Wednesday What-Nots 7/1

Look for weekly Otoe County Fair reminders, upcoming deadlines, and important 4-H content now through August.

Missed a week? Check out our online newsletter archive at https://secure.smore.com/u/otoe4-h

The Favorite Foods Revue Contest was developed to help 4-H members learn the valuable skills in table setting, planning a menu, writing recipe, and food preparation. These members will be able to use these important etiquette skills when the need arises.

Register online through otoe.fairwire.com

Come to the Otoe Co Fair Arena Thursday Evening July 30th to kick off the Otoe County Fair with a 4-H family picnic followed by Water Balloon Warz and the Static Award ceremony (Kimmel). You don't want to miss the fun! Bring your lawn chairs and yard games and see your fair friends (both old and new)!

The 4-H division at the Otoe County Fair needs you! Volunteering with 4-H is about more than giving your time it's about investing in the next generation. Watching young people grow in confidence, develop new skills, and discover their potential is incredibly rewarding. Every opportunity to mentor, encourage, and support our youth helps build stronger leaders and stronger communities. Proud to be part of the 4-H family! 💚🍀

4-H Fun Night Volunteers

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E044AA8A72BA46-64629651-2026#/

Static Check-in & Contests

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E044AA8A72BA46-64605746-2026

Livestock and Animals

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E044AA8A72BA46-64607806-2026

Youth Signup

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E044AA8A72BA46-64608145-2026

Register at otoe.fairwire.com to reserve your spot. Limited to 12 registrants.

Now available within Showorks! No more paper records at check- in - be sure to sign up for this special award when you enter your fair projects online.

1. Choose Department: Outstanding Exhibitor and Division: Outstanding Exhibitor. Then choose which "Class" you are competing in by selecting the category you'd like to enter.

2. You may enter more than one "Class".

3. Categories for each class will be divided by age into Juniors, Intermediates, and Seniors (no Clover Kids).

4. Scoring is the same as previous years: Purples 5 points and Blues 2 points. No points for reds and whites. 4 Bonus points will be given for interview judging in that category.

5. Entry due date: July 22nd

6. The winners in each age group and category will be posted during the fair and will receive a $20 check from the 4-H Council.

Fifteen clubs will be selected to receive $500 to complete their project. Award funds will be issued in around July 15th.

Clubs should submit their application and all materials to Lindsay Shearer via email on or before July 10th, 2026.

DON'T WAIT! FAIR ENTRIES ARE OPEN NOW!

Here are the updated links to the Otoe County Fair Fairbook. Go to https://go.unl.edu/otoecofairbook

You can now submit your fair entries online. Go to https://otoe.fairwire.com. For the full 2026 Fair Schedule go to: https://go.unl.edu/otoecofairschedule

Online Entry deadlines (tell us for sure what you'll bring to the fair):

• July 1: Shooting Sports and Dog entries
• July 15: ALL Animal entries (livestock, horse, small animal, etc.), Fashion Show entries and required paperwork, and Rocket Launch contest
• July 22: Static entries and Outstanding Exhibitor

Be on the lookout for any Fairbook Corrections on this page!

Here is the current list of 2026 Fairbook corrections:

• Archery contest: Sunday, July 12 at 3:00 pm
• Air Rifle Contest: Sunday, July 19 at 2:00 pm
• BB Gun Contest: Sunday, July 19 at 3:30 pm and 4:45 pm
• Dog Contest: Sunday, July 19 at 1:00 pm
• Companion Animal: Rule #5 exhibit 1 animal per class. Rule #6 1 entry per class
• Horse Ranch Riding: Class 002 - 8 to 13 years old
• Fashion Show: Rule #2 max of 4 entries
• Fashion Show entry deadline is July 15th, and required paperwork is available here: https://uofnebraska.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/UNL-Otoe/IgANIowYkWsGRJQZvxa9fuS8AZdPSl_9yuCzepE7jWznzNw?e=AggtZe
• Disaster Response, Preparedness, and Safety (p46): Classes 1, 2, 5, and 6 are missing from the fairbook. Please visit:

  https://4h.unl.edu/4-h-fairbook-nebraska-state-fair/static-exhibits/disaster-response-preparedness-and-safety/ for full details on these classes.

• Horse Costume Contest now in Showorks

Once livestock are checked in at the Otoe County fairgrounds, they must stay until the 9:00am Monday release. Any livestock that leave early will forfeit their premium. Please refer to the general 4-H rules and regulations in the fairbook for more details.

All registered BEEF & SWINE animals planning to be entered in PUREBRED BREEDING and MARKET classes must present their registration papers at county fair check-in.

Registered BREEDING SHEEP planning to compete in a PUREBRED BREEDING class must also present their registration papers at county fair check-in.

If registration papers cannot be presented, the animal will still be eligible to show, but only in a crossbred or commercial class.

The Otoe County Achievement Application will go digital for Fall 2026!

We will utilize the state's achievement application as our base application. https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/awards-recognition/achievement-application/ And then we'll use our own digital form to collect the applications for county judging.

In addition, there have been a few changes to our county-level categories and awards. Highlights include:

i. Clover Dollar awards have been discontinued. To attend camps related to their project area of interest, 4-H members are encouraged to utilize the 4-H Foundation's camp scholarship awards program. https://otoe4hfoundation.org/camp-scholarships/

ii. Community Service Awards will now award a first ($75) and second ($50) place entry in each age division.

iii. All other awards will increase their amounts given to winners, for a total of $50 per award, with the exception of Outstanding 4-H Member Awards ($50, $75, and $100).

Check out all changes via the NEW digital Achievement Application submission form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/UFwFv4NaUS

i. We're still working on a detailed list of the awards and their criteria. We appreciate your patience as we work to get these details out as soon as we can. Please reach out with questions.

Tracy Ensor, 4-H Youth Development Associate Extension Educator, tensor2@unl.edu

Ben Jewell, Rural Prosperity Nebraska Associate Extension Educator, bmcshane-jewell2@unl.edu

Nathan Roth, 4-H Extension Assistant, nroth14@unl.edu

Megan Anderson, Office Manager, manderson230@unl.edu

Emily Van Meter, 4-H Summer Intern

Website: www.otoe.unl.edu

Location: 620 1st Street, Syracuse, NE, USA
Phone: (402) 269-2301
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nebraska-Extension-in-Otoe-County