Content
Judging on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Dixon County Fairgrounds
with exception to Exploring Animals and modeling for Simple Sewing/Beyond the Needle.
Projects and Fair exhibits for 4H members who are 5-7 years of age on January 1, 2026. The purpose of the Clover Kids program is to promote the positive development of youth to become competent, caring, contributing citizens. The learning experience is the primary reason for involvement in the program. All exhibits receive participation ribbons. Extension Educators, Junior Leaders, and 4-H Parents will evaluate each exhibit. There will be an opportunity for projects to be interviewed judged at the Dixon County fair.
Entry and release requirements are the same as 4-H.
Limit one entry per class. Limit 10 classes per Clover Kid youth.
Posters can be no bigger than 14 inches x 22 inches, mobiles cannot be larger than 12 inches x 12 inches, and diorama can be no larger than a medium shoebox.
Resources: https://child.unl.edu/4-h-clover-kids-program
*Clover Kids entries are not eligible for the State Fair.
**Clover Kids receive special rainbow ribbons specific to the Clover Kid program.
Each ribbon earns a Clover Kid a $1.00 premium per exhibit.
FAMILY CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
Every family has celebrations. Family celebrations will help you learn more about celebrations in your own country and around the world.
*J 001 901 MEXICAN PINATA-exhibit without cany and attached to a clothes hanger
*J 001 902 CARP KITE-create one carp or a family of carp kites
*J 001 903 MOTHER’S/FATHER’S/GRANDPARENT’S DAY POSTER-design a poster about your mom, dad, grandfather, or grandmother and you. A story, poem, or pictures may be used.
*J 001 904 MAY DAY BASKET-Make a May Basket you could give to a special friend.
*J 001 905 4th OF JULY-Make a Patriotic Item using medium of your choice
*J 001 906 FAMILY COLLAGE (any topic of the project)
THEATRE ARTS
Are you ready to learn about theatre arts? In this project you’ll have adventures with acting, putting on costumes, and making puppets. You’ll learn how to move in fun ways, create a play, and much more. But Theatre Arts isn’t all you’ll be doing. You’ll also learn more about yourself, too. You’ll learn things you can use all your life, like communication with others, expressing yourself, making decisions, and solving problems.
*J 002 901 HAND MADE PUPPET
*J 002 902 PICTURE STORIES-fold paper into three sections and draw a story (character, problem, solution.
*J 002 903 STAGE PICTURES-include at least four pictures with captions with show different emotions. Pictures can be cut from magazines, drawn, or taken with camera.
MAKING FOOD FOR ME
This is a project to provide a fun, informal experience about the different types of foods and nutrients. In this project, you can learn about the five food groups and find out how food helps your body grow.
*J 003 901 NO BAKE COOKIE (any recipe) four on a small paper plate.
*J 003 902 FOOD CARDS-Neatly cut and colored food cards
*J 003 903 GRAIN COLLAGE-Neatly cut and paste pictures of grains cut out and displayed on a collage
*J 003 904 DAIRY TASTING PARTY-Neatly cut and paste pictures of dairy sources displayed on a collage.
*J 003 905 PROTEIN COLLAGE-Neatly cut and pasted pictures of protein sources and foods displayed in a collage.
*J 003 906 MY PLATE FOOD POSTER
*J 003 907 PLACEMAT-colored and decorated. Lamination or protected with clear contact paper advised
EXPLORING YOUR BODY
This health project is designed to assist you in making informed lifestyle choices. It’s designed around the six wellness factors: physical, social, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and environmental. Wellness deals with the total person mind, body and spirit. In this project you can learn to take care of your teeth, talk about what makes a good friend, and learn the rules of the road.
*J 004 901 FIRST AID KIT
*J 004 902 CHOOSE MY PLATE MOBILE
*J 004 903 COLLAGE THIS IS ME
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
In this project, you can help young 4H’ers learn about saving and spending money, think about television choices, or put together an art display.
