Seward County 4-H Newsletter

May 5: Outdoor Education Day

May 25: Memorial Day - Office Closed

May 27-29: PASE

Contact the Extension Office at 402-643-2981 with any questions on how to join 4-H!

All 4-H members and volunteers need to enroll in 4-H annually. The deadline is June 15th, but we encourage enrolling early. Enroll in 4-H today at v2.4honline.com

This event featured youth participants showcasing their talents in areas such as public speaking, presentations, and performing arts. Participants had the opportunity to build confidence, communication skills, and creativity while receiving constructive feedback from judges.

Congratulations to all of our Seward County participants!

Seward County 4-H'ers participated in the 2026 Horse Stampede. The 4‑H Horse Stampede, held annually on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln East Campus, provides 4‑H members an opportunity to showcase and demonstrate their equine knowledge through a variety of 4‑H horse contests that do not require live horses, including public speaking, demonstrations, quiz bowl, horse judging, hippology, art and photography contests.

Representing Seward County was a Senior Horse Judging Team, Katelyn Crook, Corey Payne, Kennedy Meinberg, and Wyatt Arnold and a Senior Horse Bowl Team, Isabella Edinger, Corey Payne, Wyatt Arnold, and Joann Oborny. Seward County’s Katelyn Crook also participated in a Senior Horse Bowl Team with Lancaster and Saunders County. Arabella Pulec also participated with her artwork and photography exhibits.

Congratulations to our Seward County Horse Stampede participants!

Mark Your Calendars:
Wednesday, May 27 – Friday, May 29, 2026

More details will be shared in the coming weeks, but we wanted to make sure this exciting opportunity is on your annual 4-H calendar.

Let us know as soon as possible if your club will be changing organizational leaders so we can update our address lists. Thank you to all of the 4-H club leaders who do the important work of positive youth development.

Meeting Minutes

4-H club meeting minutes are needed for each organized meeting your 4-H club holds. Thank you to those clubs who have been turning them in after each meeting. If your club has not turned them in yet, please do so before the end of the year.

Parents and educators of youth in grades K-12 can explore May’s featured activities on CLOVER by 4-H, where youth learn about the important role pollinators – like bees, butterflies, bats, ants, and hummingbirds – play in helping plants grow and ecosystems thrive. These fun, hands-on activities are perfect for homes, classrooms, clubs, or afterschool programs. Help youth discover how these small creatures make a big difference.

Explore the May CLOVER by 4-H Spark Start activities:

http://go.unl.edu/monthly-clover-activities

Spring is a wonderful time to explore the 4‑H Gardening project! CLOVER by 4‑H offers a variety of fun, hands‑on gardening activities that are perfect for clubs and families to do together at home. These activities encourage youth to learn where food comes from, build life skills, and enjoy the outdoors.

Check out the Gardening at Home activities here:

https://4-h.org/clover/activities/gardening-at-home/

To help you get started, the Extension Office has a limited supply of seeds available, generously sponsored by Tractor Supply. Stop by and grow something great this season!

Reminders are so helpful! Seward County 4-H has many events and deadlines throughout the year. Use the following link to see what is happening from now until the end of the year.

https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/seward/

We are looking for youth leaders who would like to help make both 4‑H Summer Maker Days and the Junior Leaders Day Camp a success! This is a great opportunity for older youth to build leadership skills, help younger members learn, and give back to their 4‑H program.

We are excited to share an updated summer opportunity for your youth!

This year, Clover Colleges are receiving a fresh new look, and a new name: 4‑H Maker Days!

While the name has changed, the goal remains the same: to provide hands‑on, engaging learning experiences that spark creativity and build practical skills.

This year’s format focuses on afternoon sessions, each centered around key 4‑H program areas such as home design, STEM, and other creative project spaces. Youth will leave each session with take‑home projects and ideas they can use for county fair exhibits, making this a great way to jump‑start their summer learning and fair preparation.

More details on session topics, times, and registration will be shared soon. We’re looking forward to a fun, skill‑building summer and hope your youth will join us for this new 4‑H Summer Maker Days experience!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Give your child a fun-filled Nebraska adventure at the Jr. Leader 4‑H Day Camp on Tuesday, June 10th (9:00 AM–12:00 PM) at Harvest Hall! Kids will explore what makes Nebraska special by learning about farm life and the crops and livestock that shape our state, discovering fossils inspired by the famous Ashfall Fossil Beds, churning butter, and creating crafts featuring Nebraska birds and wildflowers. This hands-on morning celebrates Nebraska agriculture, history, and natural resources in a fun and engaging way!

