4-H Newsletter

September 7 - Labor Day, Office Closed

September 9 - Pick up State Fair exhibits at the Extension Office

September 20 - Jr. Leader Meeting @ 4:00 p.m.

September 24-27 - Aksarben Stock Show

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October 1 - 4-H Achievement Application, all County Award Applications, and Clover Kid Record Books due

October 1 - Diamond Clover Reports due

October - Be looking for the Senior Scholarship information!

Congratulations on another great County Fair! Thank you to everyone who shared their time and talents at the fair this year! From the 4-H'ers who worked hard to get their exhibits ready, to the family members who supported them, to the many volunteers who gave countless hours of their time - we are very grateful. We look forward to planning for 2027!

Congratulations to all Seward County 4-H'ers who participated in or had exhibits selected for the 2026 Nebraska State Fair!

Congratulations to our 2026 Herdsmanship winners!

Beef: River Bottom Shamrocks

Market Goat: The Green Team

Horse: Middle Creek Mavericks

Sheep: Twin Valley Livestock

Dairy Goat: Staplehurst Livestock

Dairy Cattle: Dawn to Dusk

Swine: Next Generation

Congratulations to the exhibitors of the Jeff Vollstedt Memorial Overall Showman competition sponsored by the Arlen & Suzy Vollstedt family and Circle G Livestock!

Winners of the Senior showmanship in sheep, meat goats, dairy goats, dairy, beef, and hogs competed for this award. These exhibitors completed a written exam and showed each species. We are pleased to share the verified placings and congratulate these exhibitors on their accomplishments: Champion - Kathryn Naber, Reserve Champion - Kyle Riley, 3rd Place - Ayla Salistean, 4th Place - Kylie Hackbart, 5th Place - Leah Payne, 6th Place - Kyler Heidtbrink.

We appreciate all exhibitors for their hard work, dedication, and outstanding sportsmanship throughout the competition.

Exciting news! A new STEM group is forming now to bring circuits, electronics, basic coding, robotics and drones to our Seward County 4-H'ers. This club will also participate in field trips throughout the year and bring in experts to teach lessons and help build projects for the 2027 fair.

The first meeting will be held Thursday, September 10th. Location and time TBD. For more information, please contact Andrew Uden at 308-325-9677. This group is limited to the first 20 participants.

If you won a trophy, medal or award at the 2026 Seward County Fair, it is not too late to write your thank-you note to your award sponsor. While the task may seem small, your note makes a difference. The county fair would not be possible without the support from all of our sponsors. Be sure to include a little about you, your project, your award and what you learned.

For providing a t-shirt for all 4-H members participating in the County Fair. We appreciate your support!

Did you know that you earn premiums for the projects exhibited at the county fair? Thank you to Seward County Agricultural Society for providing these premiums. You can now stop by the Extension Office to pick up your county fair premium checks.

4-H Enrollment for 2026 will re-open toward the end of October.

https://4h.unl.edu/resources/enrollment/

Watch for more information in the October newsletter.

Due October 1st

Start working on it today!

To be eligible for 4-H County/State awards and Scholarships, the Achievement Application must be submitted.

• Achievement Application

Due October 1st

Are you working on a Diamond Clover level this year? Don't forget that Diamond Clover Reports are due October 1.

• Members participating in Diamond Clover submitted a goal sheet in April.
• The report is used to document activities completed and reflect on what was learned throughout the year.
• Members who successfully complete a Diamond Clover level receive a Diamond Clover Pin and a special prize.
• Diamond Clover members will be recognized at the Seward County 4-H Achievement Party in November.
• Diamond Clover Reports are due October 1.

Be sure to submit your report and receive recognition for your hard work and accomplishments!

Haven't Participated in Diamond Clover Before? The Diamond Clover Program encourages members to explore new experiences, develop life skills, and set personal goals. If you didn't participate this year, watch for information next spring. Members begin each level by submitting a goal sheet and then complete activities throughout the year to work toward their Diamond Clover achievement.

https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/awards-recognition/diamond-clover/

Due October 1st

• Tim Sheehan Memorial Award (outstanding livestock exhibitor)
• Bev Waegli Memorial Award (outstanding FCS exhibitor)
• Chris Clover Award (4-H involvement point based award)
• Outstanding 4-H Club

Click this link https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/seward/4-h/all-other-4-h-resources/ and scroll until you see the Award and Scholarship Resources heading at the bottom of the page.

Due October 1st

Due October 1st

Clover Kids...we LOVE hearing about your 4-H experiences. Please use this link to tell us about your projects. Clover Kid Record Book due to the Extension Office by October 1st. Click on the link below to locate the Clover Kid Record Book.

