Dawes County 4-H Fair Newsletter

July 20: 4-H Youth Promote Sales Around Chadron & Crawford

July 21: Fair Superintendents Meeting, Exhibitor Meeting, Pen Setup

• Animal / Round Robin - 4:30 pm
• Exhibitor Meeting - 5:30 pm
  

  Cage / Pen Setup, 5:45 pm. Everyone needed to help set up!

July 22: Fair kicks off with the Cat and Dog Show!

Upcoming Deadlines:

July 20 or 21: ALL Fashion Show Narrations due to the office! *We have different dates in different places so we will accept them either day. Sorry for the confusion!

July 28: Bucket Calf record books are due to the office!

• Wednesday, July 22 - Open all day 9:00-4:00 (Tessa & Alexa will be at Cat/Dog Shows)
• Thursday, July 23 - Open all day 9:00-4:00 (Tessa, Alexa, & Ashley will be at Clothing Day)
• Friday, July 24 - Open all day 9:00-3:00 (Tessa in Sioux)

Tessa and staff will have a Fair Office in a camper during the week of fair like past years!

• Monday, July 27 - Office closed in the morning, will be open in the afternoon
• Tuesday, July 28 - Office open 9:00-2:30, closed 2:30-4:00
• Wednesday, July 29 - Open all day 9:00-3:00
• Thursday, July 30 - Office open in the morning, will be closed in the afternoon
• Friday, July 31 - Office will be closed, Find staff @ Fairgrounds

Below is the 4-H fair schedule. Please note the changes in Cat/Dog Shows, Rabbit/Poultry Check in, and Small Animal Show Order.

Fair wristbands are available at the Dawes County Extension Office! They are $20 a wristband or you can pay $10 per nightly event. Ages 12 and under are free. All Dawes County 4-H youth will receive a wristband in their exhibitor packet at the fair prep night.

We will be holding our annual Prepare for the Fair- Day on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. There will be a short exhibitor meeting at 5:30 where we will go over any necessary information.

Exhibitors will receive their fair packet at the meeting which will include:

• 2 Backtags
• Fair event wristbands
• Livestock sale forms (to be signed by BOTH parent & exhibitor)
• Individual exhibitor project lists
• Exhibitor letter- PLEASE READ

At 5:45 we will begin cleaning and setting up pens for fair. Please do not begin setting up until the superintendents are able to give instructions. There will be lists posted on what needs to be done.

The Extension Office and the 4-H Council are offering a new and fun opportunity during the county fair! We want youth to experience more of the fun and excitement during the Dawes County Fair!

We will offer two versions of passports: Clover Kid and Ages 8-18. Youth will get to fill out the passport during the week of county fair. Everyone who turns in the passport completed will be entered into a prize drawing. We have A LOT of COOL 4-H swag to give away (see some teasers below). We spent some money on Shop 4-H. 😉

Passports will be due to the Fair Extension Office or a staff member by Saturday, August 1st at 9:00 am. We will start handing them out in our Exhibitor Packet on Tuesday, July 21st.

Dog Show - Wednesday, July 22

• The Dog Judging has been removed. We will have a Dog Skill-a-thon! No pre-registration required.

Horse Show - Saturday, July 25

• DUMMY ROPING - The dummy will be different this year. It will be a calf with no horns.
• Dress Code - The superintendents have agreed to let the kids change into their Fair T-Shirt during speed events. They can change out of their white long sleeve if they want. Make sure to pack your fair t-shirt!
• The pattern book will be available 24 hours before the show on Saturday, July 25. They will be released Friday, July 24 at 8:00 AM.
• Don't forget we have out hippology contest that you do not have to pre-register for.
• We want to remind families of the 4-H Horse Show & Judging Guide. As the county Fairbook states, "All rules and regulations governing the Dawes County Fair 4-H Horse Show will be taken from the Nebraska State 4-H Horse Show & Judging Guide, 4-H 373. This includes dress code, patterns, legal equipment, etc." The Extension Office has these guides for sale.

Stalling in Barns

• Remember to thank your superintendents for the their hard work year to year in setting stall assignments.

Weigh Ins

• Make sure to look at the schedule so you are at the correct time! There will be no re-weighs

Livestock Sale - Photos, Sale Cards, & Thank You's

• ALL SALE PHOTOS WILL BE ON THURSDAY, JULY 30!
• It is really important we thank the families and businesses who support 4-H. Including the buyers at the Livestock Sale. If you don't have a thank you, the 4-H office would be more than happy to provide thank you's for you to give your buyers after the sale.

Back Tags & Stall Cards

• These will be included in Exhibitor packets that will be given out on July 21.

Several static projects require additional documents to be submitted with the project or else they are dropped a ribbon placing. Read the Fairbook to learn the details about what needs to be included!!!!