.22 Silhouette: June 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

• Deadline: June 2nd
• Time: Normal practice time
• Where: Isaak Walton

Shotgun Tournament: July 12th

• Deadline: July 5th
• Time: 8:00 am
• Where: Isaak Walton
• Awards Banquet and Potluck to follow, more details to come

• 4-H t-shirts will be a direct order from Middle Creek Printing.
• Online store opening TBD
• Each exhibitor will receive one free shirt and will use the 4-H link.
• Families and friends may order and pay for a shirt using the Family and Friends link

Exhibitor t-shirts are provided free by the Seward County 4-H Foundation. A thank you may be sent to: Nebraska Extension Seward County, % Seward 4-H Foundation, 322 S 14th Street, Seward, NE 68434

Thank you, Seward County 4-H Foundation, for your support of Seward County 4-H youth!

Our 4-H Food Stand can't run without the help of our members and volunteers! Please consider donating a food item to reduce the costs and make this a great fundraiser for our program!

A Sign-Up Genius will be emailed out to all families in May, be on the lookout for it!

The proceeds of the 4-H Food Stand go towards our scholarship program and other educational programming throughout the year.

What we are asking for to keep the menu as consistent as possible:

Cinnamon Rolls - Can be homemade or store-bought
Baked Goods - Brownies, Cookies, or Bars that are individually packaged that would be worth a dollar.
Gatorade 20 oz bottles - Frost is most popular

Pop 16 oz bottles - Diet Dr. Pepper is the most popular and Diet Pepsi and Pepsi is least popular, so we'll need Diet Dr. Pepper, Dr. Pepper, Coke, Diet Coke, Root Beer, Sprite, Mt. Dew, a little bit of Pepsi and a little bit of Diet Pepsi.

seward.fairwire.com

Monday, June 15

5:00 p.m. Animal ID Sheets Due (beef, sheep, swine, dairy, meat goats, dairy goats)

11:59 p.m. 4-H Enrollment for the year is due. Sign up at v2.4honline.com

Wednesday, July 1

5:00 p.m. Bucket Calf, Beef Production & 4-H Partners record books due —Extension Office

5:00 p.m. Horsemanship level testing due —Extension Office

11:59 p.m. 4-H Entries Due in seward.fairwire.com (except Horticulture, Poultry, and Rabbits)

•Hard Copy to Extension Office (use drop-box in middle door)

•Online —seward.fairwire.com

Wednesday, July 8

Bucket Calf, Beef Production, & 4-H Partners interviews —Extension Office

Thursday, July 9

6:30 p.m. 4-H Static Superintendent Meeting —Extension Office

7:30 p.m. 4-H Livestock Superintendent Meeting —Extension Office

Sunday, July 12

9:00 a.m. Trap Shooting Contest –Izaak Walton Cabin

Wednesday, July 15

5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Family Packet Pick-up —4-H Center

6:00 p.m. Fair Clean-up Night (all buildings and grounds)

11:59 p.m. Horticulture/Floriculture, Poultry/Rabbits online pre-entry deadline for seward.fairwire.com

Saturday, July 18

9:00 a.m. Archery –Reunion Center

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Fashion Show Judging —TBA

7:00 p.m. Public Fashion Show —TBA

Monday, July 20

7:00 a.m. Day 1 of 4-H Horse Show – Horse check-in east side of arena

8:00 a.m. 4-H Horse Show: Halter, Showmanship, Walk-Trot, English Pleasure, English Equitation, Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, Ranch Rail Pleasure, Trail

5:00-8:00 p.m. Check-in all Static Exhibits (except decorated cakes) —4-H Center

5:00–8:00 p.m. Clover Kid Interview Judging

Tuesday, July 21

8:00 a.m. 4-H Static, Foods & Horticulture interviews, and judging –4-H Center

3:30 p.m. Day 2 of 4-H Horse Show – Horse check-in east side of arena

4:00 p.m. 4-H Horse Show: Dummy Roping, Ground Roping, Poles, Barrels, Keyhole, Flag Race

Wednesday, July 22

8:00 a.m. 4-H Dog Show –Reunion Center

10:00 a.m. Cake Decorating check-in and interview judging —4-H Center

1:30 p.m. 4-H Small Animal Show —4-H Center

2:30 p.m. 4-H Cat Show —4-H Center

6:00 p.m. All hogs in place, weigh-in, and breeding check-in

6:30 p.m. All sheep in place, weigh-in, and breeding check-in

7:00 p.m. All meat goats in place, weigh-in, and breeding check-in

8:00 p.m. All livestock, rabbit, poultry, and horses in place

Thursday, July 23

7:00 – 9:00 a.m. 4-H & FFA Exhibitor Breakfast —4-H Center

7:30 a.m. Market Beef Weigh-in —Livestock Center

8:00 a.m. Beef Check-in —at stalls (animal’s ears clean, and tattoos visible)

