Dodge County 4-H Blast
June 5th, 2026
IN THIS ISSUE
- 4-H Calendar
- 2026 4-H Schedule
- Dodge County Fair Fairbook
- Dodge County Fair Exhibitor T-Shirt
- 4-H Enrollment
- YQCA
- Animal ID Deadline
- State Fair Livestock ID
- 4-H Expo Ambassador
- Family Livestock Judging Contest
- STEM Style Workshop
- Clover Kid Day Camp
- Home Environment Workshop
- Conservation Workshop
- Dodge County 4-H Archery
- Dodge County 4-H Council Pancake Feed
- Dodge County 4-H Silent Auction
- Nebraska Tractor & Equipment Safety Training
- Platte County 4-H Showmanship Clinic
- Heartland Triple Crown Livestock Judging Series
- Blue Ribbon 4H Progress Show
- Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program
- Ambassadors
- 4-H Council
*Items in BOLD are new items*
4-H Calendar
*LOCAL (DODGE COUNTY) EVENTS IN BOLD
June 9 - Family Livestock Judging Contest @ Dodge County Fairgrounds, 6:00pm
June 11 - Instructor Led YQCA Training #4 @ Dodge County Extension Office, 6:30pm-8pm
June 13 - Platte County 4-H Showmanship Clinic @ Ag Park Arena and Green Barn
❗June 15 - 4-H DEADLINE DAY: 4-H Enrollment, Animal ID, YQCA, Horse Advancement Levels (County Only), State Fair Nominations & DNA Due❗
June 16 - Stem Style Workshop @ Dodge County Extension Office, 1pm-5pm
June 16-17 - PCE (Premier Communications Event) @ UNL East Campus
June 18 - Clover Kid Workshop @ Dodge County Extension Office, 9am-3pm
June 23 - Home Environment Workshop @ Dodge County Extension Office, 9am-12pm
June 24-26 - 4-H Shooting sports National Championships @ Grand Island
June 30 - Conservation Workshop @ Fremont State Lakes, 9am-12pm
July 8-11 - Fremont 4-H Expo @ Christensen Field
July 11-15 - Nebraska State Horse Show @ Grand Island
❗July 15 - MIDNIGHT: Online Entries for Animal, Contests, Static & Fashion Revue for Dodge County Fair DEADLINE❗
July 20 - Superintendent Meeting @ Dodge County Extension Office, 6:30pm
July 21 - Dodge County Fair Clean Up & Swimming Party @ Scribner Fairgrounds, 5pm
July 22 - Dodge County Fair Horse Show @ Christensen Field
July 25-26 - Dodge County Fair Shooting Sports Contest @ TBD?
July 29-August 2 - Dodge County Fair @ Scribner Fairgrounds
❗August 10 - Nebraska State Fair Online Entry DEADLINE @ 8:00pm❗
August 24-25 - State Fair Static Exhibit Drop Off @ Extension Office
August 28-September - Nebraska State Fair @ Grand Island
September 9 - State Fair Static Exhibit Pick Up @ Extension Office, 8:30am-6:30pm
4honline Enrollment - DUE June 15!
❗Enrollment is due by June 15! Visit 4honline.com.❗
Returning Families - do not create a new account - use your log-in from previous years. Instructions for returning families are at this link. Enrollment instructions for new families can be found here. 4-H enrollment fee is $15 per youth member and can be paid by credit card online, or by cash or check in our office.
New volunteers can find instructions here, and returning volunteers can follow this guide.
- Volunteer Screening and Volunteer Orientation are required in 2026 for all volunteers!
- Sterling Volunteers runs a criminal background check and sex offender registry checks; the cost is $16 paid online to Sterling Volunteers
- If you completed the background check in 2025, you will not need to this again for this year.
- Volunteer orientation can be completed at this link:
Enrollment is required to participate in 4-H events, contests, projects, and club meetings.https://4h.unl.edu/resources/volunteers/orientation/
For help with enrollment, either email Macy @ mflesher3@unl.edu, or call the office @ (402) 727-2775.
State Fair Livestock ID & Nomination Deadline - June 15
❗ Any members planning to exhibit livestock at the Nebraska State Fair must complete the appropriate livestock identification and nomination requirements by midnight, June 15. This process makes an individual animal eligible for entry at the State. Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/livestock-id.
DNA Envelopes are available at the Dodge County Extension Office for free. Nominations must be made online and paid for by midnight, June 15.
Guide to Show Stock Manager Nominations❗
❗*NEW in 2026* Any exhibitor wishing to show at the AKSARBEN Stock Show will have to pull a new hair DNA Sample and Register for AKSARBEN separately from the Nebraska State Fair. No longer can the 4-Her pull once set of DNA hair sample and have it count for both events. Please check out the AKSARBEN Stock Show website for registration and DNA Submission details.❗
The Fremont 4-H Expo Ambassador Program is a great opportunity for high school youth who enjoy leadership, service, and representing the 4-H community!
Any boy or girl interested in becoming a Fremont 4-H Expo Ambassador Candidate must submit their pre-entry credentials to the Fremont 4-H Expo Board by Friday, June 19, 2026. Candidates are required to work at a show of their choice by helping hand out ribbons, participate in an interview, attend the Ambassador Ceremony, and ride in the parade.
Interview dates are Thursday, June 25 at 6:00 p.m. or Tuesday, July 7 at 12:00 p.m. During the Ambassador Ceremony, the top two candidates will be selected as Grand Ambassadors and awarded college scholarships.
Apply by following this link: https://go.unl.edu/4-hambassador
Join us for a fun evening at the Dodge County Fairgrounds in Scribner on Tuesday, June 9th, 2026!
This contest is open to everyone—youth, families, and adults. Whether you're experienced or just want to try something new, we’d love to have you participate!
