Special Agronomy Project - Department G - Division 750
The crop of the year for 2025 is Sunflowers.
– 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.
Class
11. *SPECIAL AGRONOMY PROJECT – EDUCATIONAL EXHIBIT - Educational exhibit based on what was learned from the project. Present information on a poster no larger than 28 inches wide by 28 inches tall on plywood or poster board. 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 ½ page essay (minimum) explaining why the 4-H member chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include references used.
12. *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. Any of the following file formats will be accepted: mp4, .mov, .ppt, or .avi.
13. *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, sunflowers, 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.