Content
The purpose of Horticulture is to encourage participants to start and maintain vegetable and herb gardens. In addition, 4-H members can participate in planting, growing, and caring for flowers and houseplants. 4-H members may also participate in the special gardening project, which changes annually. For more resources and materials in this category refer to the resource section at the end of the Horticulture section.
LANDSCAPE: GROW A BEAUTIFUL SPACE
*County Only – No State Fair Entry
The Grow a Beautiful Space series is designed to teach youth how to recognize and create beautiful and functional landscapes. In addition to landscape design, youth will discover career opportunities related to the discovery, use, and management of plants. Each unit includes an interactive youth manual and a leader's guide. Grow a Beautiful Space Unit I and Unit II also include a separate portfolio for youth to store notes, photographs, and sketches. In Grow a Beautiful Space Unit III, youth will create their own portfolio to store their landscape drawings.
*G 777 401 GROW A BEAUTIFUL SPACE UNIT 1 PORTFOLIO NOTEBOOK - Create and complete ‘Landscape Professionals & Design Principles’ Unit 1 Portfolio, 4H6110P. Present portfolio information in a three ring binder. Give proper credit by listing the sources of photographs/images and information used. The 4-H member's name, age, full address, county, and years in the project(s) must be on the back of the notebook.
*G 777 402 ESTABLISH LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS POSTER - Take multiple photographs of a landscape that has been established for 10 or more years. Critique the landscape based on each of the design principles (order, unity, rhythm, balance, scale or proportion, and emphasis). Describe the spatial definition of the landscape and what different areas of the landscape “feel like”. Include photos taken to support your critique. Describe what changes need to be made in the landscape to improve its characteristics and sense of space. Display on a poster mat board no larger than 22" x 28". Entry card must be stapled to the upper right hand corner. The 4-H member's name, age, full address, county, and years in the project(s) must be on the back of the poster.
*G 777 403 GROW A BEAUTIFUL SPACE UNIT 2 PORTFOLIO NOTEBOOK - Create and complete ‘Landscape Plants & Materials’ Unit 2 Portfolio, 4H6120P. Present portfolio information in a three ring binder. Give proper credit by listing the sources of photographs/images and information used. The 4-H member's name, age, full address, county, and years in the project(s) must be on the back of the notebook.
*G 777 404 LANDSCAPE RENOVATION POSTER – Take multiple photographs of a landscape that doesn’t quite look right because it doesn’t reflect sound design principles. Select a landscape in which you can make at least three design recommendations. Identify how the design principles (order, unity, rhythm, balance, scale or proportion, and emphasis) could be better integrated into the landscape, and how plants or materials with specific features (size, form, color, or texture) could improve the space. Reduce the opaqueness of the images to 50/60 percent and sketch plants, structures, materials, and/or amenities that could improve the overall design over the original images. The poster should include the original image(s) and improved image(s), and include a short explanation of how the landscape design was improved. Display on a poster mat board no larger than 22" x 28". Entry card must be stapled to the upper right hand corner. The 4-H member's name, age, full address, county, and years in the project(s) must be on the back of the poster.
*G 777 405 ESTIMATING DREAMS POSTER - Select a dream landscape as if money is not a consideration. Develop a plan drawing of the landscape. Draw landscape to scale. Identify the types of plants, structures, and amenities used in the landscape. Research the cost of the plants and amenities and the installation. Include the general cost of grading (if needed) and labor that could be associated with installation. Create a list, noting the plants that are included in the space. The quantities of plants and the structures, materials, or amenities and their cost should be included.
Calculate the final total estimate. The poster should include the scale drawing of the landscape, identification of plants, structures and amenities, and cost and labor. Display on a poster mat board no larger than 22" x 28". Entry card must be stapled to the upper right hand corner. The 4-H member's name, age, full address, county, and years in the project(s) must be on the back of the poster.
