Hall County 4-H Newsletter

NEW – Hall County 4-H will be using GroupMe (in addition to email & social media) to communicate important 4-H news, events & deadlines to 4-H families. This will also be how Hall County Fair updates will be sent this year. Get information for Hall County 4-H right on your phone! Text messaging makes it more convenient for families to receive important information. Plus, it’s free and easy to use! (Note: We will no longer be using Remind, as it no longer supports text messages.)

Instructions to sign up for GroupMe:

• Please complete this google form for each phone number that you would like to receive text messages: go.unl.edu/4-hgroupme.
• Within a few days, you will receive a confirmation text message from an unknown number (GroupMe), “You’ve been added to the announcement group Hall County 4-H…”
• After receiving this message, you must reply #stay in order to stay in the group. You will be asked to download the GroupMe app, but YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DOWNLOAD THE APP. However, you MUST REPLY #stay.
• If you do not receive a message within a few days of completing the google form, check your spam folder in your text messages or call Crystal at the office.
• You can opt out of the group at any time by replying #exit.

Please call Crystal at 308-385-5088 for assistance.

Parents, we would appreciate your help in sending this survey link to your senior and have them complete it. This short survey will help us share the value of 4-H in our community. Those who complete the survey will receive a token of appreciation. Thank you!

4-H Senior Survey: go.unl.edu/seniorsurvey

Exciting news! A few thoughtful tweaks have been made to the 4-H show schedule for the 2026 Hall County Fair. Thank you to our superintendents for carefully reviewing the survey feedback and evaluating schedule suggestions with great care and precision. A big thank-you as well to the 4-H Council and fair board for taking the steps needed to approve these updates. And finally, thank you to our 4-H families for taking the time to share your thoughts—your feedback was invaluable! We were thrilled to hear that, overall, families feel the 4-H Fair schedule is of purple ribbon quality.

Based on that input, the following schedule adjustments will be made for the 2026 Hall County Fair:

Thursday

• 4-H Dog Show will begin at 8:30 a.m. (check-in at 8:00 a.m.)
• 4-H/Open Class Poultry Show will begin at 9:00 a.m.
• 4-H/Open Class Swine Show will be held at 2:00 p.m.
• Great news is that this will open the arena earlier for livestock youth to practice!

Friday

• 4-H Goat Show will begin at 10:00 a.m., following the Sheep Show.

Sunday

• Round Robin will begin at 11 a.m.

We appreciate everyone’s collaboration and look forward to another great fair year! As a reminder the Hall County Fair is July 22-26, we hope to see you there!

• 4-H Enrollment must be completed in 4-H Online by June 15 to be eligible to participate at the 2026 Hall County Fair. However, since Fair entry forms will be sent out ahead of this date, we ask that you DO NOT WAIT to enroll until the deadline, as you may miss important emails with Fair deadlines & entry information.
• County Fair entry forms were EMAILED to families on May 26 (please check for these in your inbox) and can be found on our website: extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/hall-county-4-h/hall-county-fair/.
• ALL EXHIBITS must be pre-entered on the appropriate entry form (this includes Clover Kids). Entry forms are due to the Extension Office by June 24 at 5 pm (no later).
• Please note that additional required documentation for animals (animal ID forms, vaccinations, quality assurance) are due to the Extension Office by June 15.

The 4-H Bicycle Road-E-O was held May 27th at the Extension office. During the Bike Road-E-O, 4-H’ers rode through an obstacle course where they had the opportunity to practice bike safety while using their bicycle skills, followed by a written test to check their bicycle knowledge. Awards were sponsored by Inspire Chiropractic, LLC and Inland Truck Parts. The following awards were given:

Senior Division:

• Ada White - Champion, Purple
• Genesis White - Reserve, Purple
• Asher White - Purple

Intermediate Division:

• Daniella Hoggatt - Champion, Purple

• Eli Blender - Champion, Purple
• Emma Allan - Reserve, Purple
• Ridley Hatt - Purple
• Byron Hoggatt - Purple

Clover Kid Participants:

• Noah Blender
• Harris Campbell
• Kazden Hatt
• Bernadette Hoggatt
• Broderick Huelsnitz

A big thanks to Heartland United Way and Farm Credit!

