BOONE & NANCE COUNTY HAPPENINGS
Thank You!
Thank you each and every one to all the 4-H’ers, parents, leaders, and volunteers who helped to make the 2025 Boone and Nance County Fairs a great success! We hope you had fun, made some new friends, and learned some new skills during the past year in 4-H. The Extension staff in the Boone and Nance County offices appreciate all your time, talent, and dedication to the 4-H program. We couldn’t do it without YOU!
76th Annual Norfolk Beef Expo
The 76th Annual Norfolk Beef Expo will be held at the Chuck Pohlman Ag Complex at the Northeast Community College campus on September 7. The Breeding Heifer competition will also be held again this year. NEW THIS YEAR: Market calves with be divided into classes by weight vs height. Entry forms, Animal care forms, and Scholarship Applications are available at https://norfolkareachamber.com/beef-expo/. Entries are due September 2.
Loup Valley 4-H
Horse Conference
Achievement Party Planned
Save the date for the Boone County 4-H Achievement Party! Plans are being made for October 19 at the Casey's Building at the Boone County Fairgrounds from 2 - 4 pm. You will receive your Fair Premiums from the Fair Board, Champion and Reserve Champion awards and Showmanship hoodies from the 4-H Council, Shooting Sports medals, and Photos from Cornhusker Public Power. Membership and Achievement awards will be given. You will need to complete your 4-H Story to earn your 4-H member year recognition award. Forms are available at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/boone-nance/boonenance-county-4-h/4-h-clubs-materials/. Refreshments will be provided by the 4-H Council. Elections for 4-H Council members will also be held. Save the date, and plan to attend!
Cornhusker Economics
Check out the market value of ag land in Nebraska, and the cash rental rates. Download the "Nebraska Farmland Values and Cash Rental Rates in 2025" (updated March 2025) at Cornhusker Economics.
To view other articles, go to https://agecon.unl.edu/cornhusker-economics
THE NEBRASKA STATE FAIR
The Nebraska State Fair is the premier opportunity for 4-H members to showcase what they have learned and worked on throughout the year. At the State Fair, we celebrate the successes of thousands of youth who have learned and grown through 4-H. The State Fair is a prime opportunity for 4-H members to cultivate skills they have learned in 4-H projects, put their life skills and good character to work, discover new areas of interest, and meet new people. The Nebraska State Fair is held yearly at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Grand Island, Nebraska. This year’s event will be held from August 22 - September 1, 2025.
Nebraska 4-H is only one part of the Nebraska State Fair. For more information about other activities, events, and contests happening, please visit the Nebraska State Fair website at https://www.statefair.org
Nebraska State Fair Livestock Deadlines
STATE FAIR LIVESTOCK DEADLINES
AUGUST 10, 8:00 PM - STATE FAIR ENTRIES DUE IN SHOWORKS https://nebr.fairwire.com/ (Opens July 1)
THE NEBRASKA STATE FAIR RUNS FROM AUGUST 22 TO SEPTEMBER 1, 2025. https://www.statefair.org/
State Fair Contests
All 4-H members planning to participate in any 4-H contest must be entered in ShoWorks before 8:00 PM CST on August 10. This entry process must be completed by the 4-H member (or their family). Fees must be paid for using a debit/credit card. There are no other payment options. Contest participants will not be entered by the county Extension office.
Fashion Show is considered a CONTEST and will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024, Raising Nebraska, State Fairgrounds - Grand Island, Nebraska. Entry must be made in advance via ShoWorks at https://nebr.fairwire.com/. The ShoWorks site closes at 8:00 p.m. Central Time on August 10. If you are eligible for the Fashion Show, you should have received a detailed letter.
Other available contests at the Nebraska State Fair are the Dog Skillathon, Horticulture Judging Contest, Insect Identification Contest, Tree Identification Contest, and Weed and Grass Identification Contest. Entry must be made for all contests at https://nebr.fairwire.com/ by 8:00 pm on August 10.
The website will close at that time, and there are no provisions for late entries. Please call the Extension Office if you need assistance.
STATE FAIR CONTESTS
All 4-H members planning to participate in any 4-H contest must be entered in ShoWorks before 8:00 PM CST on August 10. This entry process must be completed by the 4-H member (or their family). Fees must be paid for using a debit/credit card. There are no other payment options. Contest participants will not be entered by the county Extension office.
Fashion Show is considered a CONTEST and will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024, Raising Nebraska, State Fairgrounds - Grand Island, Nebraska. Entry must be made in advance via ShoWorks at https://nebr.fairwire.com/. The ShoWorks site closes at 8:00 p.m. Central Time on August 10. If you are eligible for the Fashion Show, you should have received a detailed letter.
Other available contests at the Nebraska State Fair are the Dog Skillathon, Horticulture Judging Contest, Insect Identification Contest, Tree Identification Contest, and Weed and Grass Identification Contest. Entry must be made for all contests at https://nebr.fairwire.com/ by 8:00 pm on August 10.
The website will close at that time, and there are no provisions for late entries. Please call the Extension Office if you need assistance.
State Fair T-shirts
NEW for 2025! 4-H families have the opportunity to purchase 4-H exhibitor shirts. Livestock exhibitor families may want to purchase an additional shirt, and 4-H static exhibitors have the opportunity to purchase a shirt for the first time!
Orders can be placed online at https://go.unl.edu/2025nsf4htshirts and are due August 10, 2025. No on-site purchase of shirts will be available. Only pick-up of pre-ordered shirts will be available.
4-H Project Showcase
The goal of the 4-H Project Showcase is to shine a spotlight on the youth behind the projects, tell their stories, and showcase the learning that happens through 4-H project experiences. Youth are asked to answer a few questions and provide at least one photo as part of the submission process. Pictures of youth with their projects are the best!
All enrolled 4-H members are invited to submit a project, and all 4-H projects are eligible! This includes county-only projects, live animal projects, projects involving contest participation, projects selected for State Fair, projects that didn’t make it to the county fair, etc. Of course, this is an excellent opportunity for youth to show off their favorite project, but this could also be an uplifting opportunity for youth whose projects didn’t go as planned or for newer members just getting started in 4-H.
All projects submitted by August 10 will be showcased on the 4-H Video Wall at the Nebraska State Fair! Some submissions may also be featured on the Nebraska 4-H website or social media channels throughout the year. Learn more and submit your project at 4h.unl.edu/project-showcase.
Going to State Fair
Boone County Fair exhibitors selected for State Fair with static exhibits are:
Clara Brengelman
Aidan Choat
Morgan Cumming
Kendall Fleer
Mackenzie Fleer
Mallorie Fleer
Danica Jensen
Rebekah Ketelsen
Laramie King
Annie Krohn
Caleb Krohn
Kasey Krohn
Bode Meyers
Audrey Miller
Baylor Neidhardt
Tinsley Neidhardt
Vienna Neidhardt
Eddan Sauser
Sawyer Sauser
Brynlee Schriver
Hadley Schriver
Dorothy Smith
Geneva Smith
Sarah Smith
Congratulations all for a job well done!