Livestock judging will be held monthly on every 2nd and 3rd Monday at either the Extension Office or Seward Memorial Library. Contact Andrew Uden for a start date and more information at 308-325-9677.

The Agricultural Literacy Festival provide an opportunity for youth to take a close-up look at agriculture. This one-day field trip at the Seward County Fairgrounds features interactive stations to help students gain a greater understanding of agriculture and how it impacts their daily lives.

Twenty--five decorated cakes were entered in this year's County Fair! If you want to continue to sharpen your skills, Shop 4-H offers a free digital download.

https://shop4-h.org/collections/curriculum-collection/products/4-h-cake-decorating

Please note that this item is a digital download. Each unit purchased will provide you with one (1) copy of this digital curriculum. After ordering, a link to download all files will be emailed to the address associated with your account within one business day after the order has been processed. You will not receive a print copy.

This manual helps you practice techniques and skills used to create beautiful, edible masterpieces! From piping techniques, to icing and cake recipes, find out how fondant, buttercream, pillars, and boards are involved in the process. Learn the supplies and tools of the trade to help decorate your bakes, and find helpful advice on leveling up both your cakes, and decorating skills.

The 4-H Cake Decorating manual contains goals, skills, and techniques broken into the project’s four levels all within this manual. These levels are:
Level 1: Beginning cake decorating—let’s begin.
Level 2: Intermediate cake decorating—flat surface flowers, roses, and layer cakes.
Level 3: Advanced cake decorating—stacked cakes, side decorations, lily nail flowers, and
more flowers.
Level 4: Master cake decorating—design your own.

As summer winds down and a new school year begins, August is a great time for youth to reflect on the importance of positive friendships and strong social skills.

This month’s Spark Start highlights the "Who Makes a Good Friend?" activity on CLOVER by 4-H, designed to help youth explore the qualities that make healthy and supportive friendships. Through this engaging activity, youth can learn about kindness, trust, communication, and respect while building important social and emotional skills.

Developing strong friendships helps young people gain confidence, practice empathy, and create meaningful connections with others. This activity is perfect for parents, educators, clubs, and afterschool programs looking to support youth development as they prepare for a successful school year.

Encourage youth to think about what it means to be a good friend and how they can strengthen the relationships in their lives.

Explore the August Spark Start activities on CLOVER by 4-H: http://go.unl.edu/monthly-clover-activities.

Thank you for helping youth build positive relationships and essential life skills through hands-on learning experiences.

More details at: http://go.unl.edu/monthly-clover-activities

Nominations Open for Seward County 4-H Council Ballot

The Seward County 4-H Council is now accepting nominations for youth and adult members to serve on the 2026-2027 Seward County 4-H Council. Serving on the Council is a great opportunity to help guide countywide 4-H programs and events, represent the interests of 4-H members and families, and develop leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.

Positions Open for Election

Adult Members

• District 1 Representative (two-year term)
• District 2 Representative (two-year term)
• At-Large Representative (one-year term)

Youth Members

• District 1 Representative (two-year term)
• District 4 Representative (two-year term)
• At-Large Representative (one-year term)

How to Nominate

Nominations are due October 1, 2026. Both youth and adults may be nominated by someone else or choose to self-nominate.

Council elections will be held during the Seward County 4-H Achievement Party on November 8, 2026.

For more information about serving on the Seward County 4-H Council, contact the Extension Office.

This information is intended for Seward County 4-H members graduating high school in 2027.

Seward County 4-H seniors graduating in 2027 are invited to apply for college scholarships through the Seward County 4-H Council and the Seward County 4-H Foundation. Together, these organizations award a significant amount of scholarships each year.

• Senior Scholarship Application (more info coming later) - Due January 5, 2027 with counselor’s signature verifying GPA.
• Interview - Applicants will meet with members of the 4-H Council and Foundation in late January or February to share how 4-H has shaped their growth.
• Enrollment- Students must be enrolled in Seward County 4-H for 2026-2027. Enrollment opens October 15.
• Must have submitted your Achievement Application on October 1st.

Make sure to apply. Annually $7,000 - $10,000 is awarded in total to graduating seniors who complete the application and interview process. Individual awards can range from $500 - $2,500 with all 4-H scholarships combined.

To help with this process, a Scholarship Work Day will be scheduled at the Extension Office. Seniors will have the chance to work on applications, receive feedback, and practice interview skills.

For more information or to schedule individual assistance, contact Ann Dobesh at the Seward County Extension Office.

Ann Dobesh - ann.dobesh@unl.edu

Jacie Pelikan - jpelikan3@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.