Hall County 4-H recently received two generous grants to help expand educational opportunities with its 4-H Classroom Kits program. Funding included a $1,000 grant from United Way and a $1,240 grant from Farm Credit Services of America. This spring, over 4,800 students participated in 4-H Classroom Kit activities! Hall County 4-H appreciates the continued support of these community partners!

Horticulture exhibitors- save your seed packets! To exhibit in this area, you must know your varieties and cultivars. This information must come in with your flowers and vegetables on entry day. Need information on exhibiting flowers/vegetables/ herbs/fruit items?

Check out these resources when preparing entries for the fair:

At fair time, you will often read or hear office staff talking about STATIC exhibits. A static exhibit is any exhibit that isn’t alive (doesn’t breathe and/or walk). They are stationary. We are usually referring to exhibits in the exhibit hall: posters, home design exhibits like wall hangings, food, flowers, child development exhibits, woodworking, Summer Activity exhibits, and more! (Animals are not static exhibits.)

The 2026 Hall County 4-H Fair Book contains 4-H project class descriptions, premiums & much more. Listed below is a summary of new classes & other changes.

Division Changes for 2026:

• Heirloom Treasures & Family Keepsakes is now called Home Antique Restoration
• Safety is now called Disaster Response, Preparedness & Safety

NEW Classes for 2026:

• Photography: B181-070 (Level 2) Black & White Photography Display or Print; B182-070 (Level 3) Black & White Photography Print; B181-080 (Level 2) Creative and Experimental Photography Exhibit Print; B182-080 (Level 3) Creative and Experimental Photography Exhibit Print
• Shooting Sports Static: D347-010 Shooting Sports Educational Exhibit or Display
• Disaster Response, Preparedness and Safety: E440-007 Disaster Preparedness Learning Experience; E440-008 Care Package Display; E440-009 Telling a Story Display
• NEW DIVISION: Low-Cost, No-Cost Projects (Hall County only, must check out kits from the Extension Office) – Classes: Lego Kits, SNAP Circuit Kits, Makey Makey Kits

Classes Removed in 2026:

• Forestry: D320-012 Sustainable Landscape Diorama
• Geospatial: H880-006 4-H History Map

Other:

• Consistent language across departments for submitting multi-media exhibits: Multi-media presentations and exhibits are to be uploaded to a video streaming application and 4-H member must provide a hard-copy QR code for viewing. 4-H members are encouraged to test their codes or link on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing.

Please review ALL AREAS of the 2026 Fair Book that pertain to your projects. You may download the 2026 Hall County 4-H Fair Book or you may pick up a paper copy at the Extension Office. If you have any questions or cannot find where your project “fits,” call 308-385-5088 or email Crystal at cbeissenherz2@unl.edu. We are here to help!

Accommodation requests for registration or attendance may be directed to Joyce Krolikowski at least two weeks prior to the program at joyce.krolikowski@unl.edu or 308-385-5088. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.

The Nebraska 4-H Online Horticulture Judging Contest provides youth an opportunity to test their knowledge of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants. The contest is open to all youth, as well as adults. Youth do not need to be enrolled 4-H members to participate. The contest will be available June 9-23, 2026. Go to 4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/online-horticulture-judging-contest/ for more information about the contest.

• Who: Any youth interested in sewing, ages 5-18.
• When: Saturday, June 13, 2026
• Where: Hall County Extension meeting room
• What Time: 1:00-4:00 pm
• Project: Your choice of sewing project
  

Club Leaders: Annette Schimmer and Barb Hovie

• Annette 308-379-7191 | netterz95@gmail.com
• Barb 308-379-5208 | barbarahovie@gmail.com

PLEASE contact Annette or Barb if you plan to attend, or if you have questions. A list of supplies needed will be sent via email before the meeting.

Wednesday, July 8, 7:30 pm

College Park Theater, Grand Island, NE

Brian Gallagher serves as an Account Executive/Sports Director for GI Family Radio. A familiar and trusted voice across central Nebraska, Brian is celebrating his 46th year in broadcasting in the Grand Island area! Throughout his career, he has broadcast nearly 2,500 games, logging well over half a million miles while bringing local sports and community stories to listeners throughout the region. Beyond the microphone, Brian is widely known for his dedication to the community and his enthusiastic support of local youth, schools, and organizations, and building lasting connections with generations of families. He is a proud grandfather of two and an avid golfer — even willing to give up his golf night for the 4-H Fashion Show!

