4-H News in Keith/Arthur Counties

• 4-H Calendar
• National 4-H Week
• Go Green!
• 4-H For Good!
• Casey's and 4-H!
• Keith 4-H Achievement Banquet
• Keith 4-H Council Scholarship
• Arthur 4-H Achievement Banquet
• Achievement Application/Career Portfolios
• Diamond Clover
• Frequently Asked Post-Fair Questions
• 2025-2026 4-H Enrollment
• State 4-H Updates/Events
• Volunteer Road Show
• 4-H Discover Box Now Available

October 5-11: National 4-H Week!

October 6: Keith 4-H Council Meeting, Roads Department Conference Room, 5:30 pm

October 13: OFFICE CLOSED - Columbus Day

November 2: Keith 4-H Achievement Banquet, Fairgrounds, 2pm

November 9: Arthur 4-H Council Meeting, Arthur Vet Hall, 1:30 pm

November 9: Keith 4-H Achievement Banquet, Fairgrounds, 2pm

November 11: OFFICE CLOSED - Veteran's Day

Deadlines:

October 6: Achievement Applications or Career Portfolios and Diamond Clovers deadline

October 31: Keith 4-H Council Scholarship deadline

Let’s paint the nation green! 💚🍀 We will be kicking off #National4HWeek with a bold splash of Nebraska 4-H spirit. Whether it’s a green hat, shirt, face paint, or even green socks—show the world you’re #4HBeyondReady!

Let's shine a light on the good! Today, it's all about celebrating the impact Nebraska 4-H'ers are making in their communities - and the volunteers, leaders, and mentors helping us grow. From leading service projects to lending a helping hand, we are showing what it means to be #4HBeyondReady.

Share a shoutout of how you are making a difference on Facebook with us!

4-H youth are proving every day that small acts can spark big change. Join us in the #4HForGood Challenge inspired by Wicked: For Good!

• Do a good deed
• Share a pic of your Heart hands
• Post with #4HForGood + tag @4H and your local 4-H!

Challenge 4 friends to do the same

From October 1 – November 4, 2025, Casey’s and 4-H are joining forces to strengthen the communities they call home. Casey’s has more than 2,600 stores across 20 states in the Midwest and South. Support 4-H at Casey’s in two easy ways:

- October 1-10: Round up your in-store purchase to donate to 4-H

- October 1-November 4: add a donation to any order made online or in the Casey’s app

Every donation benefits local 4-H programs. Casey’s will match up to $150,000 of donations. Funds will be shared with land-grant universities in states where funds were raised.

The Keith County 4-H Council offers a scholarship for graduating seniors in 2026! The scholarship does require youth have completed the annual Achievement Application/Career Portfolios. The scholarship will be awarded at the Achievement Banquet.

The application is below. Please turn it to Tessa at the Extension Office. The scholarship deadline is October 31, 2025!

It is end of 4-H year reporting time! Keeping records/writing achievement applications is a great way to hold onto your memories about each incredible year you have in 4-H. In a couple of years, you can look through these applications and remember what fun you had. Keeping records is also a great way to develop your skills in communication, organize your time, document events and actions, evaluate your own efforts, set goals, etc.

*NOTE - The state is coming out with a new application on October 1. If youth ages 15-18 are interested in applying to National 4-H Conference, National 4-H Congress, or Scholarships - you will have to fill out the new application after our banquets. State level applications are due after November. For more information, check out this page: https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/awards-recognition/achievement-application/

Keith Curriculum Areas:

• Animal Science
• Communication & Expressive Arts
• Consumer & Family Sciences
• Environmental Education & Earth Sciences
• Healthy Lifestyles Education
• Leadership & Citizenship
• Plant Science
• Science & Technology

Arthur Curriculum Areas:

• Agriculture
• STEM
• Leadership & Entrepreneurship
• Healthy Living
• College & Career Preparation for My Future

Green folders for your portfolio are available at the Extension Office for $5 each. Finish your 4-H year in style, complete a Career Portfolio!