*J 005 901 RECYCLED EXHIBIT
*J 005 902 YOU DESIGN IT (poster, drawing, photographs that show what you have accomplished in a project you have planned yourself)
EXPLORING ANIMALS
The Animal Project will allow you to care for and/or exhibit rabbits, poultry, lambs, calves, goats, and other small pet exhibits.
Clover Kid’s Judging
*J 006 901 PET EXHIBIT (Cats and Household Pets) Monday, July 6
Need poster no larger than 14” x 22” with photo
and short story about your pet.
*J 006 902 RABBIT with Rabbits, July 10
*J 006 903 POULTRY with Poultry, July 10
*J 006 904 DOG Monday, July 6
*J 006 905 SHEEP with Sheep, July 11
*J 006 906 BUCKET CALF with Bucket Calf, July 11
*J 007 907 GOAT with Goat, July 11
Children will be asked about care and management, and general knowledge. Lambs, calves and goats should be of size appropriate for the child to handle. Each exhibitor is responsible for the care of his or her animal in partnership with a caring adult.
Clover Kid exhibitors must follow the fair’s rules and health requirements as stated in the fair book, Department G-2.
Clover Kids will show their projects at the beginning of their respective shows.
The Pets, Cat, and Dog Show will be held at the fairgrounds after fair.
*Start times may be adjusted to allow for the duration of the previous shows, as indicated.
HORTICULTURE
The Horticulture Project will allow you to grow and exhibit vegetables and/or flowers. Special Garden Project for Clover Kids is listed on page 4 of the Clover Kids document.
*J 007 901 TWO DIFFERENT VEGETABLES
*J 007 902 ANNUAL, PERENNIAL, OR MIXED FLOWERS (3-5 Stems)
JUST OUTSIDE THE DOOR
Just Outside the Door will help you explore the environment outside your door. You will explore the weather, insects, fruits, seeds, water, and birds.
*J 008 901 INSECT MODEL-create your very own insect using any kind of non-edible media and include all the parts of an insect: 6 legs, one pair of antennae and three body sections.
*J 008 902 BIRD FEEDER OR BIRD HOUSE-build a bird feeder or house from a kit or recycled items.
*J 008 903 GROWING A SEED-Any seed you have planted in a small container
*J 008 904 SEED MEDALLION-Use 4” circle of cardboard and any kind of seeds to make a medallion. Use string, yarn or any other material to make a loop to hang.
*J 008 905 BOAT-Using any type of medium, create a small boat that can really float
*J 008 906 STEPPING STONE-create your very own stepping stone out of cement and decorate it.
*J 008 907 WILDLIFE EXPLORER-learn about different habitats and create a picture or model about what was learned or the animals which live there.
*J 008 908 WATER PICTURE-On 8 ½” paper, show what you have discovered about water (any medium).
AEROSPACE
In this project, you find out how birds and aircraft fly, learn about jobs in aviation and space, and make a “space helmet” and use “spacesuit’ type gloves.
*J 009 901 ROCKET DRAWING-Draw a rocket and label the three main parts (cone, body, & fins)
*J 009 902 BIRD/PLANE DRAWING-Draw your favorite bird or plane
*J 009 903 PAPER FLYERS-Make your favorite paper flyer (airplane, helicopter, or rocket)
A SPACE FOR ME
*J 010 901 CLEANING KIT use suggestions in Manual page 9. Include a 5 inch x 7 inch card listing each item in the kit and what cleaning job it is used for.
*J 010 902 DECORATED STORAGE BOX OR CONTAINER Include a 5 inch x 7 inch card telling the cost of the box, how you decorated it, and what you will store in it.
*J 010 903 UPCYCLED-Home item made from recycled items
*J 010 904 BANNER-Include at least four pennants hung by string
*J010 905 NO SEW ACCESSORY-Make a no-sew home accessory (pillow, blanket, dog bed, etc.)
