Dawes County 4-H

June 8 - Livestock Sale Committee Meeting 5:30 pm

June 8 - Dawes 4-H Council Meeting 6:30 pm

June 10 - Sparks & Saws Workshop

June 11-13 - Fort Rob Horse Camp

June 15: OFFICE OPEN LATE

June 18 - You Create It Workshop

June 18 - Horse Levels Testing, 5 pm

June 19 - COUNTY CLOSED - Tessa will be in Office

June 20 - 4-H Progress Show

June 23 - Sew It Goes Workshop

June 25 - Range Judging Camp

June 30 - Flourish with New Leaf Workshop

June 30 - Next Level Flower Fun Workshop

June 30: OFFICE OPEN LATE

July 1: OFFICE OPEN LATE

July 3 - OFFICE CLOSED - Independence Day Observed

DEADLINE DATES:

JUNE 15: FAIR DEADLINE - Enrollment, Dues Paid, YQCA, Affidavits

June 16 - Range Judging Workshop Registration Deadline

June 22 - Flourish and Next Level Workshops Registration Deadline

July 1 - Clover Kid Workshop Registration Deadline

JULY 1: FAIR DEADLINE - Forms x a lot!

July 1: Camper Spot Reservation Form Due

Hi! I am Alexa Tollman, the Dawes County 4-H Intern this summer! I grew up in Crawford, Nebraska, and always loved the summer 4-H workshops like You Create It and Range Judging Camp. Through 4-H, I learned many valuable lessons, especially in leadership and public speaking. Over the years, I competed in many project areas, including baking, photography, sewing, home décor, the speech contest, and livestock shows. I also had the opportunity to travel to Atlanta, Georgia, for the annual National 4-H Congress. 4-H has given me so many skills and memories to be thankful for. I’m looking forward to watching youth in Dawes County grow, learn, and take advantage of opportunities this summer just like I did.

I graduated from Crawford High School in 2024 and then stepped into my role as a Nebraska FFA State Officer. In that role, I traveled across the state, leading workshops and teaching students about agricultural education and leadership development. That experience strengthened my passion for working with students and for my studies in Agricultural Education. While attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I have had the opportunity to be involved in the Engler Entrepreneurship Program and the TeamMates Mentoring Program. These experiences have allowed me to connect with many people in different career fields while also mentoring youth in Lincoln. This fall, I will be a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying Agricultural Education, and I am excited for what is ahead.

I am incredibly grateful and excited to spend my summer helping create the same magic and opportunities I have always found through the Dawes County 4-H Extension.

-Alexa Tollman

Have you got enrolled yet?! https://v2.4honline.com/ is open for the 2025-2026 Enrollment Year! Deadline for 4-H enrollment is June 15, 2026. If you need help with enrollment, you may contact the Extension office for help!

As a reminder, if you plan to participate in Shooting Sports or the Horse project, you need to add those projects and sign the consents. To be completely enrolled, dues must be paid. CHANGES TO DUES - Dues are $5.00 and can be paid with cash, check, or credit card. Checks are payable to UNL Extension. Clover Kids (ages 5-7) are free.

IF YOU ARE NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED THIS AND PAYMENT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED - please call us! We can check. June 15 is a HARD deadline, especially for state fair.

Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA).

Youth enrolled in any of following projects or project areas will need to complete YQCA training;

• Beef (bucket calf, feeder calf, breeding beef, market beef)

• Dairy Cattle

• Goat (breeding meat goat, dairy goat, meat goat)

• Poultry

• Rabbit

• Sheep (breeding sheep, market sheep)

• Swine (breeding swine, market swine)

Please visit: https://yqcaprogram.org/ for more information, get registered and pay fees for the in-person course, or take the online course.

Deadline to complete YQCA is June 15th! YQCA Certificates need to be sent tessa.reece@unl.edu or returned to the office. You can print the certificate or take a picture of your certificate and email.

Animal affidavits can be picked up at our office or they can be found online in the next two weeks at: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dawes/animal-ownership-affidavits/

Beef Families - Don't forget about the British Breed Certificate

We also need Swine photos turned in with their affidavits. (1 full body photo, 1 showing tag)

Photos can be emailed to tessa.reece@unl.edu.

All animal affidavits (except cat & dog vaccination forms) are due by June 15th.

Melissa will be offering Horse Levels Testing at the Dawes County Fairgrounds again on June 18. Please register if you wish to attend! Call (308)432-3373 to Register.

Level I and Level II are required for any youth wishing to participate in Working Ranch Horse and Breakaway Roping at the Dawes County Fair. Level III is required for these events at the State 4-H Horse Exposition. For more information and helpful resources, click here:

https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/horse-program/horsemanship-advancement/requirements-resources/

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

The 2026 Fairbook is live on the website! Hardcopy newspapers are available in office. Due to new UNL requirements, our Fairbook on the website looks different. If you want us to print you or email a paper copy, let us know. Below are some Fairbook updates.

Livestock Fairbook:

• Dog - Dog judging class has been removed and a skill-a-thon class to match state will be added.
• Beef - Steer maximum weight changed from 1,700 to 1,800 pounds.
• Horse - 4-H's can not do both dummy roping and Break-away, must choose one.
• All Around Horse classes have been removed.
• Goat - Market goats need to be born after December 1 to match State Fair requirements
• Carcass - Fee increase to $10, non-refundable to be entered by July 1.
• Feeder Classes - Championship recognition removed from the feeder classes for sheep, goats, and pigs.

