Richardson County 4-H Forecast

• Enroll at 4HOnline.com
• Enroll today to be entered to win your choice of a shop 4-H sweatshirt!
• During enrollment on 4HOnline, you will be required to select at least one project but are not required to select all projects you will be participating in for the 2025-2026 4-H year.
• If you are participating in the Shooting Sports or Horse projects, you are required to enroll in those projects online since there are forms that are required to be filled out for those projects.
• Our adult leader volunteers are also required to enroll, if you don't have a current screening, the website will let you know if it's required this year and give instructions on how to complete the required screening.
• See the file below for a quick refresher on how to re-enroll for the new year.

This project is open to all youth of 4-H age (8-18) and gives the opportunity to learn about growing, harvesting, and exhibiting this unique flower. The Special Garden Project lets 4-H members try their hand at growing unusual vegetables, flowers, and herbs. The project also allows experienced 4-H gardeners to grow something fun, new, and different while letting those new to gardening get their feet wet in this project area.

The focus of the 2026 project is the Alumia Vanilla Cream marigold. This marigold produces creamy, yellow flowers on compact plants. This variety not only has a unique color, but it also has a very long bloom time.

4-H members participating in the Special Garden Project will:

• Receive a ‘packet’ of Alumia Vanilla Cream marigolds (one packet per youth) in March/April
• Receive a newsletter about:
• Planting & growing marigolds
• Marigold problems & insects
• Harvesting & using marigolds
• Be able to exhibit this unique flower at County and State Fair
• State Fair Special Garden Project Educational Exhibit Class G-775-001
• State Fair Special Garden Project Fresh Cut Flowers or Harvested Vegetables & Herbs Class G-775-002
• Other fun county-only ways to exhibit this unique flower are with a story, poem, or poster.
• Complete an evaluation about their growing experience

Contact us at the office to participate in the Special Garden Project for this 4-H year!

The Above & Beyond Award is awarded to youth who have completed their Above & Beyond point sheet and have reached the threshold of the Above Award recognition or the Beyond Award recognition. This program was designed to enable youth to be recognized for providing outstanding contributions to the 4‑H program in Richardson County.

Above & Beyond Points will come from events attended from January 1 through December 31 and will be awarded at the Junior Fair Awards Program the following July.

Applications are due January 15.

We are excited to offer the Diamond Clover Program as an incentive to 4‑H'ers that are actively involved in their clubs and in their community. The Nebraska 4‑H Diamond Clover Program is designed to encourage 4‑H youth to engage in a variety of projects and activities that will enable members to acquire the life skills necessary to lead successful lives as competent, caring and contributing citizens. The program's overall goal is to provide 4‑H members a rich and diverse learning experience.

The form for this award represents all activities during the previous 4-H year, October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025. Awards are presented at the Junior Fair Awards Program the following July.

Applications are due January 15 and can be found here.

Nebraska 4-H policy requires all 4-H clubs to submit a Year End Treasurer’s Report to account for the dollars raised and spent in the name of 4-H. The county also has a second page to the document for an Annual Club Inventory Report.

Inventory items may include, but are not limited to, physical items such as computers, robots, shooting sports equipment, etc. These reports are due to the Extension Office on or before January 15th and will be kept in your club’s file as support to the e-postcard we file with the IRS on your club’s behalf. You will need to fill out the report even if you have a zero balance for the year.

You can find more information about this by visiting https://4h.unl.edu/4-h-policy-procedures-handbook/section-12-financial-management/.

Apply by December 15th, 2025 for the 2026 program year. For more information regarding the Fed Steer Challenge, or to submit an application please visit https://4h.unl.edu/fed-steer-challenge

The Program includes raising a steer purchased at market price, monthly webinars with industry professional and UNL Animal Science Faculty, a special class at the Nebraska State Fair evaluated by a commercial cattle buyer, and harvesting steers to evaluate carcass merit. Monthly content includes: Feeder Cattle Pricing and Starting Cattle on Feed, Winter Feeding & Care of Cattle, Implants & Growth Modifiers, Cattle & the Environment, Risk Management Strategies, Summer Feeding & Care of Cattle, Quality & Yield Grading and Grid Pricing for Carcass Merit.

Attention High School Juniors and Seniors:

Interested in a career in Food Science and Technology?

Spend a day in the Food Science and Technology Department conducting one-of-a-kind experiments in the Food Innovation Center’s teaching laboratories and pilot plants. The activities will be led by Food Science and Technology faculty and experts from The Food Processing Center. You will practice your new skills and build upon your understanding of a career as a food science professional as you engage in real-world challenges.

For your participation in this one-day event, you can earn a $5,000 scholarship!*

Friday, December, 5, 2025

9:30am – 3:00pm

Food Innovation Center, 1901 N. 21st St., Lincoln, NE 68588

Visit https://foodscience.unl.edu/food-science-scholarship.../ to register for this great opportunity!

Registration Deadline for in-person event is November 17, 2025.

Students are responsible for their own travel arrangements and travel expenses. Lunch will be provided during the event.

*One-time scholarship will be awarded when student enrolls at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a declared major in Food Science and Technology.

Women involved in agriculture across southeast Nebraska are invited to take part in the upcoming

Women in Agriculture Evening Seminar Series, a three-part program designed to celebrate, connect, and empower women in rural communities.

The series will be held at The Wayside Events Center, 64480 718 Rd, Stella, NE, from 5:30 - 8:30pm on the following dates: February 4, February 16, and March 10.

Each evening includes a light meal, networking opportunities, and sessions led by Extension educators and topic experts

Registration is required at least one week prior to each session. The cost is $20 per night or $50 for the three-evening series. To register, visit: go.unl.edu/seseminars

For more information or to register by phone, contact:

Ritika Lamichhane, 402-274-4755 (Nemaha County Extension)

Or

Kaytlyn Kennedy, 402-245-4324 (Richardson County Extension)

This series is offered in partnership with the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program and inspired by Annie’s Project, a nationally recognized program that brings together experts, resources, and peer support to strengthen women’s roles in agriculture, business, family, and community.

The office will be mostly closed the week of Thanksgiving due to the holiday, educational programming, and staff required training. If you have an immediate need on Monday or Tuesday, please call the office at 402-245-4324 and leave a message and we will try to get back to you as we are in and out of the office on these days. We will be completely closed from Wednesday through Friday and reopen on December 1st.

Our office will be closed from Monday, December 22 through Friday, January 2 to celebrate the holidays. The Richardson County courthouse will be completely closed after noon on December 24 and all day on December 25 and January 1st.

We will be re open on January 5, 2026.

November 26-28

• Office Closed for Thanksgiving

December 22 - January 2

• Office Closed for Winter Holidays

January 15

• Above and Beyond Award Application Due
• Diamond Clover Award Applications Due
• Club Treasurer's Reports Due