2026 Burt County Fair - 4-H Updates

THURSDAY, July 16: 1:00 p.m. - Dog Show – Livestock Arena

FRIDAY, July 17: 1:00 p.m. - Cat Show (Companion Animal to follow) - Livestock Arena

SATURDAY, July 18:

11-12:00 p.m. Bottle Goat/Lamb exhibitor interviews – Secretary’s Office

1:00 p.m. Or 30 minutes after Swine Show - Meat Goat Show (Dairy Goat Show to follow) - Livestock Arena

SATURDAY, July 18: 2:30 p.m. Or 30 minutes after Goat Show - Sheep Show ‑ Livestock Arena

FRIDAY, July 17:

6:00 p.m. Public Fashion Show - Fair Foundation Pavilion

6:30 p.m. or following the Public Fashion Show 4-H Special Awards & Recognition – Fair Foundation Pavilion

7:15 p.m. 4‑H Coronation - Fair Foundation Pavilion

We’re excited to share that this year we’re combining all of our communication events into one special contest! Join us Monday, April 6th at 6:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Tekamah for an evening of creativity, confidence, and fun.

Pre-registration is due by NOON on April 6th.
Call 402-374-2929 or email stacey.keys@unl.edu / lwachter3@unl.edu to get signed up!

⭐ What’s Included in This Year’s Combined Contest

• Speech & PSA
  Participate in one or both! Clover Kid divisions (ages 5–7) included.

  ⚡ Impromptu Speech
  Draw a 4-H topic on-site, plan for 15 minutes, then present. Judged on knowledge, organization, and delivery.

  🖥️ Presentation Contest
  Divisions: Clover Kid, Junior, Senior
  Time: 6–8 min (individual), 8–10 min (team)
  Topics must relate to a 4-H project. Bring visuals on a USB or device (HDMI compatible). No live animals.

  🎥 Video Communications
  Create a 4-H-themed multimedia video judged on organization, quality, and creativity.

  
  

NEW location: Craig

Happening Wednesday, July 1st at 6:00 p.m. in Craig.

📣 Open to all Burt County 4-H members — Clover Kids too!

Join us for the Bicycle Rodeo — a fun, confidence-building event where kids learn real-world bike safety and test their skills in four challenges:

🚲 What’s Included:
• Quick & friendly safety quiz
• Balance Challenge
• Figure 8 Ride
• Slalom Race

🏆 Focus on fun, learning, and participation — not perfection!
🎉 Helmets encouraged
👪 Spectators welcome!

More details & practice tips:
👉 https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/burt/4-h-burt-county/contest-events

Reminder location: First Presbyterian Church, Lyons

📅 Thursday, July 2 | 🕕 6:00 PM

📍 First Presbyterian Church, Lyons
📝 Pre-register by NOON, July 2

Show off your cooking skills in this hands-on contest! Youth will:

• Make a favorite recipe from scratch

• Create a handwritten recipe & menu card

• Design a themed place setting & centerpiece

• Present & explain their dish to a judge

Divisions: Clover Kid (5–7), Junior (8–10), Intermediate (11–13), Senior (14+), Teams (2 members)

💡 Why Join? Build confidence, practice meal planning & nutrition, learn etiquette, and have fun sharing your favorite dish!

🔗 Ideas & guidance: Burt County 4-H Contests

📅 Date: Monday, July 6 | 🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Lee Valley Farms

Open to all 4-H & FFA youth (ages 8–18)! Pre-register by NOON on July 6.

Event Highlights:

• ✅ Safety Quiz – test your knowledge

• 🛠️ Practicum Test – spot issues on a tractor

• 🧭 Driving Skills Course – for all experience levels

Build real-world skills in safety, critical thinking, and equipment operation—while having fun!

📚 Study resources available online

Don’t miss your chance to drive, learn, and grow! 🌾

NEW date! Monday, July 13th (After Clothing Day the week of the Fair) |

6:00 PM | Rogers Sod Farm, Decatur | Pre-register: NOON, July 13

Do you have a rocket ready for the fair? Come get one of your required launches checked off at our Rocket Launch Contest! You'll be judged on how well your rocket launches and how confidently you can follow the proper launch procedures on your own.

