4-H Achievement Day

National 4-H Week, to be held October 5-11, 2025, is a week that will rally, inspire, and connect 6 million 4-H’ers, 3,500 educators, 500,000 volunteers, and 35 million alumni! Events in every county and state celebrating and amplifying the 4-H mission: preparing youth to be Beyond Ready for life and career.

Monday, October 6, 2025 - BEYOND READY: GO GREEN

On Monday of National 4-H Week, Go Green and show your 4-H state spirit! A simple way for youth, professionals, volunteers, alumni & supporters across the country to celebrate their 4-H program being Beyond Ready. Wear a green hat, clothing, face paint - anything green goes. Lets paint the nation GREEN on Monday, October 6!

Share your Go Green moment on social and tag National 4-H, your State 4-H program, and use #4HBeyondReady#National 4HWeek.

Thursday, October 9, 2025 - BEYOND READY: 4-H FOR GOOD

Join the 4-H for Good Challenge, starting October 9 through November 21, 2025!
- Do something good in your community, big or small! Big or small, every act counts! Help out, give back, or simply show someone you care.
- Snap a photo or video of your good deed or share a short story about what you did.
- Post it on social media using the hashtag #4HForGood and tag @4H and your local 4-H account.
- Challenge 4 friends to join by tagging them in your post and inviting them to do something good too!
Share on social, tag others in your 4-H community, tag National 4-H and use #4HBeyondReady #National4HWeek

We want to know how your 4-H experience started and how it’s going. Share a photo of yourself from early on and one of you today and a short description of how 4-H has made you Beyond Ready in your life and career.

Share your story at https://4-h.org/events/4-h-week/

More information about National 4-H Week can be found at https://4-h.org/events/4-h-week.

Throwback Photo Day

Do you have photos of family members that were 4-H members a while ago? Parents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, cousins? We would like to add some of these “vintage” photos to our slide show at the Achievement Party. The easiest way to get them to us is to put your photo in good light and use your phone to take a picture (1x) of the photo. Then it can be emailed to us at pam.doughty@unl.edu. Please identify who is in the photo and approximate year. These photos will be used only for the slide show, and will NOT be used on social media or the website.

Thank you for your help with this project!

Achievement Party

The 4-H Achievement Party is a time to recognize 4-H members and leaders, as well as volunteers. Members that have completed their 4-H stories will be recognized for membership of 1 year, 3 years, 6 years, 9 years, 10 years, 11 years, 12 years, and 13 years.
Leaders that have completed the screening prior to service will be recognized for leadership of 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, 25 years, 30 years, and 35 years.
Other presentations and recognitions include Camp Scholarships, Herdsmanship awards, and recognition for State contests and 2025 4-H Ambassadors.
Finally, the Friend(s) of 4-H award will be announced at the Achievement Party.

Activities

A fun service activity at the Achievement Party this will be putting Pumpkin Decorating kits together to give to Nursing Home Residents. Come and be part of something greater! All supplies provided. Junior Leaders and Ambassadors will be on hand to assist.

Ice cream social sponsored by the Boone County 4-H Council.

A slideshow of the 4-H members’ awards will run, followed by the end of the year slideshow with highlights from the 2025 4-H year.

Remember to pick up your 4-H Stories, County Fair Premiums, AKRS donations, Cornhusker photos, Hoodies, Banners, and Plaques.

4-H Council Election

Several 4-H Council members’ terms are expiring, and all will be running for a second term. These members are Jaclyn Frey, Mitch Koch, Nick Krohn, and Matt Schriver.

Two youth members will be elected to 1-year terms. If you are a 4-H youth and are interested in serving on the 4-H Council, contact the Extension Office by October 10.

Voting for 4-H Council members will take place from October 14 through the 17th at the Extension Office and will conclude at the Achievement Party on October 19. If you are a 4-H member aged 14 or older, or a 4-H parent, you are eligible to vote. Votes will be tallied and the results will be announced at the conclusion of the Achievement Party.
Thanks!