• Do you know your woodworking projects are supposed to have plans?
• Do you know how many of each vegetable you are supposed to bring?
• Do you know how many cookies you are supposed to bring on a plate?

Family & Consumer Science Day - Thursday, July 23

• Reminder - all events are at CHADRON HIGH SCHOOL
• No scheduled drop off times for last names. MUST BE ON TIME! NO LATE CHECK-INS
• Fashion Show Narrations must be turned in by July 21st at 4:30pm or NO MODELING
• Crest View modeling is confirmed.

Static Exhibit Judging - Monday, July 27

• Exhibitors will have scheduled show up times (see below). We changed the order this year!
• Don't forget if you are selling a static item, to let the office know after you see your ribbon so we can get it placed and promoted.
• When you arrive, you will notice a large sign up sheet so we don't miss you for interviewing. Please sign up on this list. It will make more sense when you arrive that day.
• Note - the static exhibit results will not be open to the public until the morning of Tuesday, July 29th.

Drop Off Schedule by LAST NAME;

9:00 - 10:00: O-Z Last Name Exhibitors

10:00 - 11:00: G-N Last Name Exhibitors

11:00 - 12:00: A-F Last Name Exhibitors

12:00-12:30: Extra 30 minutes for those who can't make their check in time

Herdsmanship Contest

Herdmanship contest is for beef, swine, goat, sheep, rabbit, and poultry exhibitors! The goal of the Herdsmanship Contest is for the 4-H members to present quality, groomed animals in a clean environment.

General Rules:

• Herdsmanship duties are the responsibility of exhibitors rather than leaders and parents. Herdsmanship begins with the check-in of livestock and ends with the clean-up after the Fair.
• 4-H Members are responsible for their animal(s) at all times. Animals are on display to promote 4-H and proper animal handling.
• See Fairbook for breakdown of scoring.

Best Dressed Animal Contest

If you signed up for the best dressed contest, we can't wait to see your fun costumes! Join us in watching our Best Dressed Animal Contest on Friday, July 31st at 3pm! There will be a large animal class and a small animal class.

Food During Fair

• Washington DC - Outside concessions
• Kingdom Grillers
• Darchelle's

Campers During Fair

The following families were drawn at random, to receive hookups for their campers during the Dawes County Fair:

-Tollman

-Sellman

-Bruns

-Schommer

-Wohlers

-Scherbarth

-Edelman

-Connell

If you have not paid, please pay asap.

If your name was not selected or you did not enter the drawing, you are welcome to still bring your camper and use your own generator. *Remember there are children running around 24/7. Please be appropriate and cautious at your campers.

We would like to thank Farm Credit Services of America for once again providing youth 1 new free shirt for fair! These will be available to be picked up with your exhibitor packet at the prep night on Tuesday, July 21s or we will have them at every event following.

Youth (excluding horse) including static exhibitors may wear:

• This year's shirt (grey)
• Last year's shirt
• The "official" Dawes County 4-H t-shirt (may be purchased for $10 at the Extension Office)
• Plain white shirt

They also must wear blue jeans (no holes) and closed toed shoes or boots. Livestock exhibitors MUST wear hard soled shoes or boots. Dairy cattle & dairy goat exhibitors may wear dark blue jeans or white pants. No club identification, hats, caps or other types of headgear are to be worn. Horse exhibitors are required to follow the dress code outlined in the official 4-H Horse Show & Judging Guide.

It is an honor and privilege to wear proper attire and is an early education to dressing appropriately for job interviews. First impressions are extremely important so dressing appropriately and being neat and clean project an image of success.

**Dress code violation reduces placing by one ribbon**

The 4-H Council will be sponsoring Barn Lights & Summer Nights on Thursday, July 30th 7:30-10:30 pm! The event is free for ages 8-18. A night with music, knockout basketball, corn hole, team challenges, prizes, smore snack bar, and more more!

Remember - we have so many generous sponsors who donate to 4-H. It is important a meaningful thank you is written. We have lost sponsors in the past due to the thank you's received. See below tips for writing a meaningful thank you and an example.

The Extension Office has Cake & Pie Live Auction, Creative Chefs Silent Auction flyers, Static Projects Silent Auction flyers, and Livestock Sale flyers that we suggest youth handout to potential buyers, businesses, friends, and family. Please stop by and pick some up. We will make as many copies as you need within reason!

Calling all enrolled Clover Kids (ages 5-7) for the Clover Kid Parade! It will happen July 31. See flyer for details.

Several local banks are providing free snacks and food during the week of fair. Check it out!

