Saunders County 4-H Update

SAVE THE DATES:

January 30th - Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort Registration DUE

January 31 - Winter Maker Day- WE HAVE ROOM FOR A FEW MORE KIDS. FIRST COME FIRST SERVED.

February 2 - BB Gun & Air Rifle Certification Class

February 9 - BB Gun & Air Rifle Certification Class

February 15 - Special Garden Project seed orders due

February 15th- Market Beef Weigh in- 2-3 PM Wahoo Livestock Sales.

February 16 - BB Gun & Air Rifle Certification Class

February 19- 4-H Club Leader Training

February 23 - BB Gun & Air Rifle Certification Class

March 1- 4-H Council Senior Scholarship Applications Due.

March 2 - BB Gun & Air Rifle Practice

March 7 - UNL Chick Days

March 9 - BB Gun & Air Rifle Practice

March 16 - BB Gun & Air Rifle Practice

March 19- 4-H 101- for new and prospective families or anyone wanting to learn more.

March 23 - BB Gun & Air Rifle Practice

March 30 - BB Gun & Air Rifle Practice

April 6- Saunders County 4-H Communications Contest

May 27-29- Premier Animal Science Events- UNL East Campus.

June TBD- Summer Workshop Series

June 1 - State Horse Show Entries and ID's Due

June 4- YQCA In person training

June 15 - 4-H Enrollment Deadline/YQCA/Animal ID's/State Fair Nominations DUE

June 16 & 17- State 4-H Premier Communications Contest- UNL East Campus

July 1 - Saunders County Fair Online Pre-Entries for Animals and Contests DUE

July 16- Fashion Show Judging - More information to come

July 22- Favorite Foods Contest - More information to come

July 19 - Saunders County Fair Static Online Pre-Entries DUE

sign up to participate in certifications here: https://forms.gle/X8ZjjFZWW1nuQXsv9

Join us to create winter themed crafts and fair projects

Saturday January 31st 10 am- 3 pm

Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Education Center

1071 County Road G

Ithaca, NE 68033

We have supplies available for a few more youth! If you would still like to attend please sign up. First come first serve.

• Open House Style- Come & Go As It Works for Your Schedule
• Do All or Some Based On Your Own Interest
• Soup Luncheon Provided
• Adult Attendance Required with kids 10 years & Younger
• Adults Welcome to attend with kids 11 years & Older
• $40 per Youth-Payment Due at Check-in Day Of Workshop
• Registration Deadline January 16th
• REGISTER HERE: https://go.unl.edu/26makerday

4-H Online Enrollment Site: https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in

Saunders County Enrollment Information: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/saunders/4-h/4-h-enrollment/

• NEW DNA/animal nomination process for State Fair and Aksarben.
• Exhibitors that want to show an animal for the Nebraska State Fair and Aksarben Stock Show (AKSS) will be required to submit two separate envelopes and online nominations. The nomination process for Nebraska State Fair 4-H/FFA will remain the same.
• AKSS exhibitors will order and purchase their DNA envelopes through the AKSS website at https://www.aksarbenstockshow.com/. The DNA process and online nomination process will be separate for each livestock show.
• Important: Please throw away any old DNA envelopes from previous years, as they will not be accepted. Updated envelopes will be distributed in 2026 and will be valid only for the Nebraska State Fair (NSF).

Congratulations to Maddie Spreeman earning Reserve Champion in Horse Public Speaking at the National Western Roundup 4-H horse contests in Denver over the weekend!

Reserve your Seeds Here: https://go.unl.edu/sc2026specialgardenproject

Orders Due 2/15/26

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.

To order packets of seeds complete this google form: https://forms.gle/a8n8zEJ8i29AkPzJ9

Please have your order placed prior to March 13th.

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

UNL Chick Days is a great opportunity to learn more about your poultry projects from area experts! See flyer for full list of opportunities.

If any Saunders County youth are interested in participating in Quiz Bowl, reach out to Cole so we can set up teams and practices. Cmeador2@nebraska.edu.

We keep a running list of progress shows and clinics for Small Animals (Rabbits, Poultry, Cat, Dog, Pocket Pets), Horse, Large Livestock (Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goat) as well as other clinics of interest. Check them out by clicking the button above.

Clubs and Independent members can apply for a grant to support projects and activities.

Thank you to our 2025 4-H Council Sponsors! Funds raised support the Saunders County 4-H Fair, leader trainings and certifications, Saunders county 4-H members competing at state contests and events, Saunders county contests, scholarships and so much more!

New volunteer resources and information are available for club leaders, parents, and other 4-H volunteers. Visit for more information: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/saunders/leader-clubs/

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.

The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made in advance to the Saunders County Extension Office.

As an EO/AA employer, qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.

Email: Saunders-county@unl.edu
Website: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/saunders/4h/
Location: Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC)

1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE, United States
Phone: (402) 624-8030
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaundersCountyExtension4h

Instagram: https://instagram.com/saunders_county_extension_4H

Office Hours 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday- Friday