Many Thanks go out to the 4-H Party Planning Committee, Farm Credit Services of America, AKRS, Boone County 4-H Council, and all the 4-H volunteers and leaders. Also to Jessica of CPPD for presenting the purple ribbon winner photos. This event would not be possible without you!

Send Us Your 4-H Story

Your 4-H Story is a very important part of your 4-H record. When we receive your 4-H Story, the completed year will be added to your permanent 4-H record. In the future, when you are applying for scholarships or a job, we are willing to be a reference. We will refer to your permanent record to verify the number of years in 4-H and projects completed.

The 4-H Story is required to earn your 4-H member year recognition pins. The story can be submitted any time, but by October 15 to count toward this year’s awards. One story is sufficient to cover all the projects you took this year. It can be a paragraph, or up to two pages. Clover Kids may submit a picture showing what you enjoyed most about the 4-H program this year. Forms can be downloaded at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/boone-nance/ or are available at the Extension Office.

If you want to catch up on years that you missed, please call the Extension Office, and we will let you know the years that are missing, and what projects you had during those years.

4-H Online Closed Till October 15

The 2024-2025 4-H Online 2.0 database is closed until approximately October 15 for data cleanup and to roll over to the 2025-2026 year. After that time, you should be able to open the program at https://v2.4honline.com and enroll for the 2025-2026 year.

2026 4-H Ambassadors

The 4-H Council may select up to three individuals who best represent the Boone County 4-H Program. The ambassadors should be well spoken and carry themselves with poise, a sense of self-worth, and respect. They should be a leader who shows initiative and a sense of pride and commitment to promote and represent the Boone County 4-H Program.

To apply:
You must be 4-H age 14-18 by January of the current year and have completed a minimum of two years in 4-H not including the current year, and be currently enrolled.
You must complete an application and turn it in to the Extension 4-H Office by January 15, 2026.
Applicants will be interviewed on their 4-H experience by a panel of judges after applications have been reviewed. Applicants should be available for an interview at this time.
Applicants must supply two references with contact information (non-family member).

Expectations of Ambassadors are as follows:
Must be willing to represent 4-H throughout the year including participation in local community events and 4-H county activities (some activities outside your comfort zone).
Follow the 4-H Code of Conduct at all times.
Follow the dress code.
Ambassadors will be expected to carry out their duties as per contract with the 4-H Council.

To be selected as a Boone County 4-H Ambassador is both an honor and a responsibility. Some of the rewards are:
$500 Scholarship to college of choice
Recognition at County Fair Livestock Premium Sale and Achievement Day
Two 4-H polos to wear at events
Resume/scholarship building experience

Applications are available at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/boone-nance/boonenance-county-4-h/4-h-clubs-materials, at the Extension Office, or an application can be emailed to you upon request.

Nebraska 4-H Foundation Scholarships

The Nebraska 4-H Foundation offers a variety of scholarship opportunities for 4-H members each year. To apply for any of the scholarships offered this year, 4-H members must submit the Achievement Application by January 5.

The following requirements apply to all scholarships awarded by the Nebraska 4-H Foundation unless otherwise noted. Additional scholarship-specific eligibility requirements may apply. Please see Available Scholarships at https://www.ne4hfoundation.org/scholarships/ for more details.

Must be a current high school senior, graduating in Spring of the current year and attending college in the Fall of the current year or a current Freshman at an accredited university (see specific scholarship school regulations). ***Exception: Grand Island Horse Scholarship applicants may apply after their sophomore year in high school.
Must have completed one (1) year of 4-H and be current 4-H member unless otherwise stated in the scholarship-specific eligibility requirements.

Scholarships Available:

Donna Wampler Endowed Scholarship
Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply Scholarship
Women in STEM Scholarship
Rose and Guy Richard McDonald Scholarship
Kimberly Family Memorial Scholarship Fund *Keith County only*
Joe Citta, Jr. Scholarship for Outdoor Stewardship
Horse Scholarship — Grand Island Saddle Club
Horse Scholarship — R.B. Warren 4-H Horse Educational Scholarship
Horse Scholarship — Audrey Olsan Memorial Horse Scholarship

See website for more information about each scholarship.

