Wednesday What-Nots 7/29

See the full fairbook and schedule here: https://publisher1.etype.services/Nebraska-City-News-Press/e-paper-special-edition/9269D5DC66134875

9 - 11 am: Swine

11 am: Goats and Sheep

12 - 1 pm: Beef

4 - 6 pm: Poultry and Rabbit

5 - 6 pm: Horses

Participants be making pies in the Fair Center starting at 2 pm on Thursday. Thanks to our sponsors Adeline's Bakery, Never Board from Peru, and Farm Credit for their prize donations.

Join us for Static Awards on Thursday at 8 pm in the Kimmel. We'll reveal this year's static award winners and then head over to Exhibition Hall for a sneak peak at all the exhibits.

Kick off the Otoe County Fair with a 4-H family picnic followed by Water Balloon Warz and the Static Award ceremony (Kimmel). You don't want to miss the fun! Bring your lawn chairs and yard games and see your fair friends (both old and new).

4-H Picnic and Games at 6:00 PM

Location: Horse Arena

Alternate weather location: Kimmel Arena

Water Balloon Warz at 6:30 PM

Location: Horse Arena

Static Awards at 8:00 PM

Location: Kimmel Building

Otoe County Farm Bureau has donated discount meal coupons for all 4-H and FFA exhibitors. Stop by the office during our open hours (8:00 am - 4:30 pm through Friday, Saturday and Sunday TBD) to pick up your $3 off coupon!

Be sure to thank our generous 2026 4-H sponsors when you see them at fair. Our 4-H program and 4-H fair awards depend on donations like these. A big Thank You goes out to all our sponsors!

Hey neighbors! The county fair is just around the corner and we are preparing the Exploration Center to be a 4-H Common Room. This year, we are taking inspiration from "Once Upon a Fair" and focusing on 4-H projects with a literary and writing focus. We want to feature the incredible creativity of our community. If you or your kiddos have 4-H projects that fit the theme—or any standout educational exhibits—we would love to showcase them as inspiration. Tell us you can contribute at:

https://forms.gle/qTVGx5jqZGjDJxEY6

To keep it running smoothly, we could also use a little help from our friends. We are looking for volunteers to sign up for short shifts to stop in and help keep things tidy and welcoming. It’s a great way to be the hospitable heart of the fair. If you’d like to do so, sign up at:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4DAEA82EA5F4C61-64772616-4hexploration

Thanks and see you soon!

Attention Animal and Livestock Exhibitors: Reminder to wear this year's dark gray show shirt for all livestock shows.

The 2026 Otoe County Fair Show Shirts are now available for pickup! Thanks to our sponsors, these shirts are free for exhibitors and registered volunteers. These are the required shirts for competing in livestock and contests at this year's fair.

Be on the lookout for any Fairbook Corrections on this page!

Here is the current list of 2026 Fairbook corrections:

• Archery contest: Sunday, July 12 at 3:00 pm
• Air Rifle Contest: Sunday, July 19 at 2:00 pm
• BB Gun Contest: Sunday, July 19 at 3:30 pm and 4:45 pm
• Dog Contest: Sunday, July 19 at 1:00 pm
• Companion Animal: Rule #5 exhibit 1 animal per class. Rule #6 1 entry per class
• Horse Ranch Riding: Class 002 - 8 to 13 years old
• Horse Costume Contest now in Showorks
• Fashion Show: Rule #2 max of 4 entries
• Fashion Show entry deadline is July 15th, and required paperwork is available here: https://uofnebraska.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/UNL-Otoe/IgANIowYkWsGRJQZvxa9fuS8AZdPSl_9yuCzepE7jWznzNw?e=AggtZe
• Disaster Response, Preparedness, and Safety (p46): Classes 1, 2, 5, and 6 are missing from the fairbook. Please visit:

  https://4h.unl.edu/4-h-fairbook-nebraska-state-fair/static-exhibits/disaster-response-preparedness-and-safety/ for full details on these classes

Once livestock are checked in at the Otoe County fairgrounds, they must stay until the 9:00am Monday release. Any livestock that leave early will forfeit their premium. Please refer to the general 4-H rules and regulations in the fairbook for more details.

All registered BEEF & SWINE animals planning to be entered in PUREBRED BREEDING and MARKET classes must present their registration papers at county fair check-in.

Registered BREEDING SHEEP planning to compete in a PUREBRED BREEDING class must also present their registration papers at county fair check-in.

If registration papers cannot be presented, the animal will still be eligible to show, but only in a crossbred or commercial class.

Orders can be placed online at https://go.unl.edu/2026nsf4htshirts and are due August 10, 2026

4-H static exhibitor families are able to order discount passes directly from the Nebraska State Fair! Orders can be placed now until 11:59pm CT on August 27, 2026, and can be placed using the following link and password:

https://go.unl.edu/2026nsfstaticexhibitorpasses

Password: 20264h

Entries are open for Nebraska State Fair Livestock and Contest entries. See https://www.statefair.org/livestock-exhibitors/4-h-ffa-exhibitors/ for details and a link to the entry page.

The Otoe County Achievement Application will go digital for Fall 2026!

We will utilize the state's achievement application as our base application. https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/awards-recognition/achievement-application/ And then we'll use our own digital form to collect the applications for county judging.

In addition, there have been a few changes to our county-level categories and awards. Highlights include:

i. Clover Dollar awards have been discontinued. To attend camps related to their project area of interest, 4-H members are encouraged to utilize the 4-H Foundation's camp scholarship awards program. https://otoe4hfoundation.org/camp-scholarships/

ii. Community Service Awards will now award a first ($75) and second ($50) place entry in each age division.

iii. All other awards will increase their amounts given to winners, for a total of $50 per award, with the exception of Outstanding 4-H Member Awards ($50, $75, and $100).

Check out all changes via the NEW digital Achievement Application submission form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/UFwFv4NaUS

i. We're still working on a detailed list of the awards and their criteria. We appreciate your patience as we work to get these details out as soon as we can. Please reach out with questions.

Tracy Ensor, 4-H Youth Development Associate Extension Educator, tensor2@unl.edu

Ben Jewell, Rural Prosperity Nebraska Associate Extension Educator, bmcshane-jewell2@unl.edu

Nathan Roth, 4-H Extension Assistant, nroth14@unl.edu

Megan Anderson, Office Manager, manderson230@unl.edu

Emily Van Meter, 4-H Summer Intern

Website: www.otoe.unl.edu

Location: 620 1st Street, Syracuse, NE, USA
Phone: (402) 269-2301
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nebraska-Extension-in-Otoe-County