8:00 a.m. 4-H & FFA Rabbit Show —Small Animal Barn

9:00 a.m. 4-H & FFA Hog Show —Livestock Center

1:00 p.m. 4-H & FFA Dairy Goat Show —Livestock Center

2:30 p.m. 4-H & FFA Meat Goat Show —Livestock Center

Friday, July 24

8:00 a.m. 4-H Poultry Show —Small Animal Barn

9:00 a.m. 4-H & FFA Dairy Cattle Show —Livestock Center

2:00 p.m. 4-H & FFA Sheep Show —Livestock Center

5:00-7:00 p.m. 4-H Foundation Hamburger Feed —east side of 4-H Center

Saturday, July 25

8:15 a.m. 4-H & FFA Beef Production —Livestock Arena

8:30 a.m. 4-H & FFA Beef Show

1:30 p.m. 4-H Awards Program —4-H Center

3:00 p.m. Overall Showmanship Written Test —4-H Center (Fair Office)

4:00 p.m. Overall Showmanship Contest —Livestock Arena

Sunday, July 26

9:00 a.m. Livestock Judging Contest sponsored by Seward FFA (for all youth and adults) —Livestock Center

11:15 a.m. Clover Kid Pet Show —Ag Pavilion

12:00 p.m. Livestock Premium Auction –Livestock Center

Livestock Exhibits released following premium auction

2:00 – 3:30 p.m. 4-H Static Exhibits released

Nebraska 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.

1. No Record Book for Homegrown and/or County Bred and Fed Classes.

- Must complete the Verification Form and Animal ID sheet.

- Check the 2026 Fair book for complete rules (coming soon).

2. Market Lambs

- No weight limits.

- Will be divided into divisions following the weigh-in.

3. Hogs

- Exhibitors may enter up to a total of 6 hogs.

- No weight limit for market hogs. All market hogs will be weighed and separated into weight divisions of gilts and barrows.

4. Dairy Cattle

- Exhibitors may enter up to a total of 6 dairy animals.

5. Dairy Goat

- Any Dairy goat that does not meet the breed standard for a dairy goat or meet the fair book exhibit rules, will be shown in the Companion Goats Division Class 3 Other—Wethers and Does Only, in the Meat Goat Show.

County Fair: Animal I.D.'s due to the Extension Office June 15th.

NE State Fair I.D. Nominations and DNA Envelopes due June 15th.

Submit DNA to the Extension office, and submit nominations via Showstock Manager. Click this link for more information https://showstockmgr.com/

Info for the NE State Fair Livestock Identification and Nomination may be found here:

https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/state-fair/livestock-exhibitor/livestock-identification/

Reminder: Females may be nominated as breeding or market. Please submit only one DNA envelope for each animal nominated.

To exhibit at the NE State Fair, original registration papers must be presented at the time of check-in. NO PRINTED PAPER COPIES OR SCREENSHOTS ACCEPTED. Original registration papers or electronic documents presented using a tablet or smartphone will be accepted if pulled up from the respective breed website.

For the State Fair, registration papers must show one of the following:

• Name of exhibitor and/or a co-owner who is an immediate member of the exhibitor’s family and is listed with the online nomination in the official online database. Family farm or ranch names will not be accepted.

*Immediate family is defined as members of a household, including parents, brothers, sisters, and youth in the care of the head of the household.

Exhibitors who want to exhibit livestock at the Nebraska State Fair and Aksarben Stock Show will be required to submit two separate envelopes and online nominations.

Nebraska State Fair 4-H/FFA exhibits will use DNA envelopes provided by the Seward County Extension Office.

State Fair nominations submit here: https://showstockmgr.com/

Aksarben nominations and envelopes will go through this website: https://www.aksarbenstockshow.com/

Contact Cindy Wolverton for more information.

402-643-2981

cwolverton3@unl.edu

JUNE 1: Horse I.D., 2/3 year old affidavit, and completed Advanced Horsemanship Level submitted to the Extension office.

Entries here: https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/horse-program/horse-expo/show-entry/

New: Ranch Riding is now a Level 2 required class.

The 2026 Seward County Fair will be held from July 23-26

The Seward County Fairgrounds website can be viewed at this link https://www.sewardcountyfairgrounds.com/

Ann Dobesh - ann.dobesh@unl.edu

Emily Manning - emily.manning@unl.edu

Jacie Pelikan - jpelikan3@unl.edu

Cindy Wolverton - cwolverton3@unl.edu

Jill Payne - jpayne15@unl.edu

Lori Hamling - lhamling2@unl.edu

Julie Roebke - jroebke2@unl.edu

Email: seward-county@unl.edu

Website: https://seward.unl.edu

Location: 322 South 14th, Seward, NE

Phone: 402-643-2981

See additional information on our Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/ExtensionSewardCo

Nebraska 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. Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.