Saunders County 4-H Update

SAVE THE DATES:

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

July 18- Fair Clean-up day 7:00am-finished

July 20 - Saunders County Fair Static Online Pre-Entries DUE

July 23- Fashion Show Judging

August 10- Nebraska State fair Entries due by 8 PM (animal and in person contests)

Saunders County 4-H members had an outstanding showing at the Nebraska 4-H Premier Animal Science Event (PASE), held May 27–29 on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln East Campus.

Poultry Judging

Participants included:

• Junior: Paul Ondracek and Wyatt Meyer
• Intermediate: Liam Bladt, Andrew Ondracek, Ella Ondracek, and Macy Meyer
• Senior: John Ondracek, Joseph Ondracek, Anne Nygren, Natalie Cantrall, and Eva Bordovsky

The Saunders County senior poultry judging team earned Champion Overall Team honors and will represent Nebraska at the National 4-H Poultry Judging Contest in Louisville, Kentucky, this fall. Team members include Joseph Ondracek, Natalie Cantrall, Anne Nygren, and Eva Bordovsky.

The intermediate poultry judging team placed 3rd Overall.

Individual honors included:

• Eva Bordovsky – 3rd Overall Senior Individual

Animal Welfare Judging

Participants included:

• Junior: Paul Ondracek and Wyatt Meyer
• Intermediate: Liam Bladt, Andrew Ondracek, Ella Ondracek, and Macy Meyer
• Senior: John Ondracek, Joseph Ondracek, Anne Nygren, and Natalie Cantrall

The senior animal welfare team of Natalie Cantrall, Anne Nygren, John Ondracek, and Joseph Ondracek earned 2nd Place Overall Team honors.

Livestock Judging

Participants included Clare Chromy, Quade Chromy, Eva Bordovsky, Natalie Cantrall, and Peyton Kavan.

Individual placings included:

• Clare Chromy – 8th High Individual Swine (Junior Division)
• Eva Bordovsky – 8th High Individual Beef (Senior Division)
• Natalie Cantrall – 5th High Individual Sheep/Goats (Senior Division)

Meats Judging

Saunders County participants included Natalie Cantrall and Eva Bordovsky.

Quiz Bowl

Participants included:

• Junior: Paul Ondracek, Wyatt Meyer, Clare Chromy, and Quade Chromy
• Intermediate: Liam Bladt, Andrew Ondracek, Ella Ondracek, and Macy Meyer
• Senior: John Ondracek, Joseph Ondracek, Anne Nygren, and Peyton Kavan

Livestock Skill-A-Thon

Participants included:

• Intermediate: Liam Bladt, Andrew Ondracek, and Ella Ondracek
• Senior: John Ondracek, Joseph Ondracek, Anne Nygren, and Peyton Kavan

Summer Workshop Registration is OPEN!!

Spots are filling up Register Today!

https://go.unl.edu/2026sc4hsummerworkshops

Register Here: https://yqcaprogram.org/

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.

The printed 2026 fair books are in! Stop in anytime to pick up your copy! The electronic version will be on our website soon.

Register by contacting your local library directly.

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

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.

More information will be communicated as we get closer to these dates so stay tuned!

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/

• 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).

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

Clubs and Independent members can apply for a grant to support projects and activities.

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!

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/

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

Office Hours 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday- Friday