June Newsletter

Nebraska Extension in Pierce County

111 West Court Street, Room 13, Pierce, NE 68767

Phone: 402-329-4821 Fax: 402-329-6417

Website: http://pierce.unl.edu

Email: Pierce-County@unl.edu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLPierceCounty/

• Horse ID Sheets, Horsemanship Advancement Level requirements, entry process for State Horse Show Due - 4:30 p.m. on June 1st
• 4-H Online Enrollment https//v2.4HONLINE.com Due - June 15th
• Nebraska State Fair Nomination https://showstockmgr.com Due - June 15th

• DNA Envelopes & Livestock (Horse, Beef, Goat, Sheep, Swine, Poultry, & Rabbit) ID Sheets Due at Extension Office before -June 15th
• Clothing Judging day is Friday, July 17th
• Fair Grounds Clean Up day is Monday, July 20th
• Pierce County Fair is July 22nd - July 26th

Pierce County Fair Premium Books are ready for pick up!

One Premium book will be given per family. 4-H Families. Also available online at https://go.unl.edu/2026piercecountyfairbook or Scan the QR Code.

1. Enrolled in 4-H and checked your projects? Go to https://v2.4honline.com - youth must be enrolled in 4-H to be eligible to exhibit at the Pierce County and State Fair.
2. Turned in your ID Forms? All County Fair ID Forms (Affidavits) for breeding or market beef; bucket calf; feeder calf; cow/calf pairs; dairy cattle; breeding and market goats, dairy goats; horses; breeding and market sheep; market swine and rabbits are due. It is your responsibility to make sure these forms are accurate. All necessary data must be present and correct. You can email, or bring to the Pierce County Extension Office. All ID papers are available for download at https://go.unl.edu/pierceanimalidsheets and at the Pierce County Extension Office.
3. Completed Online Nominations for State Fair? Instructions for nominating State Fair Livestock are available at https://go.unl.edu/pierceanimalidsheets and https://go.unl.edu/sfnomination, make nominations at: https://showstockmgr.com, and bring your DNA envelopes for State Fair for all Market and Breeding Livestock and Feeder Calves to the Extension Office. A document is available for families wanting to exhibit animals at the State Fair. It is a nice overview for first time and seasoned exhibitors. Check it out at: https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/state-fair/livestock-exhibitor/first-time/.
4. Obtained premise ID number if animals have an EID tag? Information on how to obtain a Premise ID number can be found at: https://go.unl.edu/pierceanimalidsheets, under Electronic Identification (EID) Tags & Premises ID.

Paper Entry Forms for Pierce County Fair are now available at the Pierce County Extension Office.

• Paper Entry forms are DUE to the Pierce County Extension Office on July 1st, 2026.

• Please note this is different from signing up for projects in 4-H Online that is due on June 15. You are now making entries for what will be brought to the County Fair.

Link for the Online Entry Instructions can be found at https://go.unl.edu/2026onlineentryinstructions or using the QR code.

• Online Entry will open on June 1st, 2026 at will close on July 1st at 4:30 p.m.
• For Online Entries go to https://pierce.fairwire.com

• Entries (except Floriculture/Horticulture/Clover Buds/Shooting Sports Contest/Theme Booth/ Clothing Narration and Time Sheet)

The following are DUE to the Pierce County Extension Office. You may bring them to the office or email to bkolterman2@unl.edu

• July 1st: Cat, Dog, or Ferret: Proof of current vaccinations are due to our office.
• July 1st - YQCA Certificates are DUE to the Pierce County Extension Office. All 4-Hers enrolled in the breeding and market beef; bucket calf; feeder calf; cow/calf; dairy cattle; breeding meat, market, dairy, and pygmy goats; breeding and market sheep, swine, rabbit, and poultry projects are required to complete the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) course. The online course can be found at https://yqcaprogram.org/. Instructions are available on the website under Youth and Parents | Web-based Training Help Document. All individuals that complete the web-based option, test-out option, or attend a Face-to-Face training other than those held in Wayne or Pierce will need to go back into their https://yqcaprogram.org account to download their certificate. Either email or print it off and bring it to the Extension Office. 4-HOnline and the YQCA site do not communicate.
• July 15th - Horse Advancement level testing LAST DAY to take Horse level tests at the Pierce County Extension Office.

