Template: Pre-Fair 4-H Events
Burt County Fair 2026
Located: 111 N 13th St., Suite 6, Tekamah, NE 68061 (Courthouse)
Phone: 402-374-2929
Fax: 402-374-2930
Email: burt-county@unl.edu
Website: burt.unl.edu
Facebook: @BurtCountyNE4H
Nebraska Extension - Burt County 4-H Staff
- Stacey Keys, Extension 4-H Assistant, stacey.keys@unl.edu
- Lori Wachter, Office Staff, lwachter3@unl.edu
- Julie Fleischman, Summer Assistant, jfleischman3@unl.edu
- Madeline Pearson, Summer Intern, madelinepearson@nebraska.edu
- Jennifer E. Hansen, Extension Educator (Thurston/Burt, based in Thurston), jhansen6@unl.edu
Read below for more details of each of the Pre-Fair 4-H Events.
- June 25: Pie Day I @ 8am (Methodist Church, Tekamah)
- King and Queen Ballots - voting deadline is July 14
- July 1: Bicycle Rodeo @ 6pm (Craig Fire Hall)
- July 2: Favorite Foods Contest @ 6pm (First Presbyterian Church, Lyons)
- July 6: Tractor Driving Contest @ 6pm (Lee Valley, Tekamah)
- July 11: Pie Day II @ 8am (Oakland Auditorium, Oakland)
- July 12: Fairgrounds Clean Up @1pm (Oakland) - bring your traveling trophies
- July 13: Clothing & Fashion Show Judging, Life Skills Contest @ 9am (Tekamah City Auditorium, Tekamah)
- July 13: Rocket Launch @ 6pm (Rogers Sod Field, Decatur)
- July 15: Shooting Sports Contest @ 8am (Fairgrounds, Oakland)
Pie Day I 🥧- June 25th @ 8am
Do you like making Pie or just helping for the greater good? Linda Bisanz, our 4-H pie lady, needs help to make pies for our 4-H kitchen! Whether you are pie maker extraordinaire or just want to lend a helping hand, we'd love for you to help make these pie days extra fun and successful.
📍Methodist Church Basement, Tekamah
📅Thursday, June 25th starting at 8am
Bring rhubarb if you can--we're baking up strawberry-rhubarb and .....
Get Ready to Ride — It’s Bicycle Rodeo Time!🚴 - July 1
Summer is here, and that means it’s the perfect season to sharpen your biking skills and have some serious fun at the 4-H Bicycle Rodeo — happening Wednesday, July 1st at 6:00 p.m. at the Craig Fire Hall in Craig.
🚨 Deadline to enter: Call the Extension Office by NOON on July 1st to sign up!
📣 Open to ALL Burt County 4-H members, including Clover Kids!
Why join the Bicycle Rodeo?
Because it’s more than just riding a bike — it’s about building confidence, learning real-world safety skills, and having a blast with friends and family. Whether you’re new to biking or a seasoned pro, this event is a fun, no-pressure way to grow your skills and test your balance, control, and focus.
What to Expect:
✅ A quick & friendly bike safety quiz (read aloud with helpful explanations)
✅ Four exciting riding challenges:
Balance Challenge: Ride between two rows of blocks without touching them — once as fast as you can, once as slow as you can!
Figure 8 Ride: A three-loop challenge that’ll test your coordination and direction-following skills. (Pro tip: Practice makes perfect!)
Slalom Race: Zig-zag between cones in a fun speed event from start to finish!
🏆 It’s not about perfection — it’s about participation, progress, and having fun.
🎉 Helmets are encouraged (but not required)
👪 Spectators welcome — don’t forget your lawn chairs and sunscreen!
Need more info or want to get a head start?
Find full details and helpful practice resources at:
👉 https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/burt/4-h-burt-county/contest-events
This event helps kids gain bike handling skills, learn road safety, and become more independent riders — all while having a great time. It’s the kind of hands-on, confidence-building experience that sticks with them long after the cones are packed up.
Let’s roll into summer the 4-H way — with fun, friends, and two wheels! 🛞🌞
🍴 4-H Favorite Foods Contest – Show Us Your Skills! - July 2
Mark your calendars! The annual Favorite Foods Contest is coming up, and we want YOU to be part of it!
📅 Date: Thursday, July 2
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: First Presbyterian Church, Lyons
📝 Pre-Registration Due: NOON on Thursday, July 2
This hands-on contest is more than just cooking—it's about learning valuable life skills like meal planning, nutrition, public speaking, and creative presentation. It’s a fun way to gain confidence, showcase your talents, and share something you’re proud of!
Who Can Participate?
Youth will compete in the following age divisions:
Clover Kid (5–7)
Junior (8–10)
Intermediate (11–13)
Senior (14+)
Team (2 exhibitors)
What Will You Do?
