Seward County 4-H Newsletter

June 1: Fairwire opens

June 1: State 4-H Horse Show entries due

June 1: Fair T-Shirt orders are open until June 28

June 3: Flour Power Summer Maker Day

June 4: Nourish & Flourish Summer Maker Day

June 10: Jr. Leader Day Camp

June 11: Adventure Smart Summer Maker Day

June 15: 4-H Enrollment, YQCA, I.D sheets due

June 17: Clover Kid Summer Maker Day

June 17: Rivets & Rockets Summer Maker Day

June 18: Stitch, Sparkle & Shine Summer Maker Day

June 19: Extension Office Closed

June 24: Threaded Together Summer Maker Day

June 25: General Sumer Maker Day

Visit v2.4honline.com to enroll in 4-H today. Call the Extension Office at (402) 643-2981 with any questions on how to join or enroll.

Families, don’t forget—enrollment is required each year for youth to participate in the county fair, contests, and all 4-H activities. Completing enrollment by June 15 ensures your member(s) are eligible to exhibit projects, show animals, and take part in all the events you’ve been preparing for.

We know how much time, learning, and effort goes into your 4-H projects—enrolling on time makes sure all that hard work can be shared and celebrated at fair and beyond! It also helps us keep you informed about important updates, schedules, and opportunities throughout the 4-H year.

Take a few minutes now to enroll so your family is all set for another great season of 4-H fun. We’re looking forward to seeing all your projects and cheering you on at the fair!

seward.fairwire.com

The 2026 Seward County Fair will be held from July 23-26

The Seward County Fairgrounds website can be viewed at this link https://www.sewardcountyfairgrounds.com/

Thursday, July 9th at the Extension Office

Static: 6:30 p.m.

Livestock: 7:30 p.m.

Register here 4-H Summer Maker Days – Fill out form

While the name has changed, the goal remains the same: to provide hands‑on, engaging learning experiences that spark creativity and build practical skills.

This year’s format focuses on afternoon sessions, each centered around key 4‑H program areas such as home design, STEM, and other creative project spaces. Youth will leave each session with take‑home projects and ideas they can use for county fair exhibits, making this a great way to jump‑start their summer learning and fair preparation.

More details on session topics, times, and registration will be shared soon. We’re looking forward to a fun, skill‑building summer and hope your youth will join us for this new 4‑H Summer Maker Days experience!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Online store is open now through June 28th.

PICK UP YOUR ORDER AT MIDDLE CREEK PRINTING STARTING JULY 10TH.

4-H Youth Order link (free for 4-H youth only): https://stores.middlecreekprinting.com/sewardcounty4h

Friends of 4-H, Family Members, use this Link ($12)

https://stores.middlecreekprinting.com/friendsof4h/

Exhibitor t-shirts are provided free by the Seward County 4-H Foundation. A thank you may be sent to: Nebraska Extension Seward County, % Seward 4-H Foundation, 322 S 14th Street, Seward, NE 68434

Thank you, Seward County 4-H Foundation, for your support of Seward County 4-H youth!

Our 4-H Food Stand can't run without the help of our members and volunteers! Please consider donating a food item to reduce the costs and make this a great fundraiser for our program!

Click here to sign up https://go.unl.edu/zvr5

The proceeds of the 4-H Food Stand go towards our scholarship program and other educational programming throughout the year.

What we are asking for to keep the menu as consistent as possible:

Cinnamon Rolls - Prefer the Rhodes Bake N-Serv.
Baked Goods - Brownies, Cookies, or Bars that are individually packaged that would be worth a dollar.
Gatorade 20 oz bottles - Frost is most popular.

Pop 16 oz bottles - Diet Dr. Pepper is the most popular and Diet Pepsi and Pepsi is least popular, so we'll need Diet Dr. Pepper, Dr. Pepper, Coke, Diet Coke, Root Beer, Sprite, Mt. Dew, a little bit of Pepsi and a little bit of Diet Pepsi.

https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/seward/

Teens Needed for Day Camp

The annual 4-H Day Camp is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10th. Jr. Leaders are looking for 4-H’ers ages 13–18 to volunteer as Day Camp Counselors. Volunteers need to be available for training on June 9 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on June 10th.