Jessica Hendricks has served as Executive Director of Hall County Leadership Unlimited since 2016 and is passionate about helping others grow through leadership development. She believes that when individuals are equipped to lead, communities thrive! A Certified Community Leadership Practitioner, she is actively involved in the Association of Leadership Programs and serves on its national board. Jessica holds a degree in Political Science from Doane College and is an active member of the Grand Island community and enjoys volunteering whenever she can. Jessica was recently recognized with the 2026 Inspire Community Partner Award and is a proud mom of Wyatt and Evelynn!

We’re thrilled that Jessica and Brian have teamed up with 4-H to host this year’s Fashion Show!

This year’s show is shaping up to be a special event you won’t want to miss. Don’t forget—the show is open to the public, so invite your family and friends. We’ll see you on July 8! Questions? Contact D’Ette at the Extension Office.

We’re excited to offer a new twist on this year’s giveaway. Instead of one large prize, we’ll have a variety of prizes to give away to 4-H’ers - kits, tools, and more! Prizes are made possible through a generous donation, in memory of Nancy Schmerdtmann, former Extension Educator in the Hall County Extension Office.

How to enter: Simply submit your clothing entry form. Easy peasy! Each item you register (construction and modeling) earns one entry into the drawing – so the more entries you have, the more chances to win (7 entries = 7 chances!). You must be present to win. Good luck and happy creating – we can’t wait to see your 2026 clothing projects!

All wrapped up into one BIG day is Clothing Judging Day and the 4-H Fashion Show! It's all happening on Wednesday, July 8th. Get ready for an exciting day, full of action - it's one of our biggest contests/events in Hall County 4-H. With this big event comes a lot of details! If you’re new to this day or need a refresher, please take some time to read through the following newsletter in preparation for the big day. We’ve merged all the information about clothing pre-registration, Clothing Judging Day and the 4-H Fashion Show into one spot for families; go to: go.unl.edu/2026-4-h-clothing. If you have more questions, please give D’Ette a call at the Extension Office!

Join us for a Modeling 101 Workshop to help 4-H’ers prepare to shine on stage at the 4-H Fashion Show! Mark your calendars for Monday, July 6th, from 1- 2 pm at the Extension Office. A huge thank you to Lisa Allan and her girls, for leading this exciting session!

At the workshop, you’ll practice your runway walk in the judging room and on the College Park stage, plus pick up expert tips to feel confident on judging day. Pro tip: Bring the shoes you plan to wear for modeling. No fee to attend – just call us at 308-385-5088 to register. Questions? Reach out to D’Ette. We can’t wait to see you at the modeling workshop and the 4-H Fashion Show!

Did you know that you can participate with "purchased" garments in the 4-H Fashion Show? The Shopping in Style project offers 4-Her’s ages 8 and up the opportunity to purchase an outfit and model it.

If you purchased a new outfit for your vacation, a summer graduation, wedding, or concert, you're ready for the fashion show! You can also participate in the Shopping in Style project with an outfit purchased from a garage sale or resale shop (one of our biggest categories at the fashion show)! See below for more information about the $15 Shopping in Style challenge and call D’Ette if you have questions!

Consider participating in the Fashion Show with an outfit costing no more than $15!

$15 Challenge Information:

• Open to any 4-H member!
• Outfit may be selected and purchased from a garage sale, thrift store, consignment store or resale shop (such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.), or a great bargain at the mall!
• Cost of outfit must be $15 or less, not including shoes, accessories or undergarments.
• Consider why outfit is needed and how it fills a void in your wardrobe.
• Take into account the fit, quality and care of the garment(s).
• Model the outfit on Clothing Judging Day and at the public Fashion Show that evening.

Families – please be sure to check in with the clothing superintendents when you arrive for Clothing Judging Day on July 8th. They’ll help you map out a smooth and successful morning!

Construction judging starts at 9:00 am, and we encourage all participants to arrive by then. To help us complete construction judging before noon, we’d love to have more items judged on construction earlier in the morning. If your modeling time is scheduled for mid-morning or later, please stop by for construction judging before modeling. And good news…we’ve expanded our judging team to keep things moving quickly!

