Saunders County 4-H Update
5/8/26
Upcoming Dates
SAVE THE DATES:
May 18 - Archery Practice/Certification
May 27-29- Premier Animal Science Events- UNL East Campus.
June 1 - State Horse Show Entries and ID's Due
June 3 - Building Better Babysitters Workshop
June 4 - Summer Reading - Ceresco
June 4 - YQCA In person training 6-7 PM
June 5 - Summer Reading - Valparaiso
June 6 - 4-H Tractor & ATV Driving Certification Day
June 8 - 12 - Summer Reading - Yutan A.M.
June 8 - 12 - Summer Reading - Mead P.M.
June 15 - 4-H Enrollment Deadline/YQCA/Animal ID's/State Fair Nominations DUE
June 16 & 17- State 4-H Premier Communications Contest- UNL East Campus
June 19 - Clover Kid Day Camp
June 23 - Home Design & Restoration Workshop
June 24 - Animal Science Workshop
June 25 - Summer Reading - Ceresco
June 26 - S.T.E.M. Workshop
June 29 - Summer Reading - Valparaiso
July 1 - Saunders County Fair Online Pre-Entries for Animals and Contests DUE
July 16- Favorite Foods Contest - More information to come
July 18- Fair Clean-up day 7:00am-finished
July 20 - Saunders County Fair Static Online Pre-Entries DUE
July 23- Fashion Show Judging - More information to come
August 10- Nebraska State fair Entries due by 8 PM (animal and in person contests)
2026 TRACTOR & ATV CERTIFICATION DAY
DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER!!
- This will be the only opportunity offered for certification for Tractor and ATV Driving this year.
- All ATV drivers must complete the one-time certification (if you have already been certified in a previous year you do not have to re-certify)
- Only Intermediate and Senior level tractor drivers must complete the one-time certification for tractor driving (if you have already certified in a previous year you do not have to re-certify)
- Please sign up at the following link: https://forms.gle/sDz68hnWuSzWGEyv9
2026 SUMMER WORKSHOPS
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA)
Register Here: https://yqcaprogram.org/
Website Changes
Our website is going through another upgrade to enhance its usability to everyone. As we make changes some links may not work, please e-mail us if you need anything specific and we can send it to you directly.
Fair books are in!
The printed 2026 fair books are in! Stop in anytime to pick up your copy! The electronic version will be on our website soon.
Summer Reading Program Information
Register by contacting your local library directly.
FAIR HELP NEEDED, HELP SPREAD THE WORD!
We are still in need of extra hands to help at the 2026 Saunders County Fair!!
- Please spread the word and contact the Saunders County Extension office if you or someone you know might be a good fit
- Veteran Superintendents in each project area will be there to show you the ropes 😉
- Time commitment is minimal, just 2 evenings, one day, and one morning of your time
- No prior knowledge of 4-H is required
ARCHERY CERTIFICATION & PRACTICES
One-time Archery Certification is required to participate in the Saunders County Fair Archery contest. If you have been certified in previous years you do not need to re-certify.
Please Note Corrected Favorite Foods Contest and Fashion Show Judging Dates
More information will be communicated as we get closer to these dates so stay tuned!
SAUNDERS COUNTY FAIR PRE-ENTRY CHANGES FOR 2026
2025-2026 4-H Enrollment
4-H Online Enrollment Site: https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in
Saunders County Enrollment Information: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/saunders/4-h/4-h-enrollment/
CHANGES FOR NEBRASKA STATE FAIR AND AKSARBEN
- NEW DNA/animal nomination process for State Fair and Aksarben.
- Exhibitors that want to show an animal for the Nebraska State Fair and Aksarben Stock Show (AKSS) will be required to submit two separate envelopes and online nominations. The nomination process for Nebraska State Fair 4-H/FFA will remain the same.
- AKSS exhibitors will order and purchase their DNA envelopes through the AKSS website at https://www.aksarbenstockshow.com/. The DNA process and online nomination process will be separate for each livestock show.
- Important: Please throw away any old DNA envelopes from previous years, as they will not be accepted. Updated envelopes will be distributed in 2026 and will be valid only for the Nebraska State Fair (NSF).
Horse and Livestock News
Horse
Livestock
STEM Backpacks
4-H School Enrichment
Progress Show and Clinic Opportunities
We keep a running list of progress shows and clinics for Small Animals (Rabbits, Poultry, Cat, Dog, Pocket Pets), Horse, Large Livestock (Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goat) as well as other clinics of interest. Check them out by clicking the button above.
Another great resource for shows and clinics is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nebraskalivestockshows
Saunders County 4-H Council Corner
4-H Council Club Mini-Grants Available
Clubs and Independent members can apply for a grant to support projects and activities.
2025 4-H Council Sponsors
Thank you to our 2025 4-H Council Sponsors! Funds raised support the Saunders County 4-H Fair, leader trainings and certifications, Saunders county 4-H members competing at state contests and events, Saunders county contests, scholarships and so much more!
Statewide Opportunities
Volunteer Resources
New volunteer resources and information are available for club leaders, parents, and other 4-H volunteers. Visit for more information: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/saunders/leader-clubs/
Saunders County Extension
Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.
The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made in advance to the Saunders County Extension Office.
As an EO/AA employer, qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.
Email: Saunders-county@unl.edu
Website: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/saunders/4h/
Location: Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC)
1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE, United States
Phone: (402) 624-8030
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaundersCountyExtension4h
Instagram: https://instagram.com/saunders_county_extension_4H
4-H Staff
Office Hours 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday- Friday
4-H Extension Educator
Cole Meador- cmeador2@nebraska.edu
4-H Assistant
Administrative Assistant
Sara Hass - shass3@nebraska.edu