*G 777 406 SITE INVENTORY & ANALYSIS POSTER – Make an unscaled drawing of the landscape you inventoried and analyzed. Develop two drawings: a site inventory and a site analysis. The site inventory and site analysis should be communicated through a combination of written notes, graphics symbols and photographs. Display on a poster mat board no larger than 22" x 28". Entry card must be stapled to the upper right hand corner. The 4-H member's name, age, full address, county, and years in the project(s) must be on the back of the poster.
*G 777 407 COMMUNITY LANDSCAPE POSTER – Identify a local community space (park, nursing home, school, county fairgrounds, etc.) that needs some landscape improvements. Work through the design process and develop a detailed plan of your improvements to the space. The plan should include design principles, functional and aesthetic factors, list of plants and materials and their costs, budget for materials, labor you have available for the project, and a timeline. Take photographs of the area and draw over the photos to illustrate your final ideas. Include photographs of the finished landscape if project ideas were carried out. Display on a poster mat board no larger than 22" x 28".
Entry card must be stapled to the upper right hand corner. The 4-H member's name, age, full address, county, and years in the project(s) must be on the back of the poster.
*G 777 408 RENOVATE THE OUTDOORS PORTFOLIO – Select a space that you would like to redesign. The space can be at your home, a family member’s or friend’s house, or somewhere in your community. Develop a scaled base map of the site and locate the existing plants and structures in the landscape. Take photographs of the landscape. Evaluate the physical properties of the site and conduct an interview with the people who live there or use the space. Think about how you would change the space and develop a plan that would implement design elements into the space. Create different drawings that will move you through the design process. You will draw concept diagrams, form compositions, preliminary
drawings, and the final design. Once the final design drawing is complete, use overlays on the original photographs to show how the landscape will look compared to how it looked in the photo you originally took of the landscape. Place photographs, interview notes, concept and program statements and drawings in a portfolio. The 4-H member's name, age, full address, county, and years in the project(s) must be on the back of the portfolio.
AGRONOMY
The purpose of these exhibits is to demonstrate to the public the benefits from the study and application of crop, weed, range and soil sciences to solving problems in management, conservation, sustainability and environmental protection. For guidelines on specific projects, refer to appropriate project manuals.
Resources:
Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hagronomy.
A list of 4-H projects and links to 4-H curriculum resources can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/resources/projects.
Special Agronomy Project
https://cropwatch.unl.edu/special-agronomy-project
FIELD CROPS
Rules:
Grain or Plant Exhibits - Classes 1-5:
- A completed Crop Production Worksheet (available at https://go.unl.edu/cropworksheet) must accompany grain and plant exhibits or it will automatically be deducted one ribbon placing. The worksheet must include the exhibitors name and address, county, plant hybrid or variety, plant population, whether crop production was irrigated or dryland, and general information including farm cropping history, soil type and weather effects.
- The worksheet also must include an economic analysis of the project, listing individual expenses and income, on a per acre basis. Other topics to discuss are the selection of variety or hybrid, impacts of tillage and conservation practices, inputs (fuel, fertilizer, irrigation, labor, pesticides, etc.), any observations made during the growing season and what you learned from your crops project. The worksheet counts as 50% of the total when judged.
- Worksheet must be the original work of the individual 4-H member or it will be deducted one ribbon placing.
- Attach the worksheet to the entry in a clear plastic cover such that it can be read without removing it from the cover. In addition to the worksheet, grain and plant exhibits will be judged on condition, appearance (i.e. disease and insect damage, grain fill), uniformity (size, shape, color, maturity), and quality of exhibit. Refer to Scoresheet SF264. Grain exhibits must be one gallon per sample. Grain exhibits harvested in the fall (e.g., corn or soybeans) may be from the previous year's project and brought in an appropriate-sized box/container for display. NEW: Place in a clear container so it can be viewed and displayed.
- Plant exhibits, with the exception of ears of corn, must be the result of the current year's project.