*J 010 906 WALL HANGING-Make an item which can decorate a wall.
*J 010 907 PIZZA COLOR WHEEL-include primary and secondary colors
*J 010 908 SPONGE PAINT PICTURE-painting using pre-made and/or DIY sponges.
*J 010 909 OTHER ITEM RELATED TO A SPACE FOR ME
MONEY CENTS
*J 011 901 WANTS/NEEDS COLLAGE On 8 1/2 x11 inch board. Use magazine pictures or your own drawings to create a wants and needs collage. Make sure to clearly label “Wants” and “Needs.”
*J 011 902 SOMETHING MADE IN THE PROJECT A box bank or other type of “piggy” bank made by the youth to save for the future.
POSTERS
*J 012 901 POSTER Size can be no bigger than 14 inch X 22 inch.
BEYOND THE NEEDLE
*J 013 900 Decorate a T-Shirt- any method, without using an iron or sewing machine
*J 013 901 Decorate an Accessory-any method, without using an iron or sewing machine
SIMPLE SEWING
*J 014 900 SIMPLE SEWING - SIMPLE PILLOW
*J 014 901 SIMPLE SEWING - SIMPLE TOP
*J 014 902 SIMPLE SEWING - SIMPLE BOTTOM
*J 014 903 SIMPLE SEWING - SIMPLE DRESS
MODELING
*J 014 904 MODELING YOUR SIMPLE SEWING PROJECT or BEYOND THE NEEDLE PROJECT
Modeling at Pre-Fair Judging, on Saturday, June 27, 2026, Allen Methodist Church
Please provide a narration for entry by June 15.
PHOTOGRAPHY
*J 015 900 PICTURE DISPLAY Up to 5 photos (4 inch x 6 inch) mounted on 11 inch x 14 inch black poster board
*J 015 901 FAVORITE PICTURE One photo at least 5 inch x 7 inch, color or black and white mounted on black poster board
*J 015 902 PHOTO ALBUM A collection of 10 photos (4 inch x 6 inch) inside a photo album
BICYCLE ADVENTURES – SAFETY
*J 016 900 BICYCLE SAFETY POSTER (No bigger than 14 inch x 22 inch)
*J 016 901 BICYCLE SCRAPBOOK
SHOW YOUR STUFF
*J 017 900 ANY ITEM made at a 4-H Learn-By-Doing Day, Day Camp, or any other educational event or training you may have attended during the current 4-H year. It may even be a project you made at a 4-H Club meeting!
MISCELLANEOUS
*J 018 900 COMMUNITY SERVICE-picture of youth completing a community service project.
SPECIAL GARDEN PROJECT
The 2026 Special Garden Project is focused on the Alumia Vanilla Cream Marigold.
(Grown from seeds supplied by the 4-H Council)
*J 020 900 SPECIAL GARDEN PROJECT Follow the guidelines in 4‑H “Preparing Cut Flowers for Exhibits” 4H 227 https://go.unl.edu/preparingcutflowers when preparing entries for the fair. Hard copies are also available at the extension office.
Exhibit guidelines for displays are on pages 1-2 of the Horticulture Department of the fair book.
*J 020 901 PICTURE/PHOTOGRAPH This project is up to you, as long as it includes Alumia Vanilla Cream Marigold. Please include a 5x7 inch photo mounted on 8 ½ x 11 inch poster board with a caption.
*J 020 902 STORY Tell a story about your first experience with Alumia Vanilla Cream Marigold, such as growing, harvesting, display, or even sharing with others! Be sure to include a picture(s).
*J 020 903 ESSAY Write an essay about what you’ve learned about Alumia Vanilla Cream Marigold and growing them. Be sure to include things you would change next time and a picture(s).
*J 020 904 POEM Write a poem about some aspect of Alumia Vanilla Cream Marigold growing. The choice is yours!