• July 1st - Style Revue Entry Form (purple) with Narration and (fabric swatches for STEAM Clothing exhibits)
• July 1st - Style Revue Time Sheet (pink)
• July 10th - Best Buy for Your Buck Notebooks for Shopping in Style are due at the Pierce County Extension Office.

• July 1st - Food Revue Menu are due to the Pierce County Extension Office.
• July 9th - Conflict Letter due at Pierce County Extension Office
• July 22nd - Vegetable, Floral, and Swine Entry Forms DUE when you come to the Fair.

The 4-H Youth Development Program strives to instill responsibility in all 4-H members. Part of the responsibility is making sure that all 4-H deadlines are followed. It is the 4-H Council’s role to be consistent and fair to all 4-Hers. Therefore, if a 4-Her contacts the Nebraska Extension Office after a missed county deadline, the 4-Her will be allowed to participate in county events, contests, etc., but will be ineligible for trophies and advancement to the State Fair. In the case where ID papers are late, we must follow the state deadline so opportunities to participate in events beyond the county are out the 4-H Council’s control.

Exhibitors who are unable to be in attendance when required, who cannot keep livestock at the Fairgrounds for the required time period or who cannot be present to represent themselves at the livestock sale must submit a letter writing explaining the reason for absence and requesting permission to be absent. Letters must be submitted to the 4-H Council by July 9th. Exhibitors will be notified of approval or denial of request.

• Each Livestock family are automatically registered.
• 4-H Livestock and Small Animal will be judged on neatness of quarters, cleanliness of animals, bedding,and courtesy of 4-H livestock members during the duration of the fair.
• To facilitate the judging process, a stall card with the name of the 4-H’er and their club’s name must be posted on every pen during the duration of the fair. Stall cards may be picked up by 4-H’ers entry day at the 4-H Fair Office.
• The Herdsmanship results will not be released until after post fair clean up. A final score based on the cleanliness of stall area(s) after clean-up will be given. Scores will be lowered one ribbon placing for failure to participate in post fair clean up in the area(s) the participated in.
• Example of Herdsmanship Judging Sheet looks like is shown below.

Through the Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program, youth can receive recognition as Members of Excellence for engaging in various project-related activities. Applications are due June 15, but why wait? Visit https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/livestock-program/livestock-achievement-program/ to get started.

Nebraska 4-H will be hosting two summer day camps in 2026.

Exploring Ecosystems 4-H Day Camp at Grand Island

• June 30
• Ages 8-12
• $50 registration fee

Exploring Ecosystems 4-H Day Camp at Lincoln

• July 22
• Ages 8-12
• $50 registration fee

For more information, visit https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/nebraska-4-h-summer-camp/camp-schedule/

4-H youth ages 13-18 are needed to help prepare the theme and decorations for the 4-H Public Style Revue and other pre-fair tasks. We will get together at the Extension Office on Wednesday, July 15th from 9:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Lunch will be provided. Also, come with your Fair schedule so that we can schedule announcers for shows and other events. Stop by the 4-H Office at the Fairgrounds to see if you can help announce shows. Also, please meet at the Pavilion at the Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 26th, at 4:00 P.M. to help set up for the Style Revue.

Tractor and farm equipment safety courses are now open for registration! Teens ages 14-15 who work on farms, or others who are interested in learning about tractor and farm equipment safety practices, can register for a safety training course offered at 12 locations across Nebraska from May 26 - July 2. Learn more at https://cvent.me/0oRoRz.

• 1: State Horse Show Entries DUE

• 1: State Horse Show Horse Level Testing Must be Complete

• 1: State Horse Show Horse ID's DUE

• 1: Pierce County YQCA

• 3: Pitzer 4-H Horse Judging Clinic & Contest

• 3-5: Winners Unlimited Camp (Reg. DUE May 18)

• 4: AG 360: Exploring Hawaii, Alaska, and Nebraska in VR (Reg. DUE May 26)

• 5: Baking Healthy and Creative Snacks (Reg. DUE May 29)

• 6 4-H Small Animal Progress Show

• 7 Hustler Progress Show

• 8 Let's Paint by Run-A-Ways (Reg. DUE June 1)

• 9: 4-H Council Meeting 8:00 PM

• 9: Fabric All Natural Dye Workshop (Reg. DUE June 1)