The dates are set for 4-H Archery, BB Gun, 22 Rifle and Shotgun practices/competitions. (Dates & times are subject to change.) Youth who participate in practices and competitions must be enrolled in 4-H Online BEFORE practicing and competing in a 4-H Shooting Sports event. *Minimum age for Archery & BB Gun is 4-H age 8. Minimum age for 22 Rifle and Shotgun is 4-H age 11 (Hunter's Safety Certification REQUIRED).

Please review the Hall County Fair Book - Shooting Sports section/rules and the 2026 Hall County 4-H Shooting Sports Schedule, located here: extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/hall-county-4-h/4-h-contests-events/. Contact the Hall County Extension Office at 308-385-5088 with questions.

4-H Shooting Sports Information, Statewide Competitions

Go to 4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/shooting-sports-program/ for more information about the Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports program & to view the calendar of upcoming statewide shooting sports competitions!

GroupMe is the new platform that we are using to communicate important 4-H news, events & deadlines to 4-H families, including during the Hall County Fair. Direct links to Fair Programs and Livestock Auction sign-up links will be sent through GroupMe messages ONLY. Scroll up to Announcements for details on how to sign up for GroupMe text messages.

Quality Assurance Training is REQUIRED for all youth (4-H age 8-18) planning to show beef, swine, sheep, goats, bucket calves, dairy, poultry & rabbits at County and/or State Fair. Clover Kids are not required to take the course. Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is the platform that is used by Nebraska 4-H and can be found here: yqcaprogram.org.

YQCA training can be taken online or in a face-to-face instructor-led training.

There will be NO more face-to-face trainings in Hall County this year.

YQCA Web-Based Training:

• YQCA Web-Based Training Help Document
• Help Video: YQCA Web-Based Training
• The charge to complete YQCA online is $12, to be paid online when taking the course.

All registration questions with YQCA should be directed to help@yqcaprogram.org. Once QA is completed, download/print the certificate & turn in (or email) to the Extension office by JUNE 15th, in order to be eligible to show at the Hall County Fair and/or Nebraska State Fair.

One of the most common animal id questions that comes up every year is “How do I read/record swine ear notches?”. Ear notching is a traditional method of identification in which pigs are identified based on their birth order within a given farrowing. It is a permanent form of identification and used when completing the Animal Affidavits (ID’s).

If you fall in the “How do I” category, please take a moment to read the linked information. We also have an easy-to-read diagram that is available on our Hall County Extension website, extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/hall-county-4-h/hall-county-fair/ or at the office.

Happy fair season! Proper Way to Ear Notch Pigs

New this year - Swine ear tags will now be available for pickup at the Extension Office before the Hall County Fair. If you’d like to tag your pigs ahead of livestock check-in, just give us a call and we will have the tags ready for you to pick up. Don’t forget—Animal ID paperwork is still due June 15. If you’d rather tag your pigs at the fair, that option will still be available during swine check-in.

We’re trying a few new changes with this year’s swine show! The show will now begin at 2:00 pm (Thursday, July 23) in the Five Points Bank Arena. We’ll kick things off with the Open Class Show, followed by Breeding Gilts, Market Gilts, Market Barrows, Bred & Fed, and Supreme Overall Market Swine. We’ll wrap up the day with Showmanship (Clover Kids, Senior, Intermediate, Junior).

Just a reminder for our livestock families to check out the 2026 Hall County 4‑H Fair Book. Be sure to note updates regarding Herdsmanship, County Fair schedule changes, and Hall County Fair rules. Also be sure to complete the text messaging form, all found toward the beginning of this month’s newsletter.

The theme for the 2026 Hall County Fair Stall Decorating for clubs and families is “Show Your Patriotism". In honor of our country’s 250th birthday, we invite you to show off your 4-H pride and creativity by decorating your club or family area. This has been lots of fun in past years!

Hall County 4-H'ers who plan to show livestock at the Hall County Fair - Don't forget to turn in your animal ID sheets and Quality Assurance! Both of these are due to the Extension Office by June 15. Go to extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/hall-county-4-h/hall-county-fair/ to download the ID sheets and find out more information about Quality Assurance.

Nebraska State Fair livestock exhibitors - Please read the attached document listing State Fair identification/nomination requirements and clarifications for methods of ID.

