Looking for the Fairbook or ID sheets? (County & State Fair)
What about information on Quality Assurance? (Miscellaneous)
Need forms, dates or deadlines?
You can find all this and more in Resources for 4-H and More Resources for 4-H below.
4-H NEWSLETTERS
NOVEMBER 4-H NEWSLETTER
- Wicked For Good
- Reserve Ribbon are Available
- Awards & Recognition
- Diamond Clover Awards
- 4-H Ambassador Applications are open
- Don & Martha Romeo Scholarship
- Calling All Teen Artists
- AI in Agriculture
THINGS TO DO & TRY
Nebraska Fed Steer Challenge applications now open!
Please apply by December 15th, 2025 for the 2026 program year. For more information regarding the Fed Steer Challenge, or to submit an application please visit https://4h.unl.edu/fed-steer-challenge
The Program includes raising a steer purchased at market price, monthly webinars with industry professional and UNL Animal Science Faculty, a special class at the Nebraska State Fair evaluated by a commercial cattle buyer, and harvesting steers to evaluate carcass merit. Monthly content includes: Feeder Cattle Pricing and Starting Cattle on Feed, Winter Feeding & Care of Cattle, Implants & Growth Modifiers, Cattle & the Environment, Risk Management Strategies, Summer Feeding & Care of Cattle, Quality & Yield Grading and Grid Pricing for Carcass Merit.
Nebraska Dairy Ambassador Program
Students with a strong interest in promoting dairy can now apply to be a dairy ambassador in one of five states across the Midwest, including Nebraska. The Dairy Ambassador program is a unique educational and leadership opportunity that allows students to connect with consumers to share about dairy, represent Nebraska’s dairy farmers, and gain valuable network experience with peers and dairy industry professionals.
The Nebraska Dairy Ambassador Program offers selected students the chance to engage in a variety of activities, such as representing the dairy industry at the Nebraska State Fair and agricultural literacy festivals, partnering with organizations to promote dairy at key events, and participating in dairy industry meetings and leadership opportunities designed to develop communications and advocacy skills.
To be eligible in Nebraska, applicants must be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate or graduate in a Nebraska post-secondary school or a Nebraska high school senior (12th grade), and 18 years of age by January 1 during the current program year. In addition, applicants may be accepted into the program for up to two years.
Applicants are not required to have an agriculture background but must have a strong interest in dairy and the resources to communicate effectively through email, text messaging, and in-person.
This is a one-year program, running from January through December 2026 and up to seven students will be selected as Nebraska Dairy Ambassadors. Ambassadors will receive a $100 stipend for each Midwest Dairy-approved event they attend, and travel expenses related to participation will be covered. Upon successfully completing the program, ambassadors will be eligible for an educational scholarship of up to $1,000.
Eligible students can apply online at http://www.MidwestDairy.com, by navigating to the “Young Dairy Leaders” section and selecting “Ambassador Program”. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the “Dairy Ambassador Application”. Be sure to select Nebraska under “Select State”. Applications are due December 1, 2025. Selected ambassadors will be notified by January 10, 2026.
For more information or questions, contact Tracy J. Behnken, Manager, Farmer Relations, at tbehnken@midwestdairy.com or 531-207-4291.
More details at: https://www.MidwestDairy.com
Special Garden Project
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. Youth will then have to reach out to their local Extension Office to sign up and order the seeds. It will be up to the county office to keep track of the youth that signed up and share the educational materials including the growing newsletter & evaluation (included at the end of the growing newsletter).
CLOVER by 4-H
The CLOVER by 4-H Webinar Series is designed to help educators, volunteers, and program leaders get the most out of the CLOVER platform.
Each month, the series explores a different aspect of CLOVER -- from practical, educator-to-educator discussions on how to use CLOVER in programming, to step-by-step demonstrations of new platform features and educator resources. Sessions also highlight curriculum development, share evaluation outcomes, and provide a preview of what’s ahead for CLOVER in 2026. With a mix of interactive panels, demos, and insights from peers, the series offers valuable learning and collaboration opportunities for anyone looking to bring positive youth development to life through CLOVER.
Join the next CLOVER by 4-H Webinar on Thursday, November 20, at 11am CT/10am MT to learn more about Submitting and Developing CLOVER Curriculum.
Register for the webinar series at https://4-h.org/clover/resources. The CLOVER Educator Video Library, CLOVER Resources, and marketing resources are also available at this site.
