4-H is an organization designed to help youth become productive citizens and catalysts for positive change to meet the needs of a diverse and changing society.
Thank you for your interest in Buffalo County 4-H!
Our program is open to ALL YOUTH, of ALL ABILITIES ages 5 to 18. Annual enrollment is now open for the 2024-2025 4-H year! If youth wish to exhibit at the 2025 Buffalo County Fair, they must be enrolled by the June 15 deadline! Youth and Volunteers need to enroll each year. To enroll in Buffalo County 4-H, visit 4-H Online and log in with your previous year's credentials, or if you are new, create an account. The cost of enrollment is $10 per Traditional 4-H youth ages 8-18 (as of January 1 of the current year) and $5 per Clover Kid youth ages 5-7 (as of January 1 of the current year). To use a debit or credit card, payment must be made in 4-H Online as part of the initial enrollment. You can also pay at the Extension office by cash or check only.
Clubs
The purpose of a 4-H club is to provide positive youth development opportunities to meet the needs of young people to experience belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity! While joining a club has many benefits, youth can also join 4-H as an Independent member and work at their own pace. For more on clubs and how to start your own, visit https://4h.unl.edu/programs-clubs. If you would like to know more about Buffalo County 4-H Clubs, contact the Buffalo County Extension office at 308-236-1235.
Projects
Projects provide the basis of the 4-H program by offering various educational experiences. Carrying out a project will help the member "learn by doing" as well as learn "why" things happen the way they do. For more on projects, visit https://4h.unl.edu/projects.
Want to Share Your 4-H Experience With Others? Paint a Canvas for 4-H Month!
Buffalo County Extension is appointing Buffalo County 4-H members, their parents and alumni to help celebrate National 4-H Month this February with a little creativity! Stop by the Extension office to pick up a canvas to paint your favorite 4-H memory, project, something you learned in 4-H or why you love 4-H. All paintings will be on display at the Kearney Public Library in February. Complete your masterpiece and bring it back to the Buffalo County Extension by January 31st. We look forward to displaying everyone's creations at the library!
Goldie Husk Cherry
Special Garden Project
Grow Something New This Year!
The Special Garden Project is a way to offer Nebraska youth the chance to grow unusual and fun projects in their gardens. The 2025 Special Garden Project will focus on Goldie Husk Cherry. This old-fashioned fruit from the tomato family has sweet berries inside golden husks. The fruits have many uses and can be eaten raw, dried, frozen, canned or made into tasty treats like pies, desserts or preserves.When enrolling youth in 4-H, please select Horticulture/Plant Science as the project area for the Special Garden Project. Please call 308-236-1235 to sign up and to get your seeds ordered by January 24. Educational materials and a growing newsletter will be given to all participants when seeds are picked up.
Sunflowers
Special Agronomy Project
Check Out How to Present at Fair
The Nebraska Extension Special Agronomy Project gives 4-H members an opportunity to experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska. Youth participate by receiving seed and resources to grow the crop, research traits of the crop and determine the viability of that crop in the part of the state they live in. The project allows 4-H members interested in agronomy to grow something fun, new, and different. This year, we will be exploring a crop that can be marketed different ways depending on the variety. In the fifth year of the special agronomy project, youth will explore sunflowers! There are two types of sunflower production in Nebraska. There are those grown for oil production, and those grown for human food consumption referred to as confectionery seeds. A portion of the oil seed production is used in the bird seed industry. Sunflowers are grown throughout the state of Nebraska with the greatest concentration in western Nebraska. The variety we will be growing is a high oleic hybrid. Its oil profile combined with a nice black seed color ensures multiple market options. If you would like to participate in this project, please contact the Buffalo County Extension at 308-236-1235 to order your seeds by February 26. Be sure to select Agronomy when enrolling in 4-H Online.
Articles by Buffalo County 4-H Staff