If you enjoy working with children and being part of a fun team, this opportunity is for you! Counselor responsibilities include leading groups, teaching at stations, and assisting with other activities throughout the day to ensure a safe and positive camping experience for all participants.

To sign up or learn more, please call the Extension Office or contact Jacie Pelikan.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 17th

TIME: Registration 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Contest runs from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Fairgrounds Pond in Seward

Staplehurst Livestock will provide worms and will have hot dogs, chips, and water for all participants. All 4-H ages welcome to this event! See you there!

We’re excited to announce that the Seward County Ag Society will once again recognize long-term 4-H and FFA youth with a personalized banner at the 2026 Seward County Fair! These banners will be proudly displayed throughout the fairgrounds. Youth who meet one of the following criteria are eligible to receive a banner:

At least eight years of participation in 4-H at the Seward County Fair

At least three years of participation in FFA at the Seward County Fair

Please note: Banners are a one-time recognition. If you received one in a previous year, you are not eligible to receive another. However, you may choose to delay receiving your banner if you'd prefer to be recognized during or after your senior year.

An email with a link to request a banner was sent prior, contact the office if you need the link.

If you have questions, feel free to contact our office.

We look forward to celebrating your accomplishments at the fair!

.22 Silhouette: June 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

• Deadline: June 2nd
• Time: Normal practice time
• Where: Isaak Walton

Shotgun Tournament: July 12th

• Deadline: July 5th
• Time: 8:00 am
• Where: Isaak Walton
• Awards Banquet and Potluck to follow, more details to come

Completed bench due to the fairgrounds by Monday, July 20th at check-in (5:00-8:00p.m.), or Tuesday, July 21st by noon.

Three categories:

1) Constructed bench

2) Upcycled bench (remade from other items)

3) Refurbished bench (existing bench that has been refinished or repainted in some way.)

Please include:

• Photos of members of your club assisting with the project.
• Make sure club’s name is on a tag so we know who made it.
• Benches will be judged, and prizes will be awarded according to creativity, neatness, teamwork (shown through pictures), and overall appearance.
• Benches will be displayed in the 4-H Center.
• Clubs can choose to participate in a silent auction for the bench.
• 75% of the proceeds will go back to the 4-H club
• 25% will go to the 4-H Council

Beginning Monday, June 1st, call or text Jenn Nantkes to reserve your spot! If payment is made on or before Fair Clean Up Night (July 15th), spots will only be $200. All payments made July 16th and later will be $300.

There are only 36 spots available. Don't miss out!

Jenn's contact information: 402-641-1573

Beef Production - Bucket Calf - 4-H Partners

July 1: Due to Extension Office

July 8: Interviews at Extension Office

• Call the Extension Office to schedule your interview
• Record books may be picked up at our office or can be downloaded from our website

1. No Record Book for Homegrown and/or County Bred and Fed Classes.

- Must complete the Verification Form and Animal ID sheet.

- Check the 2026 Fair book for complete rules (coming soon).

2. Market Lambs

- No weight limits.

- Will be divided into divisions following the weigh-in.

3. Hogs

- Exhibitors may enter up to a total of 6 hogs.

- No weight limit for market hogs. All market hogs will be weighed and separated into weight divisions of gilts and barrows.

4. Dairy Cattle

- Exhibitors may enter up to a total of 6 dairy animals.

5. Dairy Goat

- Any Dairy goat that does not meet the breed standard for a dairy goat or meet the fair book exhibit rules, will be shown in the Companion Goats Division Class 3 Other—Wethers and Does Only, in the Meat Goat Show.

County Fair: Animal I.D.'s due to the Extension Office June 15th.

NE State Fair I.D. Nominations and DNA Envelopes due June 15th.

Submit DNA to the Extension office, and submit nominations via Showstock Manager. Click this link for more information https://showstockmgr.com/

Info for the NE State Fair Livestock Identification and Nomination may be found here:

https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/state-fair/livestock-exhibitor/livestock-identification/

Reminder: Females may be nominated as breeding or market. Please submit only one DNA envelope for each animal nominated.