• 9-23 Online Horticulture Contest

• 11: Sewing Pillow using the dye fabric Workshop (Reg. DUE June 1)

• 11-13: Fort Robinson 4-H Horse Camp (Reg. DUE May 8)

• 13: Cuming County Cream of the Crop Dairy Show

• 15: 4-H Enrollments DUE

• 15: YQCA Must Be Complete

• 15: County Beef, Dairy, Goats, Sheep, Swine, and Rabbit ID’s DUE

• 15: State Fair DNA Collection Envelopes DUE to the Extension Office for Beef, Meat Goats, Sheep, and Swine

• 15: State Fair Online Nominations and Fees DUE for Beef, Meat Goats, Sheep, and Swine

• 15: Livestock Achievement Program Applications DUE

• 15: Quilt Workshop (Reg. DUE June 8)

• 17-18: Rocketry Workshop (Reg. DUE June 10)

• 17-19: Heartland Triple Crown Livestock Judging Series

• 19: Office Closed in Observance of Juneteenth

• 20: Arlington Progress Show (Early Reg. DUE June 15)

• 21: Red Willow County Progress Show (Early Reg. DUE June 12)

• 22: Quilt Workshop (Reg. DUE June 8)

• 23: Disaster Kit Workshop (Reg. DUE June 16)

• 26: Clover Bud Workshop (Reg. DUE June 16)

  
  

• YQCA Certificates DUE

• Pierce County Entry Form/ Online Entry Deadline - (Static Entry, Clothing Entry and Time Sheet, Small Animal Entry Form, and Livestock Entry Form)

• Small Animal Current Vaccinations Records due

• Food Revue Menu Due

• Conflict Letter are due to the Pierce County Extension Office

• Best Buy for Your Buck Notebooks for Shopping in Style are due

• Horse Advancement level testing LAST DAY to take Horse level tests

• Junior Leader Meeting at 9:30 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. (lunch after) are the Pierce County Extension Office

• 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – 4-H Clothing & Style Revue Judging at Pierce County Fairgrounds.

• 9:00 a.m. – finished – Clean-up Day at the fairgrounds.

• 8:30 a.m. – Noon – Enter 4-H exhibits that are not interview judged (Horticulture) - Must be entered by noon.

• 9:00 a.m. – finished – Interview Judging for all 4-H Ag Misc., Foods, Photography, Home Environment, Cake Decorating, Other Club Work, and Clover Buds.

• 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Enter all 4-H Livestock (Beef, Dairy, Goat, Horse, Sheep, Swine, Rabbit, and Poultry)

• 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Weigh 4-H Beef Animals

• 6:30 a.m.-9:00 am – Free Breakfast, Sponsored by Michaels Food
• 7:00 a.m.– 4-H Swine and sheep Weigh In
• 9:00 a.m. – 4-H Beef Showmanship Contest followed by the 4-H Breeding Beef Show (Breeding Market, Stocker Feeder, etc.)
• 9:00 a.m. –4-H Companion Animal
• 9:00 am. – Dairy and Horse Check in
• 10:00 a.m. – 4-H Cat Show
• 1:30 p.m. – 4-H Dog Show
• 3:00 p.m. – 4-H Rabbit Show and Poultry (Directly after the Beef Show)

• 6:30 a.m.-9:00 am – Free Breakfast, Sponsored by Farmers Pride

• 8:00 a.m. – 4-H Swine/Sheep and Goat Show

• 8:30 a.m. – 4-H Horse Show

• 1:00 p.m. - Root Beer Floats, Sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America
• 1:00 p.m. – 4-H Dairy Show
• 2:00 p.m. – 4-H Livestock Judging
• 6:30 p.m. – 4-H Livestock Sale

• 10:30 a.m. – 4-H Bucket Calf /Clover Bud show

• 2:00 p.m. – 4-H Jr. Leaders decorate for Style Revue in Pavilion

• 5:30 p.m. – 4-H’ers prepare for Style Revue

• 6:00 p.m. – 4-H Style Revue and Award Ceremony in Pavilion

• 6:30 p.m. – 4-H Awards Night

• 9:00 a.m. – 4-H Inspirational Service

• 2:00 p.m. – All Animal Exhibits Released

• 4:00 p.m. – 4-H Exhibits Released

• 5:00 p.m. – Clean up Fair Center

Nebraska 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. ©2026