Questions? Please call the Extension Office BEFORE the June 15th identification/nomination deadline!

NEW: Exhibitors who want to show an animal for the Nebraska State Fair and the Aksarben Stock Show (AKSS) will be required to submit two separate DNA envelopes and online nominations. AKSS exhibitors will be ordering and purchasing their DNA envelopes through the AKSS website https://www.aksarbenstockshow.com/. The DNA process and online nomination process will be separated between each livestock show.

Aksarben DNA Orders - https://www.aksarbenstockshow.com/p/livestock-show/dna-orders

Questions on Aksarben Stock Show rules or regulations can be answered by calling 308-382-1620 or email aksarben@statefair.org.

Rabbit Affidavits (Identification form with ear tattoo) are due to the Extension Office by June 15. Animal Affidavits can be found here: extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/hall-county-4-h/hall-county-fair/.

4-H members enrolled in the Bucket Calf project have a record book to complete! The record book counts for 25% of your total points at the Hall County Fair, so be sure to turn it in to the Extension staff when your calf is entered onto the fairgrounds. Bucket Calves also need paper copies of the ID sheets turned in by June 15. *Please note that the bucket calf show is considered showmanship for the calves and their exhibitors.

Bucket Calf Classes:

• Clover Kid—5-7 years (4-H age) (record book not required)
• Junior—8-10 years (4-H age)
• Intermediate—11-13 years (4-H age)
• Senior—14 years and older (4-H age)
• Second Year Bucket Calf - 9-18 years (4-H age)

Bucket calf ID forms and record books can be found at extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/hall-county-4-h/hall-county-fair/.

Club Pen, Exhibitor Pen, and Group classes provide 4-Hers an opportunity to showcase a group of animals rather than a single individual animal. The object of these classes is to highlight the consistency, quality, and management of an entire animal project.

A Club Pen consists of animals exhibited by members of the same 4-H club.

• Beef: Club Pen of 5
• Sheep: Club Pen of 5

An Exhibitor Pen or Group consists of animals owned and exhibited by a single 4-H exhibitor.

• Sheep: Exhibitor Pen of 3
• Swine: Exhibitor Pen of 3
• Meat Goats: Exhibitor Group of 2
• Poultry: Production Trio

These classes are a great way for members to demonstrate the work they have put into their project throughout the year. Rather than selecting one standout animal, 4-Hers are challenged to raise a group of animals that are similar in quality, condition, size, and type. This takes planning, good management, and a strong understanding of their project area. Club Pen classes also encourage members to work together and showcase the quality of animals being raised within their club. It is a fun way to build club pride and celebrate the efforts of multiple members.

Sale cards are available to pick up at the Extension Office. These are great for youth to distribute to potential auction supporters ahead of the Fair!

This additional opportunity for enrolled livestock project youth, is designed to promote all educational aspects of 4-H livestock projects including selection, production, leadership, and exhibition by recognizing youth striving to improve in their livestock project knowledge and leadership. The program recognizes Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas including: beef, sheep, meat goat, swine, dairy cattle, dairy goat, rabbit, and poultry.

Applications are due June 15, but why wait? Visit https://go.unl.edu/lap to get started.

The Great Plains Livestock Judging Circuit is a lineup of contests held throughout the state giving youth the opportunity to perfect their skills in preparation for the Nebraska 4-H Premier Animal Science Event (PASE). Qualifying youth must attend a minimum of two contests in addition to the PASE livestock judging contest in order to be eligible for awards and scholarships. The top 5 individuals in the Senior and Intermediate divisions will be recognized as part of the All-State Team during the Grand Drive at the Nebraska State Fair. Go to https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/livestock-program/judging-circuit/ for more information.

Check out our website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/hall-county-4-h/4-h-contests-events/. It lists shows and events for 4-H members across Nebraska and is updated regularly.

July 11-15: Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Expo held at Fonner Park in Grand Island, NE

• Entries due: June 1, 2026
• Advancement levels and Horse IDs need to be completed and turned in by June 1

July 16: Hall County 4-H Horse Ride Night, 6-8 pm at Fonner Park in Grand Island, NE. Ride Night allows exhibitors and their horses to become familiar with the Thompson Arena and the US Foods Outdoor Arena, meet others in the 4-H Horse Project, and most importantly, have fun!