🍽 Choose a favorite recipe and make it from scratch (no boxed mixes unless creatively modified!).
✍️ Prepare a recipe card and a menu card (4"x6", handwritten by the 4-H member).
🪄 Design a place setting and centerpiece that fits your menu’s theme.
🧁 Present your food (either the whole dish or a single serving).
🗣 Be interviewed by a judge for 5 minutes about your dish, your setup, and your knowledge.
Parents may help carry items to the registration table, but participants set up their display themselves.
Why It Matters:
This event helps youth:
Build confidence in presenting and explaining their ideas
Practice meal planning and healthy eating habits
Learn etiquette and design through table setting
Develop skills they’ll use for a lifetime
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just discovering your favorite dish to make, this is your chance to shine!
🔗 Need ideas or guidance? Visit: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/burt/4-h-burt-county/contest-events
📌 Don’t miss the July 2 pre-registration deadline! We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table—literally!
Get Ready for the 4-H Tractor Driving Contest! 🚜 - July 6
Date: Monday, July 6
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Lee Valley Farms
Open to all 4-H & FFA youth!
🔔 Important: You must pre-register by NOON on July 6 to participate!
Whether you're an experienced driver or just getting started, the 4-H Tractor Driving Contest is your chance to show off your skills, learn something new, and have a great time with fellow 4-H and FFA members (ages 8–18). This fun and educational event includes:
✅ A Safety Quiz to test your knowledge
🛠️ A Practicum Test to identify what’s wrong—or what needs checking—on a tractor
🧭 A Driving Skills Course tailored to various tractor sizes and experience levels
This contest isn’t just for fun—it helps you build real-world skills in ag safety, critical thinking, and equipment operation that you’ll use for life, whether on the farm or in future careers.
💡 Can’t make it?
If you have a scheduling conflict, contact Scott Olson at Lee Valley (402-374-2792) to make alternate arrangements.
📚 Resources & Study Materials:
Find them here
📞 Still have questions?
Call Nebraska Extension in Burt County at 402-374-2929 or contact Scott at Lee Valley at 402-374-2792.
Don’t miss your chance to drive, learn, and grow! 🌾
🥧Pie Day 2: Saturday, July 11 at 8:00AM
📍Oakland Auditorium, Oakland
🕗Saturday, July 11th starting at 8am
Come ready to finish making the pies that will be needed for the next week at fair!
🍕If we are still making past noon, the 4-H Council will provide lunch for all our wonderful volunteers!
County Fair Cleanup Day 🧹– Sunday, July 12th
Let’s get the fairgrounds ready for the best week of the summer!
Join friends, neighbors, and fellow fair lovers for our annual Pre-Fair Cleanup and Setup Day, starting at 1:00 p.m. With everyone pitching in—brooms, scoops, gloves and tools in hand—we’ll have the grounds sparkling and ready by 3:00 p.m. (if history repeats itself!).
Your help sets the stage for a fun, safe, and successful County Fair that our whole community can be proud of. Every swept path, every picked-up piece of trash, helps make the fair a place families love to return to year after year.
Bonus: Stick around for snacks and good company when the work is done!
Let’s roll up our sleeves and make it happen—see you there!
👗Early Judging for 4-H Clothing, Fashion Show & Life Skills - July 13
To help ease the fair week rush, Burt County 4-H will hold judging for Clothing items, the Fashion Show, and Life Skills Contest on Monday, July 13, at the Tekamah Auditorium (yes—air conditioning included!). CLOTHING EXHIBITS are REQUIRED to be judged MONDAY!!
Participants will be contacted based on their pre-entries. Remember: exhibits will need to return to the fair on Friday, and participants will also take part in the public Fashion Show Friday evening.
Supporting information sheets and narration templates are available at:
🔗 extension.unl.edu/statewide/burt/burt-county-fair
4-H Rocket Launch Contest 🚀 - July 13
Monday, July 13th | 6:00 PM | Rogers Sod Farm, Decatur | Pre-register: NOON, July 8
Do you have a rocket ready for the fair? Come get one of your required launches checked off at our Rocket Launch Contest! You'll be judged on how well your rocket launches and how confidently you can follow the proper launch procedures on your own.
It’s a great chance to show off what you’ve learned this year, soak up some sun, and connect with fellow 4-H'ers who share your passion for rocketry.
📚 Find resources and scoresheets here:
https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/burt/4-h-burt-county/contest-events/
NEW - Shooting Sports Contest - July 15
We will be holding the Burt County 4-H Shooting Sports Contest on July 15, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the Burt County Fairgrounds.
Competition classes available include:
- Archery
- BB Gun
We encourage all eligible 4-H members to participate and showcase the skills they’ve developed throughout the year!
Contact your club leaders to register!!