YQCA (Youth for the Quality Care of Animals)

4-H In Dakota County

YQCA logo with silhouettes of farm animals above colorful text.

  https://yqcaprogram.org/login/index.php  Quality Assurance website: (or in the Miscellaneous section)

Need forms, dates or deadlines?
You can find all this and more in Resources for 4-H and More Resources for 4-H below.

LIVESTOCK iD'S & AFFIDAVITS

sample Form layout for Nebraska 4-H and FFA livestock ownership affidavit

4-H NEWSLETTERS

MAY 4-H NEWSLETTER

  • All Contest Day results
  • Congratulations Graduates
  • Garden and Agronomy seeds are in
  • The fairbook is live on our website
  • 4-H State Horse Show
  • Livestock, tags and DNA envelopes
  • Showstock manager is open
  • YQCA regsiter to take online or inperson
  • Local summer camps and workshops
  • Try out a Discover Box
  • Ag 360 explorf Hawaii, Alaska and Nebraska
  • Tractor & Equipment Safety Training
  • Heavy Equipment Careeer Exploration
  • Special Lied Center offer
  • and so much more in this May issue of 4-H news
green clover in hand
2026 4-H Calendar
Scroll to the bottom of this page to view.

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

4-H In Dakota County

4-H in Dakota prepares our young people 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
  • Omadi Legacy Trailblazers

Contact the Extension Office for information on joining 4-H

 

2026 4-H CALENDAR

JANUARY

1 /2- Office Closed, New Years Day
19 - Office closed—Martin Luther King Day

FEBRUARY

1 - Dakota County Achievement Celebration 
1-  Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort registration deadline
2-  Extension Board meeting
4 - NACEB Meeting—Lincoln
6 -  Chamber coffee hour hosted by Extension Office
9 - Dakota County &  Joint 4-H Council meeting 
10- Big Red Camp registration open
15 - 4-H Enrollments and volunteer enrollments due
16- Office closed Presidents Day
18 - D-T Fair Board Meeting at Pender Fire Hall; 7:00PM
24 -  Pesticide training Extension Office 

MARCH

2 - Extension Board meeting
2 - 4-H Council meeting
3 -  Volunteer Training—Haskell Ag Lab
15 -  Jarvis Memorial Scholarship Application DUE
18 -  D-T Fair Board Meeting at Pender Firehall 7:00PM
31 - Dakota County 4-H Scholarship due  

APRIL

5 - Easter Sunday
6- Dakota County Extension Board
11 - Siouxland Garden Symposium, Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, SC, IA
15 -  Horse Stampede entries due
15 -  D-T Fair Board Meeting at Pender FireHall  7:00PM
18 -  Rocket Launch—Haskell Ag Lab
20 - 4-H All Contest Day - Registration deadline
19-25 - National Volunteer Week
25 -  All Contest Day
25-26 - 4-H Horse stampede, UNL Animal Science Complex 

MAY

4 - Extension Board meeting
4 -  Dakota County 4-H Council meeting
12 -  Quality Assurance Training (in person) Dakota Extension Office
15 -  4-H Foundation Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Award  Deadline"
20 -  D-T Fair Board Meeting at D-T Fairgrounds 7:00PM
25 - Office closed Memorial Day
26 -  Quality Assurance Train (In person) Haskell Ag Lab
27-29 -  Premier Animal Science event—Lincoln
29 -  All horse ID’s, district & State Entries DUE  

JUNE

1 - Extension Board meeting
5 -  Babysitting Clinic—SSC Library
15 - ALL LIVESTOCK ID’S AFFIDAVITS DUE
15 - State Fair livestock nominations/DNA due
15 - Final enrollment/project deadline
19 -20 - Premier Communications Event—UNL
29 -  4-H Council meeting 

JULY

3 - Office closed Independence Day
6- Extension Board
11-15 Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Expo
15 - ALL County Fair pre-entry deadline & YQCA
15 -  D-T Fair Board meeting at D-T Fairgrounds  7::00PM
25 - Fairgrounds Cleanup day
27 - 4-H Clothing Day, Fairgrounds
26  - August 3 - County Fair Week 

AUGUST

July 26- August 2. - County Fair Week
3 -  Fairgrounds clean up day
10 - State Fair Animal & in person entries due
19 -  D-T Fair Board Meeting at D-T Fairgrounds; 7:00PM
25 -  State fair exhibit due to Extension Office
28 - September 7—Nebraska State Fair
28-30 - 4-H State Fair Livestock Show Weekend 

SEPTEMBER

August 28—September  7- Nebraska State Fair
September 5 -  7  State Fair FFA Livestock Show weekend
7- Office Closed  - Labor Day
14- 4-H Council meeting (may be a joint meeting TBD)
24-27 - Ak-Sar-Ben Stock Show, Fonner Park Grand Island 

OCTOBER

4-10—National 4-H Week
5- Extension Board meeting
21 -  D-T Fair Board Meeting at D-T Fairgrounds 7:00PM
31 - Happy Halloween 

NOVEMBER

2 - Extension Board meeting
2 -  Dakota County 4-H Council Meeting
11 - Office closed -  Veterans Day
26-27 - Office Closed, Thanksgiving Holiday 

DECEMBER

1 - Extension Board meeting
December 24 - January 1, Office closed—Holiday Break

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