• Horse IDs due: June 15, 2026
• Entries due: June 24, 2026

Horse ID Certificates are due to the Hall County Extension Office on June 1, 2026 for State Horse Show and on June 15, 2026 for Hall County Fair. You can find these forms here: extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/hall-county-4-h/hall-county-fair/.

Horse Level Testing - As a reminder, if you are working on a horsemanship level, once you pass ALL the requirements for each level, the office needs proof of each requirement signed by the appropriate leader, instructor, or certified examiner. For State Horse Show competition, the Extension office needs proof of completion by June 1.

Reminder: 4-H members enrolled in the Hall County 4-H Horse project may share a horse. Each member must complete a horse ID sheet, and all members sharing the horse must be listed on each ID sheet. 4-H members sharing a horse cannot ride the same horse in the same class, regardless of age division. (Example: Member A can ride horse X in the Intermediate Western Pleasure class. Member B can ride horse X in the Junior Horsemanship class, but not in the Junior Western Pleasure class.)

If you are a senior in high school or in your last year of eligibility showing in the Hall County 4-H Horse Show, and you would like to be recognized during the Grand Entry portion of the show, submit a paragraph about yourself to the Extension office by the Horse Right Night on July 16th.

Happy Hounds summer dog practices will be held on Monday evenings, June 1-July 13, 5:30-7:00 pm at Fonner Park, on the south side of the Nebraska Building.

• Please bring water, a show leash/collar, a 6-foot leash, and supplies to clean up accidents.
• Dog vaccination form must be turned in to the Extension Office BEFORE attending practice or by June 15th, whichever comes first.
• If you have any questions, call LaDonna at 308-385-5088 or Michele Eberl at 308-379-0618.

Cats, hamsters, fish, snakes, toads, dogs, and mini pigs, Oh MY!

When you think of 4-H, do you picture kids showing cattle, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits, and poultry? Did you know you can show your dog, cat, and ANY animal you consider a pet? Any animal not housed in the Cattle Barn during the Hall County Fair (except pet rabbits) can be shown in one of the following two shows.

• The Dog Show will be held on Thursday, July 23rd, in the Five Point Bank Arena at 8:30 am. *Note new time.
• The Cat and Small Pet Show will be held in the Aurora Coop Pavilion on Friday, July 24th at 12:15 pm.

These two programs are a great way to share the hard work that goes into caring for your family’s pets. Check the Hall County Fair Book for specifics of each show. (Vaccinations are required for dogs and cats.) If you have questions, please contact LaDonna at 308-385-5088.

Dog, cat & ferret vaccination forms (signed by a vet) must be on file at the Extension Office by June 15th to show at the Hall County Fair. Vaccination forms can be found here: extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/hall-county-4-h/hall-county-fair/.

Check out a STEM Backpack for your family! Each of the backpacks contains theme-based books, activity sheets & materials, and a step-by-step lesson plan for adults. Most of the lessons are also available in Spanish.

Go to go.unl.edu/4-h-backpacks for more information & to find out how to check out one of these 4-H STEM Activity Backpacks from the Hall County Extension Office!

Kountryside Kids 4-H Club, in partnership with Grand Island Public Schools, is currently sponsoring a Little Free Pantry at Lincoln Elementary School. The club is inviting 4-H families and clubs to join them in keeping the pantry filled with food, hygiene, seasonal needs, and home essentials. If your family or club are able to contribute to the pantry, sign up for a week (or more) in 2025-26, by following this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45ABA72DA7FBCF8-45801707-lincoln.

The Little Free Pantry is supported by Hall County 4-H, the Nutrition Education Program (NEP), and UNL Extension. If you have any questions, call the Extension Office at 308-385-5088 or email LaDonna at ladonna.obermiller@unl.edu. For ideas of items to put in the Little Free Pantry, click Little Free Food Pantry Food Safety Information | UNL Food.

Discover the wildlife and wild places that exist all around us. From insects that buzz, birds that soar, and fish that flop, we will explore it all. Join us for a fun-filled adventure, experiencing everything nature has to offer in your own backyard.