Deadline to submit Achievement Applications/Career Portfolios for both Keith & Arthur is October 6th!

Deadline to submit Diamond Clover is October 6. Forms are available on the Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover website. If you aren't sure what level your youth has passed, we can let you know!

The Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover program encourages 4-H youth to engage in a variety of programs, projects, and activities that will enable youth to acquire skills and abilities that will prepare them for success in the future. The program is designed to reach and recognize all youth engaged in 4-H, from club members and campers to school enrichment, afterschool, and special interest program participants. The program consists of six levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments.

Rules

• Youth may only receive recognition at each level once.
• Youth may only receive one level of recognition per year.
• Youth should begin at Level 1 and progress through Level 6. However, youth who are older when beginning may opt to start at a higher level (2-4) as is mutually agreeable to the participant and the parent/guardian or leader. In order for older youth to begin at level 5 or 6, the Extension staff must also be in agreement.
• Approval: Levels 1–4 require the approval of a 4-H youth’s parent/guardian. If the 4-H youth belongs to a 4-H club, club leader approval is also required (if 4-H youth belongs to more than one club, choose one leader to work with). Levels 5 and 6 require the approval of a local county extension staff member.
• Accomplishments: Each level requires participants to complete a specified number of accomplishments. The 4-H participant may choose accomplishment listed for each level. The accomplishments are age appropriate and increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. Parents/guardians, leaders, and Extension staff may suggest other accomplishments — comparable to those provided — to improve the individual learning experience of each 4-H youth.

"When will I receive my livestock sale check?"

Both Keith and Arthur have released livestock sale checks. Make sure you pick them up if you haven't. Arthur checks were handed out in Arthur.

"When will I receive my fair premium money?"

The Keith and Arthur County Ag. Society will provide the fair premiums. The money will be available later in the fall.

"When will my awards I won at the fair get here?"

Awards will be available later in the fall. Most of the plaques, trophies, etc will be available closer to the achievement banquet.

The current 4-H fiscal year will end on September 30, 2025 and the new 4-H Enrollment for the 2025-2026 4-H year will open around mid-October.

Please make sure to keep this on your radar and get enrolled in 4-H for the new year! Deadline for 4-H Enrollment will be June 15, 2026.

Nebraska 4-H is excited to bring the 4-H Volunteer Road Show to volunteers statewide this November! The Volunteer Road Show is a great opportunity to experience project training and new ideas to bring back to your 4-H community. All 4-H volunteers, parents/caregivers and any adult wanting to find THEIR spark while volunteering with 4-H is welcome!

The 4-H Volunteer Road Show will rotate host locations each year, get registered today at the location near you OR attend the virtual session! NEW for 2025: All registered participants will go in a drawing for a Shop 4-H digital gift card! Visit https://4h.unl.edu/volunteer-road-show for more specific information and registration link. Registration closes one week prior to each Road Show session. Registration is $15 per person and includes a meal and all supplies for in-person attendees. Registration for Virtual attendees is $10, they will receive a packet of supplies to use during the program.

Dates and Locations

Nov. 9 - Virtual - 3 pm to 6 pm MT

Nov. 11 - Arlington - 4:30 to 7 pm MT

Nov. 13 - Virtual - 4:30 to 6:30 pm MT

Nov. 17 - Central City - 4:30 to 7 pm MT

National 4-H is transitioning from the 4-H STEM Challenge, previously offered annually in October, to a new Discover Box by 4-H.

The Discover Box by 4-H provides youth with fun, hands-on activities to explore different topics using 4-H’s research-backed curricula. The Discover Box is curated with activities designed for youth in grades 3-5, and released quarterly in January, April, July, and October.

The latest Discover Box by 4-H release is Pathways to Success, where youth will explore careers and learning skills to be successful on any path. They will learn about interviews, develop important skills, discover career paths, and learn how to land their dream job!

To learn more about the various 4-H Discover Boxes being released, go to https://4-h.org/programs/4-h-discover-box, or view the 'Meet the Author' on-demand webinars at https://shop4-h.org/pages/meet-the-author-webinars.