It’s a great chance to show off what you’ve learned this year, soak up some sun, and connect with fellow 4-H'ers who share your passion for rocketry.

📚 Find resources and scoresheets here:

https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/burt/4-h-burt-county/contest-events/

The Special Garden Project is a way to offer Nebraska youth the chance to grow unusual and fun projects in their gardens.

The 2026 Special Garden Project will focus on 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.

Youth are encouraged to enroll for Horticulture/Plant Science through 4-H Online. To get your name on the list, contact Lori at the office: 402-374-2929 or lwachter3@unl.edu.

We're excited to announce that the 2026 Special Agronomy Project will be POPCORN! Details and a newsletter to follow in December.

Static exhibits not picked up at release time without Extension staff approval will forfeit premium monies.

MONDAY, July 20 - 8-9:30 p.m.-Release of static exhibits

To go with the fair theme of “Load the Wagon,” this year’s Burt County Photography Theme is “Wagons.” Let your imagination run wild! Your photo could feature anything from a classic red toy wagon, a utility wagon loaded with sports gear, a garden wagon full of flowers, or a rustic set of wagon wheels. Think parade wagons, farm wagons, camping wagons, or even a creative scene built from toys or objects around your home. Big or small, old or new—show us your most unique take. Make this theme your own!

Entry will consist of a picture no smaller than 4 inches x 6 inches. Explain in 100 words or less why this picture fits the theme. Photograph should be mounted on poster or matt board to protect it. Include name, address and where picture was taken on back of exhibit. Photography Data Tags are NOT required for this project.

For this year’s Fashion Show, the submission of fabric swatches with constructed garments will not be required.

(NOT Eligible for State Fair)

1. You may use a real cake or cake forms.
2. No non-edible items
3. Information Card Required:

• Occasion for use
• Step by step process
• Any problems you had
• Include frosting recipe/source (and cake if applicable)

DEPT. E / DIV. 430

CAKE DECORATING

• Class 901 Decorated Cookies: The cookie base can be purchased or homemade. It will be judged on creativity, and effective use of frosting and tips in decorating the exhibit.
• Class 902 Decorated Cupcakes: The cupcake base can be purchased or homemade. It will be judged on creativity, and effective use of frosting and tips in decorating the exhibit.
• Class 903 One Decorated Single Layer 8” or 9” Square or Round, or 9”x13” cake using no decorator tips (edible materials such as candies, pretzels and coconut should be used to create a design). A portion of the smooth base frosting should be visible.
• Class 904 One Decorated Character Cake (an entire cake which resembles the shape of a character or object made without cutting, other than a classic square, round, oblong, heart, hexagon, oval or petal cake shape.) Three dimensional cakes are acceptable – primarily decorated with the star tip or other tips appropriate to the design.
• Class 905 One Layer, Decorated Cake showing the use of different tips.
• Class 906 Two-layer, Decorated Cake (layers of the same size) showing the use of different tips.
• Class 907 One Decorated Cake or Cake Form of three or more tiers of graduated sizes, using supports. Separator plates and pillars may be used, but are not required.
• Class 908 Decorated, Two or Three Tiered or Layer Cake, using fondant icing. (Icing may be purchased or made from a recipe).
• Class 909 Shaped Cake Class created by cutting cake to form a different shape than cake was baked in.

D3347010 Shooting Sports Educational Exhibit or Display – new class

Create an educational exhibit or display relating to a topic about Shooting Sports. Displays involving firearms or bows may be exhibited as a photographic display on a poster or in a notebook. Handmade items must include information explaining how the item was made and its intended use. Photos are encouraged.

New division: Disaster Recovery and Response. All exhibits in this division are focused on preparing for or responding to a weather-related or man-made disaster.

• E440007 Disaster Preparedness Learning Experience – new class

• E440008 Care Package Display – new class

• E440009 Telling a Story Display – new class

E410005 Coffee Cake – class is the same, requirement of including the menu for a complete meal is no longer required

• 2026 Nebraska Tree list is available at http://go.unl.edu/ne4hforestry.

• Many new resources uploaded to http://go.unl.edu/ne4hforestry.