- Corn - 10 ears or 3 stalks (cut at ground level with no roots or soil and bound together)
- Grain Sorghum - 4 stalks (cut at ground level and bound together)
- Soybeans - 6 stalks (cut at ground level and bound together)
- Small grains (oats, barley, wheat, triticale) - sheaf of heads 2 inches in diameter at top tie with stems about 24 inches long.
- Other crops (alfalfa, millet, etc.) - sheaf of stems 3 inches in diameter at top tied with stems cut at ground level or half size small square bale.
Displays - Classes 6-10:
- The purpose of the display is to tell an educational story to those that view the display. The display is a visual representation (pictures, charts, graphs) no larger than 28 inches wide by 28 inches tall on plywood or poster board. The display should be neatly titled. Make sure to label display with exhibitor’s name, address and county on back side. Explain pictures and graphs clearly and concisely. Consider creativity and neatness. Refer to Scoresheet SF259
- Each display must have a one-page essay (minimum) explaining why the exhibitor chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include any references used. The essay should be in a clear plastic cover with the exhibitor's name outside. If a display does not have an essay, it will automatically be deducted one ribbon placing.
FIELD CROP CLASSES
G 750 001 Corn (includes yellow, white, pop, waxy, or any other type)
G 750 002 Soybeans
G 750 003 Oats
G 750 004 Wheat
G 750 005 Any Other Crop (includes grain sorghum, alfalfa, millets, barley, rye, triticale, amaranth, dry beans, sugar beet, mung bean, canola, forage sorghum, safflower, etc.)
G 750 006 CROP PRODUCTION DISPLAY The purpose of this class is to allow original and creative exhibits that contain educational information about crop production aspects, such as crop scouting, alternative crops, pest management, etc.
G 750 007 CROP TECHNOLOGY DISPLAY Display information about aspects of technology used in crop production, such as genetic engineering, crop breeding, GPS, yield mapping, computers, etc.
G 750 008 CROP END USE DISPLAY Display information about the final product or end uses for a crop, such as food, feed, fuel, or other products (i.e. corn can be processed into livestock feed, ethanol, plastics, etc. or soybeans can be processed into bio-diesel, pet bedding, crayons, oil, etc.).
G 750 009 WATER OR SOIL DISPLAY Display information about water or soils, such as how soils are being used for crop production, range, conservation, wildlife, or wetland use, or ways to protect or conserve water and soil resources.
G 750 010 CAREER INTERVIEW DISPLAY The purpose of this class is to allow youth to investigate a career in agronomy. Youth should interview one person that works with crops about such topics as, what parts of their job do they enjoy or dislike, why did they choose that career, what was their education, etc. Include a picture of the person interviewed.
SPECIAL AGRONOMY PROJECT
https://cropwatch.unl.edu/special-agronomy-project
The 2026 Special Agronomy Project is two varieties of Popcorn:
Nebraska Red, an heirloom variety that was discovered and developed by a farmer in eastern Nebraska.
Robust 997, a commercial variety.
4-H Member experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska by growing it, researching traits of that crop and determine viability of that crop in the part of the state they live.
Each year seeds will be mailed to extension offices or ag ed classrooms across the state, as ordered by that location. Offices will distribute to 4-H member on a first come, first serve basis. A different seed will be selected every year. 4-H members will grow seeds in their garden or pots. Written resources materials will be available for youth, in addition to virtual, live or recorded videos/field trips. 4-H members will be eligible to enter an exhibit at both the county and/or state fair in the agronomy project area.
G 750 011 SPECIAL AGRONOMY PROJECT - Educational Exhibit
Educational exhibit based on what was learned from the project. Present information on a poster 14 inches X 22 inches either vertical or horizontal arrangement or in a clear plastic report cover. The 4-H member’s name, age, and county must be on the back of the poster or report cover. Refer to Scoresheet SF259 Each display must have a one-page essay (minimum) explaining why the exhibitor chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include any references used.
