Richardson County 4-H Forecast

2026 4-H FFA Junior Fair Schedule is now available!

Please take note that some days and times may have changed.

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.

Are you planning on showing in a livestock show during the Junior Fair or at the State Fair?

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is designed as an annual education and certification program focused on food safety, animal well-being and character awareness for youth ages 8 to 21 producing and/or showing pigs, beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, and poultry.

Every animal exhibitor is required to complete YQCA every year to complete in the Junior Fair and the State Fair. You can complete your certificate at any time, they will be due by June 15th.

Once complete, please forward a certificate to the Extension Office, we can take paper or electronic copies.

https://yqcaprogram.org/

• 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.

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 by March 2 to participate in the Special Garden Project for this 4-H year!

The Nebraska Extension Special Agronomy Project gives 4-H members an opportunity to experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska. Youth participate by receiving seed and resources to grow the crop, research traits of the crop and determine the viability of that crop in the part of the state they live in. The project allows 4-H members interested in agronomy to grow something fun, new, and different.

This year, we will be exploring a crop that can be marketed different ways depending on the variety.

In the sixth year of the special agronomy project, youth will explore TWO varieties of popcorn! The first is an heirloom variety that was discovered and developed by a farmer in eastern Nebraska, called Nebraska Red. The second is a commercial variety, Robust 997.

Be sure not to plant sweet corn in your garden with these to prevent cross pollination.

Be eligible to enter an exhibit at the County and/or State Fair in the agronomy project area.

Contact the office by March 2nd to order packets of seeds.

For project specifications and details, be sure to go to the Nebraska State Fairbook at https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/rules.

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.

Bomgaars & Sunglo are hosting a Virtual Show event for all 4-H, FFA, and Show families on Wednesday, February 25th at 6:30pm CST!

This virtual seminar will cover animal selection, feeding, nutrition, and showmanship tips for Beef Cattle, Sheep, Goats, and Pigs. All ages and experience levels are welcome to join the seminar.

To register go here

The 4-H Spring Rabbit Show will be held on Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m. at the Sandhills Global Event Center – South Hall. Open to all youth ages 8–18, with a Clover Kids class for youth ages 5–7. This is a great opportunity for youth to talk to other 4‑H’ers about where to purchase a good rabbit for a 4‑H project, and to learn and practice showmanship. Rabbit quiz and breed identification contests are free for youth to enter! The knowledge contests are also open to adults for a minimal fee! Show information with classes and registration fees is posted at https://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/rabbit-spring-show.

Sponsored by the Lancaster County 4‑H Rabbits VIPS Committee and Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County. If you have questions, contact Kate Pulec at kpulec3@unl.edu or 402‑441‑7180.

Here's an opportunity to get your animals in the show ring before the Junior Fair!

All shows will be held at the Adams County Fairgrounds, Hastings, NE

Saturday, May 30th: Beef Progress Show - Early Bird Registration deadline May 15th

Classes for Showmanship, Market Beef, and Breeding Beef

Saturday, June 20th: Sheep, Goat, Poultry and Rabbit Progress Shows, Saturday - Early Bird Registration deadline is June 10th.

Sheep and Goat classes for Showmanship and Market lamb/goat

Poultry and Rabbits will have showmanship and breeding classes

Visit here for more information

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/

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.

The Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is now accepting applications for a summer learning opportunity for high school students. The Raikes School is hosting its tenth year of “Innovate: The Raikes School Way,” led by Raikes School Faculty Members Dr. Steve Cooper and Dr. Seth Polsley. The summer camp was highlighted by Forbes in 2019 and continues to provide high-quality computer science education to interested students!

During the two-week, overnight camp students will:

• Develop core programming skills and learn innovation concepts through a project-oriented curriculum
• Receive instruction from Raikes School faculty members and experience what classes can be like in the Raikes School
• Visit campus research labs and local employer partners
• Interact with Raikes School students and staff, all of whom play a key role in the competitive selection process to our program each year

Key Details:

• Innovate: The Raikes School Way is a great opportunity for high school students, with priority given to students in the high school graduating class of 2027.
• The camp serves students with little to no experience in computing, as well as those looking to enhance their existing computer science skills.
• Students in the graduating class of 2028 will be accepted on a space-available basis.
• The camp will be held at the Kauffman Academic Residential Center, home of the Raikes School, in the heart of Nebraska's City Campus from July 19-August 1, 2026.
• The fee to participate is $3,000. Students attending a Nebraska high school will receive a $1,000 discount, lowering the cost to $2,000 for Nebraska high school students. The cost covers all housing, meals, instruction, and activities associated with the camp.
• Full and partial scholarships are available - students can apply for scholarships through the Summer Camp application.

Priority Application Deadline: April 1, 2026 - Students who submit their application by this priority date will be notified of admission & scholarship decisions by April 13, 2026.

Final Application Deadline: May 1, 2026 - Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after May 1 as space is available.

Interested students can find more details and complete the application at https://raikes.unl.edu/summer-camp/.

If you have any questions about the camp, please email me at tluensmann2@unl.edu.

FEBRUARY

• Nebraska 4-H Month

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

March 6

• Projectshop - Barn Quilts

March 11

• 4-H Volunteer Training - Session 3

March 14-15

• State Shooting Sports Contests - BB & Air Rifle

March 25

• 4-H Volunteer Training - Session 4