More Opportunities

DIAMOND CLOVER
INDIVIDUAL AWARD

The Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover program encourages 4-H members to engage in a variety of projects and activities that will help them acquire life skills necessary to lead successful lives as a competent, caring, and contributing citizen. The program consists of six levels that require a 4-H member to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments.
More information at https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/awards-recognition/diamond-clover/

NEBRASKA 4-H GIVES BACK
INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP AWARD

The Nebraska 4-H Gives Back program is an opportunity for a Nebraska 4-H member or a team of 4-H’ers to make a meaningful contribution to their community. This award recognizes the impact that 4-H youth make in their communities and celebrates the spirit of service-learning, a pillar of the 4-H experience.
More information at https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/awards-recognition/ne4h-gives-back/

CLUBS OF EXCELLENCE
GROUP AWARD

The Nebraska 4-H Club of Excellence program is designed to recognize and celebrate 4-H Clubs for successfully encouraging and empowering members. Clubs must meet a certain set of criteria and document how this criterion was met. Clubs must apply annually.
More information at https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/awards-recognition/clubs-excellence

HANDS FOR LARGER SERVICE AWARD
GROUP AWARD

Nebraska 4-H Foundation’s Hands for Larger Service Awards, sponsored by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) is a prestigious award designed to recognize 4-H clubs for their efforts to serve their communities. More information at
https://www.ne4hfoundation.org/handsforlargerserviceaward/

NATIONAL 4-H CONGRESS
INDIVIDUAL AWARD

National 4-H Congress is an award program which provides recognition to 4-H youth for their outstanding performances and achievements in 4-H. Nebraska 4-H awards 15 delegates each year with partial scholarships, as well as additional alternates who may attend at their own expense. Delegates are selected using the Achievement Application.
More information at https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/awards-recognition/national-4-h-congress/

NATIONAL 4-H CONFERENCE
INDIVIDUAL AWARD

National 4-H Conference is the annual premiere national civic engagement opportunity for 4-H members across the country. Nebraska 4-H may send two delegates each year. Delegates are selected using the Achievement Application and interviews. More information at https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/awards-recognition/national-4-h-conference/

NATIONAL 4-H YOUTH IN ACTION AWARDS
INDIVIDUAL AWARD

The 4-H Youth in Action program recognizes four confident young leaders in the core pillar areas: agriculture, civic engagement, healthy living, and STEM. Each pillar winner will experience an exciting year of telling their 4-H story and celebrating their leadership. Each winner also receives a $5,000 scholarship. One pillar winner will be selected as the 4-H Youth In Action National Award Winner and will receive an additional scholarship.
More information at https://4-h.org/programs/4-h-youth-in-action-program/

For awards that require the Annual Achievement Application, it can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/awards-recognition/achievement-application/ and is due January 5.

2025 Nebraska Make It With Wool

Make It With Wool (MIWW) is an annual youth-centered sewing competition to promote the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics, yarns, and fibers. This year, the State Contest will be held November 22, 2025, at Lexington Middle School in Lexington, NE. A public style show will be at 1 p.m. CT.

The objectives are:

To promote the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics and yarn.
To encourage personal creativity in sewing, knitting, crocheting, spinning and weaving wool fabrics
To recognize creative skills.
To develop life skills, including:
Being responsible for oneself
Being a good sport
Accepting judge’s decisions
Learning about and appreciating diversity

Entry forms, fees, wool samples and wool testing fees are due October 15, 2025 to Andrea Nisley. The fabrics/yarns used for the wool contest must be 100% wool or wool blend (minimum 60% wool or specialty wool fiber) for each fashion fabric or yarn used. Specialty wool fibers include alpaca, angora, camel, cashmere, llama, mohair, and vicuna.

More information and entry forms are available at https://nebraskasheepandgoat.org/nebraska-make-it-with-wool/

4-H Council Minutes

LATEST 4-H NEWS

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Steve Pritchard - Extension Educator

Sonya Glup - Extension Associate

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