🏆 Awards for the top 3 in each age division
👨👩👧 Additional divisions: Family Teams, Adult, and Clover Kid
🕠 Registration: 5:30 PM
🕕 Judging Starts: 6:00 PM
💲 No registration fee
Come learn, compete, and have fun with livestock judging!
Practice basic hand sewing skills with a simple and safe banana suturing activity to develop fine motor skills and learn more about careers in the medical field. Put your sewing skills to work creating a fun, colorful, wearable LED Badge or Bracelet. No previous hand sewing experience is needed. Build confidence in problem solving through sewing, learn about the Fashion Revue, and take home a project for Fair! This workshop is for youth ages 11-18 and will be capped at 20 youth.
When: June 16th,
Time: 1pm-5pm
Where: Dodge County Extension Office
Register now! Registration is due by May 29nd, 2026.
Our youngest 4-H members will create 2-3 Projects that they can then exhibit at the Dodge County Fair.
When: June 18th, 2026
Time: 9am-3pm
Where: Fremont State Lakes, SRA Lodge
Register now, or scan the QR code in the picture to get your 4-H'er signed up!
Registration is due by May 29th, 2026.
Youth will create 2-3 art and/or fabric projects that they can exhibit at the Dodge County Fair. Wear clothing that you don't mind getting a bit messy with products like paint!
When: June 23rd, 2026
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Where: Dodge County Extension Office
Register now, or scan the QR code in the picture to get your 4-H'er signed up!
Registration is due by May 29th, 2026.
Youth will explore Conservation/Entomology while making 2-3 projects that can then be entered at fair! Wear closed toe shoes, bring sunscreen, and bugs pray!
When: June 30th, 2026
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Where: Fremont State Lakes
Register now, or scan the QR code in the picture to get your 4-H'er signed up!
Registration is due by May 29th, 2026.
DC Shooting Stars has started offering Archery as a discipline in Shooting Sports! Participants are welcome to bring their own archery equipment, we will have equipment available for use if you don’t have your own equipment. Practices are held every Thursday night @ 7pm in the basement of the Dodge Auditorium! Participants need to follow the 4-H Shooting Sports age requirements to participate and be members of the D.C. Shooting Starts 4-H Shooting Sports club. Select Archery as a project in 4honline!
If you have any questions regarding enrollment, please reach out to Andy Beckman or the Dodge County Extension Office.
Andy Beckman, cell: 402-843-6336, email: circlexhunter@hotmail.com
2026 Tractor & Equipment Safety Trainings are scheduled right here in WEST POINT on June 10-11. Certification from this course allows 14- and 15-year-olds to legally drive a tractor and perform field work with certain mechanized equipment.
Participants earn certification by completing a two-day course, which includes:
- Written test
- Driving exam
Successful completion grants NSTMOP certification, allowing youth to:
- Operate tractors and certain mechanized equipment on farms and ranches
- Obtain a husbandry permit
Youth under 14 can attend Day 1 (with an adult) at no cost.
Register here: https://cvent.me/0oRoRz
📣 Announcing the Heartland Triple Crown Livestock Judging Series!
Get ready for an unforgettable three-day livestock judging experience! The Heartland Triple Crown Livestock Judging Series is coming June 17–19, 2026, bringing together youth from across the region for competition, learning, and celebration as the Great Plains Judging Circuit wraps up its season. This three-day event is open to all states.
Participants will take part in 10 placing classes, enjoy a clinic, and compete for awards in each age division and species. With events hosted in Columbus, Bladen, and Nelson, Nebraska, each day offers something unique—plus fun evening activities, including a BBQ after-party and a final banquet and awards ceremony.
Whether you're a seasoned judge or new to the arena, this is the perfect opportunity to sharpen your skills, meet fellow competitors, and close out the circuit in style.
📅 June 17–19, 2026
📍 Columbus • Bladen • Nelson, Nebraska
🔗 Registration details available at: https://go.unl.edu/lj26
Join us for three exciting days of livestock evaluation, learning, and community. We can’t wait to see you there! More details to come for each day.
🐄🐑🐖 Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program – Year 5! 🐐🐔
The Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program is back for its fifth year, recognizing youth who go above and beyond in their livestock projects! This program promotes learning in selection, production, leadership, and exhibition across all livestock species.
🔹 Open to enrolled 4-H livestock youth
🔹 Species include beef, sheep, swine, meat goat, dairy, rabbit, poultry.
🔹 Three achievement levels: Junior, Intermediate, Senior
🗓 Apply by June 15
🗂 Plans & Reports due August 1
🏆 Members of Excellence will be recognized at the Nebraska State Fair Grand Drive.
👉 Learn more & apply here: https://go.unl.edu/lap
Nebraska Extension in Dodge County
Mary Spath - Office Manager: mspath2@unl.edu
4-H
Kelly Schole - 4-H Extension Educator: kschole2@unl.edu
Shane Ahrens - 4-H Assistant: shane.ahrens@unl.edu
Macy Flesher - 4-H Administrative Assistant: mflesher3@unl.edu
Early Childhood
Lisa Poppe - Extension Educator: lpoppe2@unl.edu
Nutrition Education Program
Shelley Thayer - Assistant Extension Educator: mthayer6@unl.edu
Statewide Rural Health
Beth Nacke - Extension Educator: bnacke2@unl.edu
Water & Cropping Systems
Mailson Freire de Oliveira - Extension Educator: mfreiredeoliveira2@unl.edu
Horticulture
Ian Peterson - Extension Educator: ipeterson4@unl.edu
Email: dodge-county@unl.edu
Website: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dodge/
Location: 1206 West 23rd Street, Fremont, NE, United States
Phone: 402.727.2775
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/362826330737240/?ref=bookmarks