Static Fairbook:

• Auction - 4-H exhibitors can sell 2 static projects total including food entries. This is a change where the static auction used to exclude the Creative Cakes & Silent Auction. For example: youth could sell 1 cake and 1 pie, 1 pie and 1 leather belt, 1 cake and 1 home design, etc. All static items sold will have the addition of the 3% commissions fee to be removed and checks will be made to the foundation to be distributed in the fall 2026. Checks will no longer be given straight to the youth.
• As always, changes were made to match State Fair changes and to better meet accessibility standards.
• Some notable changes to division, categories and classes:
• Safety is now called " Disaster Response, Preparedness and Safety" with several class changes and additions.
• Under >Home Design & Restoration> the exhibit previously known as "Heirloom Treasures & Family Keepsakes" is NOW= "Home Antique Restoration"
• Photography - Black and White classes added to Unit II and Unit III. Creative and Experimental Photography exhibit class added to Unit II and Unit III
• SET has been changed to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math)

All fair forms are available on the website, a few are below for download, or hard copy in our office.

Forms on the website:

• T-Shirt Order Form
• Static Form
• Clover Kid Form
• Livestock Form
• Pen & Tie Form
• Carcass Form
• Fashion Narration Form
• Bucket Calf Record Book
• Bottle Lamb Record Book

Additional Resource Forms:

• Home Design Supporting Info
• Visual Arts Info
• Clothing Data Card
• Fiber Arts - Knitting & Crocheting
• Food Preservation
• Photography Tag Level I, II, and III

The Dawes County Ag Society and Extension Office have completed camper spot guidelines for the county fair. Please read the guidelines fully. The guidelines are attached. Interest in 1 of the 8 camper hookups is due by July 1st. A drawing will be completed after July 1st and those selected, MUST pay by July 13th (checks payable to "Dawes County Agriculture Society")

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Families interested in obtaining a camper spot must fill out the form (attached & on our website) and return to the Dawes County Extension Office by July 1st.

You may mail them to:

Dawes County Extension

250 Main St. Ste 8

Chadron, NE 69337

or email them to tessa.reece@unl.edu

The Dawes County Extension Office will confirm that families live 15+ miles away from the Fairgrounds. After July 1st, the Dawes County Extension Office will give the list to the Agriculture Society who will select the recipients of the hookups at random. Families will be notified if they receive a spot.

The fee for the camper hookup spot will be $25 per day. If you receive a camper hookup, you are expected to stay the entire week. Keep in mind if a camper is put in place weeks before the county fair, families will be charged $25 for each day.

Our 2026 Summer Workshops are all planned and ready to go! You can find our complete packet with all of the details here!

• Youth do not have to be in 4-H to attend workshops
• Workshops are subject to cancellation if minimum participation is not reached
• Most workshops have a maximum number of participants. These workshops will fill on a first come, first serve basis.

Mark your calendars for the Dawes County 4-H Progress Show on June 20, 2026! This is great practice for fair! This will include Swine, Sheep, Goat, & Beef

Come learn about plant ID and work on a range project! Great way to prepare for Plant ID contests.

Who: Ages 8+

When: June 25, 2026 9:00 am-3:00 pm

Where: Chadron State Range Complex

Cost: $10

Register By: 6/16

Bring: Sack lunch

Learn it, pick it, arrange it! Join The New Leaf as youth identify flowers and create a fun, take-home arrangement.

Who: Ages 8+

When: June 30, 2026 9:00 am-11:00 am

Where: The New Leaf

Cost: $25

Register By: 6/22

If youth want to sign up for both Flourish and Next Level , they should bring a lunch and we will transport them to the Fairgrounds.

In Next Level Flower Fun, youth will build on what they learned and get creative making fun, floral-inspired projects for the home.

Who: Ages 8+

When: June 30, 2026 12:00 pm-2:30 pm

Where: Dawes County Fairgrounds

Cost: $15

Register By: 6/22

Calling all Clover Kids! Come craft and explore with us. Youth will create projects that can be entered into fair, enjoy fun activities and have a sweet treat!

Who: Ages 5-7

When: July 7, 2026 9:00 am-2:00 pm

Where: Dawes County Fairgrounds

Cost: $20

Register By: 7/1

Bring: Sack lunch

It is time to be thinking of State Fair Livestock requirements!

All livestock in contention to exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair will be required to complete an online nomination with payment through Show Stock Manager and submit a DNA collector envelope with a hair sample. For NE State Fair DNA instructions and envelopes, please stop by the Extension Office. This includes all 4-H and FFA breeding livestock, market livestock, and feeder calves.

Show Stock Manager is open for livestock nominations for the 2026 Nebraska State Fair! Website Link: https://showstockmgr.com/ Each State Fair nomination will be $7.00 per animal in Show Stock Manager. Submit the DNA payment and complete the online nomination in Show Stock Manager. 4-H and FFA livestock nominations are due on June 15, 2026.

Turn in your completed DNA envelopes to the local Extension Office or FFA Advisor by June 15, 2026.

State Fair Entry Closes August 8, 2026

For 4-H/FFA families who are planning on entering the Aksarben Stock Show, you will need separate DNA envelopes and online nominations- exhibitors will be ordering and purchasing their DNA envelopes through the AKSS website https://aksarbenstockshow.com/ The Aksarben Stock Nomination online nomination system will be different than Show Stock Manager and separate between each livestock show.

Please direct any AKSS questions to the AKSS website.

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