Due to the lifting of the quarantine restrictions in the state of Nebraska for all true ash species regarding the threat of Emerald Ash Borer, specimens such as Green Ash and White Ash will be accepted for all collections. Collections containing true ash species will NOT be disqualified from county or state judging.

Heirloom Treasurers & Family Keepsakes division is now Home and Family Restoration

• B181070 Black & White Photo – class addition

• B181080 Creative and Experimental Photography Exhibit – class addition

• B182070 Black & White Photo – class addition

• B182080 Creative and Experimental Photography Exhibit – class addition

NOTE: A judges training is planned April 2026 to prepare for judging the new Creative and Experimental photography exhibits. Staff, volunteers, and youth are welcome to attend the training.

Saturday, Januray 10, 2026

8:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Johnnie Johnson's Farm, Craig, NE

• County Only Tags, EID Tags and DNA envelopes will be available.
• Bring cash or check to pay for ear tags.
• Weigh-in is strongly encouraged but not required for market classes.
• Weigh-in is required to be eligible for Market Beef Rate of Gain!
• Please contact the office with questions. 402-374-2929
• Reminder - ALL State Fair livestock in 2026 will be required to pull DNA, not just market.

WATCH SOCIAL MEDIA/EMAIL FOR ANY WEATHER RELATED UPDATES

NEW: Exhibitors that want to show an animal for the NSF and Aksarben Stock Show (AKSS) will be required to submit two separate envelopes and online nominations. AKSS exhibitors will be ordering and purchasing their DNA envelopes through the AKSS website https://www.aksarbenstockshow.com/. The DNA process and online nomination process will be SEPERATE between Aksarben & 4-H livestock shows.

Exhibitors will be required to bring the breed registration association paperwork to check-in at State Fair for animals wanting to show in a breed class. The registration papers must show the exhibitor’s name or a co-owner who is an immediate member of the exhibitor’s family and is listed with the online nomination in Show Stock Manager. Family farm or ranch names will not be accepted.

Exhibitors will confirm that the ear tattoo and/or identification tag matches the animal nomination submitted by June 15 for confirmation of legibility and/or accuracy.

All entries must have EID & tattoo if applicable to be able to switch between breeding & market or from registered to commercial at State Fair.

Check out these resources to help you get started! We're hoping to have a workshop this summer to get everyone ready for the fair!

https://extension.unl.edu/animal-science-resources-4-h-projects/poultry/

SHOWMANSHIP

• 4‑H Poultry Showmanship
• Poultry Showmanship Made Easy
• Poultry Showmanship Steps
• Poultry Showmanship - YouTube by Brett Kreifels

Exhibitors must show their own animal. If an animal is owned in partnership, that animal may not be shown by two exhibitors in different age divisions. It can only be shown in showmanship by the exhibitor entering the animal in the regular market, progress, breeding, or feeder class. Once that animal has been checked in at fair, that exhibitor has full ownership and is the only one eligible to show the animal.

We’re expanding our herdsmanship judging team to provide even more positive feedback and learning opportunities for youth. If you’d like to help encourage and support our exhibitors, please contact the office.

Adding Fall Yearling class (calved Aug-Dec 2024)

All heifers must be born on or after August 1 as of two years preceding and on or before April 30 the current year. Crossbred and grade breeding heifers and purebred heifers which don't have breed association registration papers by entry day will be shown in commercial heifer classes. Registered heifers with valid registration papers will be shown in the breed classes.

When submitting Livestock ID Sheets, exhibitors agree to the following rules:

Animal Ownership

All beef, swine, sheep and goat project animals must be owned:

• solely by the 4-H exhibitor, or FFA exhibitor
• the exhibitor in partnership with other member(s) of his or her immediate family.
• All exhibitor family member names may be on the animal identification sheet and will be eligible to show that animal.
• Immediate family is defined as members of a household, including parents, brothers and sisters, and youth in the care of the head of the household.

FOR STATE FAIR: Livestock nominations for the Nebraska State Fair will be verified by the Extension Office using county ID sheets submitted by June 15. Family name(s), exhibitor name(s), and livestock identification must match between the county and State Fair nominations.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment.