

Livestock Exhibitor resources

Dog Exhibitor resources

Contest participant resources

Static Exhibitor resources

Professional photos from Legacy Livestock Imaging.
Livestreams of the 4‑H Livestock shows, as well as the 4‑H Final Drive

Also, download the Nebraska Extension mobile app for easy access to show programs, contest schedules, results, and more!

4-H Day at the Fair

Nebraska 4‑H will host 4‑H Day at the Nebraska State Fair on Sunday, August 30, 2026, from 2-4 p.m. in Raising Nebraska. 4‑H members and their families, volunteers, alumni, and supporters, are invited to attend an afternoon of recognition, activities, and celebration. Guests can enjoy special interactive activities, visit the 4‑H photo booth, and receive complimentary UNL Dairy Store ice cream (while supplies last).

A recognition program will begin at 3 p.m., honoring outstanding Nebraska 4‑H volunteers for their dedication to youth development and recognizing members of the Nebraska 4‑H Leadership Academy.

Discounted Nebraska State Fair gate passes for August 30 are available for purchase in advance. The special offer includes half-price gate admission for teens and adults (service fee applies; limit two tickets per purchase). https://go.unl.edu/2026nsf4hdaypasses

Nebraska State Fair Ticket Options

The Nebraska State Fair also has ticket options available to the general public. You can share the following link with any 4-H families and stakeholders who are planning to go to the fair: https://www.statefair.org/buy-tickets for additional details.

State Fair Livestock Entry Deadlines

AUGUST 10, 8:00 PM – STATE FAIR ENTRIES DUE IN SHOWORKS

https://nebr.fairwire.com/ (Opens July 1) For 4-H & FFA Livestock, Dog Show, Poultry. These entries must be completed by the exhibitor/family by the deadline. There are no provisions for late entries.

Step-by-step livestock entry instructions can be found at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JKS0eC8hmDkWGp0vQpH8WuXoUpPBNj0-/edit

For animal entry limits and entry fees, please go to https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/boone-nance/

State Fair Contest and Static Exhibit Entry Deadlines

AUGUST 10, 8:00 PM – STATE FAIR ENTRIES DUE IN SHOWORKS

https://nebr.fairwire.com/ (Opens July 1) For 4-H In-Person Events (contests, fashion show, robotics showcase, Culinary Challenge). These entries must be completed by the exhibitor/family by the deadline. There is no grace period.

Fashion Show is considered a CONTEST and will be held Saturday, August 29, 2025, Raising Nebraska, State Fairgrounds - Grand Island, Nebraska.

Other available contests at the Nebraska State Fair are the Dog Skillathon on September 6; and Identification contests on August 30: Horticulture Judging Contest, Insect Identification Contest, Tree Identification Contest, and Weed and Grass Identification Contest. Entry must be made for all contests at https://nebr.fairwire.com/ by 8:00 pm on August 10.

4-H Static Exhibits: Please bring items to the Extension office by 4:30 pm on August 19.
4-H Horticulture and Food Entries: Please inform Extension office what items you are bringing by 4:30 pm on August 19.

Bring the actual Horticulture and Food items to the office by 10:00 am Tuesday, August 25. All items will be transported to the Nebraska State Fair on Tuesday, August 25.

Premier Science Award

4‑H members may apply for the Premier Science Award for ONE static exhibit which was selected for state fair from any department.
Application form: go.unl.edu/NSFPremierScienceApp
Applications need to include a photograph of the exhibit.
No need to enter in Showorks!
Applications are due by noon on Friday, August 21st.
Participants compete for a cash prize sponsored b y the Nebraska 4-H Foundation.

For more details, go to https://4h.unl.edu/4-h-fairbook-nebraska-state-fair/contests/premier-science-award

State Fair T-Shirts

NEW for 2025! 4-H families have the opportunity to purchase 4-H exhibitor shirts. Livestock exhibitor families may want to purchase an additional shirt, and 4-H static exhibitors may also be interested in purchasing a shirt!

Orders can be placed online at https://go.unl.edu/2026nsf4htshirts and are due August 10, 2026. No on-site purchase of shirts will be available. Only pick-up of pre-ordered shirts will be available.

4-H Council Minutes

LATEST 4-H NEWS

THE NEBRASKA STATE FAIR RUNS FROM AUGUST 28 TO SEPTEMBER 7, 2026

Click photo for a link to the Nebraska State Fair website.

UNTIL NEXT MONTH!

Steve Pritchard - Extension Educator

Sonya Glup - Extension Associate