G 750 012 SPECIAL AGRONOMY PROJECT - Video Presentation
4-H member designs a multimedia presentation related to the crop. This could include narration of the growing process, presenting facts about the crop or any other innovative multimedia practices. The presentation should be at least two minutes in length and no more than five minutes in length, appropriate graphics, sound and either a video clip, animation or voice over and/or original video clip. Presentations are to be uploaded to a video streaming application and 4-H member must provide a hard copy QR code for viewing. 4-H members are encouraged to test their codes or link on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing.
G 750 013 SPECIAL AGRONOMY PROJECT (Freshly Harvested Crop) Plant exhibits must be the result of the current year's project. Depending on the type of crop selected for the current year:
- Corn - 10 ears or 3 stalks (cut at ground level with no roots or soil and bound together)
- Grain Sorghum - 4 stalks (cut at ground level and bound together)
- Soybeans - 6 stalks (cut at ground level and bound together)
- Small grains (oats, barley, wheat, triticale) - sheaf of heads 2 inches in diameter at top tie with stems about 24" long.
- Other crops (alfalfa, millet, etc.) - sheaf of stems 3 inches in diameter at top tied with stems cut at ground level.
Supporting documentation (½ to 1-page in length) should include the following:
- Economic Analysis and/or research that supports feasibility of this crop in Nebraska or how the crop has evolved over time.
- Other topics to discuss are past/current commercial production of this crop. This includes: the selection of variety or hybrid, impacts of tillage and conservation practices, inputs (fuel, fertilizer, irrigation, labor, pesticides, etc.), any observations made during the growing season about this crop and what you learned from your crops project. This ½ to 1-page summary counts as 50% of the total when judged.
- In addition to the summary, grain and plant exhibits will be judged on condition, appearance (i.e., disease and insect damage, grain fill), uniformity (size, shape, color, maturity), and quality of exhibit.
WEED SCIENCE
Rules:
The book cover and at least 15 of the specimens must represent this year’s work. For assistance identifying plants, participants can use the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains Book.
Books Class 1-2:
Plants must be mounted on sheets that are no larger than 14 inches wide x 14 inches high. Proper plant mount should include root as well as stem and leaf tissue. Plants should be glued rather than taped and the mounts should be protected with a clear clover.
Exhibits will be judged based on completeness of plant mount, accuracy of identification, label, neatness, and conformity to exhibit requirements.
Each completed mount must have the following information (see example below) in the lower right corner of the mounting sheet:
1) Scientific name (in italic or underlined), with authority;
2) Common name;
3) County of collection;
4) Collection date;
5) Collector’s name;
6) Personal collection number, indicating the order that plants were collected in your personal collection;
7) Other information depending on class selected, i.e., noxious, life form.
This information should be typed or printed neatly.
Displays Class 3:
The purpose of the display is to tell an educational story to those that view the display. The display is a visual representation (pictures, charts, graphs) no larger than 28” by 28” on plywood or poster board. The display should be neatly titled.
Make sure to label display with exhibitor’s name, address, and county on back side. Explain pictures and graphs clearly and concisely.
Each display must have a one-page essay explaining why the exhibitor chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include any references used.
The essay should be in a clear plastic cover with the exhibitor's name outside.
G 751 001 WEED IDENTIFICATION BOOK A collection of a minimum of 15 plant mounts including at least two of the following prohibited noxious weeds (Canada thistle, musk thistle, plumeless thistle, saltcedar, leafy spurge, purple loosestrife, diffuse knapweed, spotted knapweed, Japanese knotweed, bohemian knotweed, giant knotweed, sericea lespedeza or phragmites), and at least five weeds that are a problem primarily in lawns.
G 751 002 LIFE SPAN BOOK A collection of seven (7) perennials, one (1) biennial, and seven (7) annual weeds.
G 751 003 WEED DISPLAY The purpose of this class is to allow original and creative exhibits that contain educational information about weeds, such as interesting information about a weed species, the effects of weed control, herbicide-resistant weeds, what makes a weed a weed, or uses for weeds.