• Location: Grand Island, NE (Izaak Walton League Park)
• Dates: Tuesday, June 30, 2026 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Ages: 8 - 12
• Fee: $50

Register by June 16th at 4h.unl.edu/camp

Tractor and farm equipment safety courses are now open for registration! Teens, ages 14-15 who work on farms, or others who are interested in learning about tractor and farm equipment safety practices, can register for a safety training course offered at various locations across Nebraska from May 26 through July 2. Learn more at https://www.unmc.edu/publichealth/cscash/outreach/farm-safety-days.html

Register today for Heavy Equipment Career Exploration set for Tuesday, July 7th at Central Community College – Hastings. Participants will navigate and drive virtual heavy equipment simulators, have behind the wheel experience, and learn from individuals in the career. Cost is $35. Register at https://go.unl.edu/heavyequipment by Monday, June 29, 2026. Limit of 25 spots, available on a first come first serve basis.

Details:

• Check-in: 10 am to 10:30 am
• Lunch is included
• Wrap-Up: 4:30 pm – Optional Campus Tours will be available.
• Open to youth entering 8th – 12th grades in Fall 2026.
• Cost is $35
• Please register at: https://go.unl.edu/heavyequipment

Grow your knowledge, get your hands dirty, and discover the exciting world of agronomy at the 4-H Agronomy Youth Field Day!

📅 June 30, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

📍 NCTA Campus, Ag Education Center in Curtis, NE

🔗 Registration available at: http://go.unl.edu/agronomyyouthfieldday2026

Questions, please contact the Nebraska Extension Frontier County office at 308-367-4424 or email Katy Snyder at ksndyer2@unl.edu.

The Youth Crop Scouting Competition is coming to the Eastern Nebraska Research & Extension Center near Mead, Nebraska, on August 6, 2026. Calling all junior high and high school teams (grades 5-12) from across Nebraska! Hurry, as this event is limited to the first ten teams to sign up! Top-scoring teams stand a chance to win cash prizes, and the top two teams will qualify for the regional competition in Nebraska this year.

For more details about the crop scouting competition and instructions on how to register your team, visit cropwatch.unl.edu/youth. Register by July 15 at https://go.unl.edu/cropscoutingreg.

• June 1 - Horse ID's, level testing & online entries due for State 4-H Horse Expo participation.
• June 1 - Happy Hounds dog practice, 5:30-7 pm, south side of the Nebraska Bldg. at Fonner Park (every Monday in June).
• June 1 - Archery practice, 7:00 pm at Third City Archery Outdoor Range.
• June 3 - Rifle practice, 6-8 pm at Grand Island Rifle Club.
• June 4 - Shot Gun practice, 6-8 pm at the NE State Trap Shooting Assoc. in Doniphan.
• June 10 - Rifle practice, 6-8 pm at Grand Island Rifle Club.
• June 11 - Shot Gun practice, 6-8 pm at the NE State Trap Shooting Assoc. in Doniphan.
• June 13 - BB Gun practice, 9:00 am at Third City Archery Indoor Range.
• June 15 - Deadline for animal ID's, vaccinations & quality assurance certificates.
• June 15 - State Fair online livestock nominations & DNA envelopes due to Extension Office.
• June 15 - 4-H Enrollment Deadline for participation in the 2026 Hall County Fair and 2026 Nebraska State Fair.
• June 15 - Archery practice, 7:00 pm at Third City Archery Outdoor Range.
• June 17 - Rifle practice, 6-8 pm at Grand Island Rifle Club.
• June 20 - Shot Gun competition, 9:00 am (registration at 8:30 am) at the NE State Trap Shooting Assoc. in Doniphan.
• June 20 - Rifle competition, 3:00 pm (registration at 2:30 pm) at Grand Island Rifle Club.
• June 24 - Hall County Fair 4-H entry forms due by 5:00 pm.
• June 26 - BB Gun practice, 6:00 pm at Third City Archery Indoor Range.
• June 27 - Archery competition, 9:00 am (registration at 8:30 am) at Third City Archery Outdoor Range.
• June 27 - BB Gun competition, 2:00 pm (registration at 1:30 pm) at Third City Archery Indoor Range.
• July 3 - Independence Day (observed); Extension Office is closed.
• July 8 - 4-H Clothing Judging Day & Fashion Show
• July 16 - Horse Ride Night, 6-8 pm at Thompson Arena, Fonner Park.
• July 11-15 - State 4-H Horse Expo at Fonner Park
• July 22-26 - Hall County Fair

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