More details at: https://4-h.org/clover/resources
Resources for 4-H
JOIN 4-H
- 4-H online enrollment site
- Code of Conduct
- Volunteer screening information
- Project Resources
4-H CONTESTS
- Favorite Foods
- Public Speaking
- Presentation
- Music
- Clothing Day
CAMPS, WORKSHOPS & CLINICS
- 4-H Workshops
- Large and Small Animals
- Horse/Equine
More Resources for 4-H
4-H Council
- Meet Dakota County 4-H Council
- Minutes
- Constitution & Bylaws
4-H Ambassadors
- Meet the Ambassadors
- Ambassador application
County & State Fair
- Fairbook
- Livestock affidavits
- Entry Forms
- Dates/Deadlines
Miscellaneous
- Quality Assurance
- Grievance Committee/form
- Substitute Showman
- Trophys
- News Releases (contests & fair events)
Special Garden Project
The Special Gardening Project lets 4-H members try their hand at growing unusual vegetables, flowers, fruit, and herbs. The project allows experienced 4-H gardeners to grow something fun, new, and different while letting those new to gardening get their hands dirty in this project area.
The 2025 Special Garden Project will focus on the 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. This project is open to all youth of 4-H ages 5-18 and it will give them the opportunity to learn about growing, harvesting, and exhibiting this unique fruit.
Youth are encouraged to enroll for Horticulture/Plant Science through 4-H Online. Youth will then have to reach out to their local Extension Office to sign up and order the seeds.
Special Agronomy Project
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.
Be eligible to enter an exhibit at the County and/or State Fair in the agronomy project area.
Enroll for the 2025 Special Agronomy Project through 4-H Online by enrolling in the Agronomy project and contacting your local Nebraska Extension Office to order packets of seeds. The local Extension Office will order and distribute the seeds to members. Please have your order placed prior to March 1st.
For project specifications and details, be sure to go to the Nebraska State Fairbook at https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/rules.
4-H In Dakota County
4-H in Dakota prepares our young peple for successful futures. The Educational programs place a strong emphasis on life skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, social skills, communication responsibility, citizenship, and leadership.
Dakota County 4-H members are either in clubs or join as independent members. There are three clubs in Dakota County
- Dad's Cowhands & Mother's Helpers
- Homer Future Leaders
- Hubbard Jr Feeders
- Independent members
Contact the Extension Office for information on joining 4-H
2025 4-H CALENDAR
JANUARY |
| 1 - Office Closed, New Years Day 20 - Office closed—Martin Luther King Day |
FEBRUARY |
Nebraska 4-H month 1- Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort registration deadline |
MARCH |
| 3 - Extension Board meeting 3 - 4-H Council meeting 17 - 4-H All Contest Day - Registration deadline 21 - 4-H Robotics Expansion event (UNL) 22 - All Contest Day (United Church, Pender, NE) 22- Siouxland Garden Symposium, Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, SC, IA 28 29 - 4-H Horse stampede, UNL Animal Science Complex 31 - Dakota County 4-H Scholarship due |
APRIL |
| 5 - Big Red Camp - Early bird tuition deadline 7 - Dakota County Extension Board 12 - All Contest Rain Date 14 - Joint 4-H Council (TBD) 20-26 - National Volunteer Week 22 - Easter Sunday |
MAY |
| 5 - Extension Board meeting 26 - Office closed Memorial Day 29 - All horse ID’s, district & State Entries DUE 31 - 4-H Foundation Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Award Deadline |
JUNE |
| 2 - Extension Board meeting 9 - 4-H Council meeting 15 - Apply to State Livestock Achievement program (final report 8/1) 15 - ALL LIVESTOCK ID’S AFFIDAVITS DUE 15 - State Fair livestock nominations/DNA due 15 - Final enrollment/project deadline 17 - 18 - P.A.S.E. UNL 19 -20 - Premier Communications Event—UNL |
JULY |
| 4 - Office closed Independence Day 7 - Extension Board 12-16—Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Expo 16 - ALL County Fair pre-entry deadline 26 - Fairgrounds Cleanup day 28 - 4-H Clothing Day, Fairgrounds 27 --August 3 - County Fair Week |
AUGUST |
| July 27- August 3. - County Fair Week 10 - State Fair Animal & in person entries due 20 - Static entries to for delivery to State fair 22 - September 1—Nebraska State Fair 22-24 - 4-H State Fair Livestock Show Weekend |
SEPTEMBER |
| August 23—September 1 - Nebraska State Fair August 30- September 1 - State Fair FFA Livestock Show weekend 1 - Office Closed - Labor Day 8 - 4-H Council meeting (may be a joint meeting TBD) 25-28 - Ak-Sar-Ben Stock Show, Fonner Park Grand Island |
OCTOBER |
| 5-11—National 4-H Week 6 - Extension Board meeting 31 - Happy Halloween |
NOVEMBER |
| 3 - Extension Board meeting 1 - Office closed - Veterans Day 27-28 - Office Closed, Thanksgiving Holiday |
DECEMBER |
1 - Extension Board meeting
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