To exhibit at the NE State Fair, original registration papers must be presented at the time of check-in. NO PRINTED PAPER COPIES OR SCREENSHOTS ACCEPTED. Original registration papers or electronic documents presented using a tablet or smartphone will be accepted if pulled up from the respective breed website.

For the State Fair, registration papers must show one of the following:

• Name of exhibitor and/or a co-owner who is an immediate member of the exhibitor’s family and is listed with the online nomination in the official online database. Family farm or ranch names will not be accepted.

*Immediate family is defined as members of a household, including parents, brothers, sisters, and youth in the care of the head of the household.

Exhibitors who want to exhibit livestock at the Nebraska State Fair and Aksarben Stock Show will be required to submit two separate envelopes and online nominations.

Nebraska State Fair 4-H/FFA exhibits will use DNA envelopes provided by the Seward County Extension Office.

State Fair nominations submit here: https://showstockmgr.com/

Aksarben nominations and envelopes will go through this website: https://www.aksarbenstockshow.com/

Contact Cindy Wolverton for more information.

402-643-2981

cwolverton3@unl.edu

All Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Halter horse exhibitors must stall their horse in their assigned stall during the Seward County Fair.

This includes:

Grand Champion Mare

Reserve Grand Champion Mare

Grand Champion Gelding

Reserve Grand Champion Gelding

Grand Champion Pony

Reserve Grand Champion Pony

The Grand and Reserve Grand Champions are to be in place Wednesday, July 22nd through Sunday, July 26th.

*Superintendents: Christi Arnold and Courtney Kossow

Seward County Sheriff's Posse will sponsor Award Buckles for the High Point Rider in each age division.

Award Divisions:

• High Point Senior Rider

• High Point Intermediate Rider

• High Point Junior Rider

Each division winner will receive:

• A High Point Buckle and a Certificate of Achievement

How It Works:

• Youth are automatically entered based on qualifying classes selected through Fairwire by July 1st.

• Riders must enter at least 3 qualifying classes, choosing from the following categories: any Performance class, Showmanship, Horsemanship, Trail , or games

Scoring System:

Points are awarded per class as follows:

Champion = 6 points

Res Champion = 5 points

Purple = 4 points

Blue = 3 Points

Red = 2 Points

White = 1 Point

Note: Points are awarded regardless of the number of participants. A single-entry class can still earn 6 points if awarded Champion.

Updates and Awards:

• Point standings will be updated at lunch and the end of Day 1.

• Winners will be announced at the end of the show on Day 2.

July 20-21

Monday, July 20

• Check-in at 7:00 a.m.
• Show starts at 8:00 a.m.
• Classes: 4-H Partner Showmanship, Showmanship, Halter, Walk Trot, English Pleasure, English Equitation, Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, Ranch Rail Pleasure, Trail

Tuesday, July 21

• Check-in at 3:30 p.m.
• Show starts at 4:00 p.m.
• Classes: Dummy Roping, Ground Roping, Poles, Barrels, Keyhole, Flag Race

JUNE 1: Horse I.D., 2/3 year old affidavit, and completed Advanced Horsemanship Level submitted to the Extension office.

Entries here: https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/horse-program/horse-expo/show-entry/

New: Ranch Riding is now a Level 2 required class.

Let us know as soon as possible if your club will be changing organizational leaders so we can update our address lists. Thank you to all of the 4-H club leaders who do the important work of positive youth development.

Meeting Minutes

4-H club meeting minutes are needed for each organized meeting your 4-H club holds. Thank you to those clubs who have been turning them in after each meeting. If your club has not turned them in yet, please do so before the end of the year.

Ann Dobesh - ann.dobesh@unl.edu

Emily Manning - emily.manning@unl.edu

Jacie Pelikan - jpelikan3@unl.edu

Cindy Wolverton - cwolverton3@unl.edu

Jill Payne - jpayne15@unl.edu

Lori Hamling - lhamling2@unl.edu

Julie Roebke - jroebke2@unl.edu

Email: seward-county@unl.edu

Website: https://seward.unl.edu

Location: 322 South 14th, Seward, NE

Phone: 402-643-2981

See additional information on our Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/ExtensionSewardCo

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. Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.