• July 25 at 7 am - Security 1st Bank Chadron providing breakfast for Horse Exhibitors & Families
• July 28 at 5:30 pm - Platte Valley Bank providing kettle corn
• July 29 at 5:30 pm - Security First Bank Chadron providing root beer floats
• July 30 at 7 am - FNBO providing breakfast

At the conclusion of fair, you are able to share your ideas for improvements. We have created a Care to Share Form for anyone to share their concerns. If a concern does NOT have a possible solution, the concern will disregarded. Submit your concerns and possible solutions to tessa.reece@unl.edu by August 12. The 4-H Council will review forms at their meeting in August.

The 2026 Nebraska State Fair 4-H and FFA entry site is open and accepting entries!

Deadline

Deadline to complete entries: August 10 at 8 PM Central/7PM Mountain*

*No option for late entries

Click Here for State Fair Online Entry Information

Schedules

• Nebraska 4-H 2026 State Fair 4-H Schedule (Static, Contest, Livestock)
• Nebraska State Fair 2026 Detailed Livestock Schedule
• Nebraska State Fair 2026 Livestock Arrival/Departure Schedule

Livestock Rules, Regulations & Health Requirements

• Nebraska State Fair 2026 NSF Rules & Regulations
• Nebraska State Fair 2026 Health Requirements

After clicking the link, scroll down to “Online Entry Information” and click the blue box that reads CLICK HERE TO ENTER. Continue by following and completing the guided questions.

The annual State Premier Communications Event was held in Lincoln on June 16-17. Several Dawes County 4-H members attended the State Premier Communications Event in Lincoln on June 17th and 18th. Two youth competed in person and six submitted PSA's. Congrats to all our Dawes exhibitors!

• Julia Nicholson - Senior Illustrated Presentation - Blue
• Wyatt Redden - Junior Prepared Speech - Purple
• Amelia Betson - Senior PSA - Blue
• Miranda Betson - Senior PSA - Purple
• Rhett Lesmeister - Intermediate PSA - Purple
• Tinley Lesmeister - Junior PSA - Purple
• Roudy Schommer - Senior PSA - Purple and advanced to finals
• Oakley Terrell - Senior PSA - Purple

Youth from Dawes County participated in the Range Judging Day Camp at Chadron State College on June 25. The event was co-sponsored by CSC, Nebraska Extension, and NRCS. The day consisted of plant ID, identifying livestock forage value, completing a range fair project, tour, and competing in a plant ID contest.Three hours after learning plant ID, the youth competed in a plant ID contest.

Junior Division:

• Anonymous - Champion
• Adysen Stetson - Reserve
• Bryn Stetson - Purple

Intermediate Division:

• Rhett Lesmeister - Champion

Senior Division:

• Roudy Schommer - Champion
• Garett Tollman - Reserve
• Teague Edelman - Purple

Cat/Dog - Buffy Allred

Jr. Super - Aksel Lans

Clothing - Julie Schommer, Jessica Fisher, & Tami Tollman

Jr. Super - Sadie Chesley

Horse - Jim Lesmeister, Kris Vahrenkamp, & Jules Sellman

Jr. Supers - Ava Pyle, Skyler Edelman, Kendall Sellman

Consumer & Family Science - Lisa Briggs

Envir. Ed, Plant Science, SET - Clint Phillips

Healthy Lifestyles - Ashley Ahrens

Communc. & Expressive Arts - Alexa Tollman

Jr. Supers - Miranda Betson, Garett Tollman, Julia Nicholson

Rabbit/Poultry/Companion - Melissa Nicholson & Connie Moore

Jr. Super - Ada Norman

Swine - Seth Terrell, Jake Sellman, Kris Pyle, & Justin Tollman

Jr. Supers - Teague Edelman, Ada Norman, & Brody Huffman

Sheep/Goat - Kendra Brown, Buffy Allred, & Dina Connell

Jr. Supers - Amelia Betson & Alex Rasmussen

Beef- Ryan Sellman, Ron Betson, & Sam Dyer

Jr. Supers - Kody Keim, Emily Pyle, & Roudy Schommer

Round Robin

Large - Ron Betson & Justin Tollman

Small - Connie Moore & Alexa Tollman

These people are YOUR voice! Please contact any of them if you have an idea for a new or existing event or activity, have concerns with the program, or just want to have input in the decision-making process.

4-H Council:
President - Boone Huffman

Vice President - Kevin Keim

Secretary - Dina Connell

Treasurer - Bailey Lesmeister
Members - Kris Vahrenkamp, Buffy Hourt-Allred, Melissa Nicholson
Youth Members: Garett Tollman, Kody Keim, Amelia Betson, Rhett Lesmeister

Extension Board:
President - Tony Denke
Vice President - Tim Milner
Secretary/Treasurer - Angel Lindsey
Members - Cody Gibbons, Willy Cogdill, Kyli Heiting

4-H Foundation:

Ryan Sellman, Chris Garrett, Bill Cogdill, Jan Soester, Roy Lambert, Jeff Lien, Kris Vahrenkamp