SW3 June/July Newsletter

Dundy County Fair - July 19-25, 2026 

4-H Dress Code

Shooting Sports—blue jeans and an approved 4-H T-Shirt purchased from the Extension Office or white sleeved shirt with a 4-H chevron. (no shorts or capris)

Livestock—beef, dairy, swine, goat, sheep, llama, rabbits, cats, dog and small animals. Approved 4-H T-shirt purchased from the Extension Office or white sleeved shirt with a 4-H chevron, blue jeans, hard sole shoes

Horse—white long-sleeved shirt with a 4-H armband (except Hayes), western hat, dark blue jeans, hard-soled shoes or cowboy boots. Be sure to check Horse Judging and Show Guide for specific rules.

Fair Volunteers Needed!

Once again, fair time is fast approaching. We will be making contacts for fair superintendents and helpers soon. If there is an area you would like to help in, please contact the Extension Office to let us know. Volunteers are one of the most important aspects of carrying out a successful fair and 4-H Program. Thanks to those who volunteer their time to help out the 4-H program.

Pre-Fair Entries Due - July 2

Pre-Fair Entries will be completed online at dundy.fairwire.com with the exception of Horticulture/Floriculture. These will be done on paper. Please see enclosed instructions. Horticulture and Floriculture forms are to be turned in at County Fair when entering exhibits.

These pre fair entry forms list all the exhibits you plan to bring to the county fair including showmanship and each individual animal/projet and include the various contests you plan to participate in.

Any late entries will be penalized as follows:

• Pre-Fair Entries turned in within the first week following the due date will receive ½ of their booster money and those participating in the livestock sale will receive a 5% deduction from their sale price.
• Pre-Fair Entries turned in following the first week after the due date through the second week will receive no booster money and those participating in the livestock sale will receive a 10% deduction from their sale price.
• Pre-Fair Entries turned in after two weeks following the entry due date will not be allowed to enter into the 4-H judging however may enter their projects into Open Class if a class is available.

Pre-Fair Clean Up—Sunday, July 19 at 5:00 p.m.

All 4-H members, leaders, families and superintendents are asked to help to make things run smoothly in a short amount of time. Bring brooms, shovels, rakes, and rags for dusting. If we all pitch in, we should have the exhibit building and the grounds in top shape by 6:30 for the 4-H Family Hamburger Feed.

It is EVERY 4-H families responsibility to help with Pre-Fair Clean Up. See you at Clean Up!!!

Need a Fairbook?

Fairbooks are available to pick up at the Extension Office or have one emailed to you by calling the Office at 308-423-2021 or email Wendi at wendi.vanderford@unl.edu

Post Fair Exhibit Hall & Livestock Release and Clean Up

Exhibit Hall post-fair clean up will be:

Saturday, July 25 from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.

If you exhibited in the exhibit hall you are responsible for helping to clean up. All 4-H’ers must pick up their exhibits on Saturday. Important information with scoresheets and state fair information will be handed out at this time.

Animals will be released following the livestock sale. Youth will be responsible for taking care of any market animals that are being shipped for processing until they are shipped. Youth must be present to assist with loading animals at time of shipping and must clean pen/stalls.

4-H Selecting & Preparing Vegetable and Cut Flower Guides

Planning to bring vegetables or flowers to the county fair? Don’t forget to check out this free resources on Selecting and Preparing Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruit for Exhibit And Preparing Cut Flowers!

These free guides are available to download at https://4h.unl.edu/4-h-fairbook-nebraska-state-fair/static-exhibits/horticulture/ or use the QR code to link. These guides will help 4-H members, project leaders, and parents know how to properly select, prepare, store, and ship these exhibits to be judged at county fairs and the Nebraska State Fair.

Don’t forget the Supporting Information

While many of the project require supporting information we have special forms for Photography, Home Environment, Visual Arts and some Clothing. Please read the fairbook very carefully!

Photography:        Home Environment:        Visual Arts        Clothing:

DON’T FORGET THEM!

Livestock Ultrasounding for Carcass Contest

Ultrasounding will take place on Friday, July 24 at 3:00 p.m.

Please note youth MUST be present to assist with ultra-sounding their own animals. If youth are not present to ultrasound their animals WILL NOT be ultra-sounded.

Pre-Fair and Post-Fair Clean up is the responsibility of EVERY 4-H’er!

Please make it a PRIORITY to show up and do your part in cleaning up before and after the County Fair.

Hayes County Fair, July 27 - Aug 1, 2026

Fair Volunteers Needed!

Once again, fair time is fast approaching. We will be making contacts for fair superintendents and helpers soon. If there is an area you would like to help in, please contact the Extension Office to let us know. Volunteers are one of the most important aspects of carrying out a successful fair and 4-H Program. Thanks to those who volunteer their time to help out the 4-H program.

4-H Dress Code

Shooting Sports—blue jeans and an approved 4-H T-Shirt purchased from the Extension Office or white sleeved shirt with a 4-H chevron. (no shorts or capris)

Livestock—beef, dairy, swine, goat, sheep, llama, rabbits, cats, dog and small animals. Approved 4-H T-shirt purchased from the Extension Office or white sleeved shirt with a 4-H chevron, blue jeans, hard sole shoes

Horse—white long-sleeved shirt with a 4-H armband (except Hayes), western hat, dark blue jeans, hard-soled shoes or cowboy boots. Be sure to check Horse Judging and Show Guide for specific rules.

Pre-Fair Entries Due July 8

Pre-Fair Entries will be completed online at hayes.fairwire.com with the exception of Horticulture/Floriculture. These will be done on paper. Please see enclosed instructions. Horticulture and Floriculture forms are to be turned in at County Fair when you enter exhibits.

Per fairbook: Entries must be pre-entered online by July 8, 2026. To be eligible to compete at the Hayes County Fair, all enrollment and entry deadlines must have been met.

Need a Fairbook?

Fairbooks are available to pick up at the Extension Office or have one emailed to you by calling the Office at 308-286-3312 or email Tiffani at tmiller104@unl.edu

Carnival

We will once again be having the carnival on Friday, July 31. We are asking that each club provide at least 2 carnival games and that Independents please help out by providing a carnival game. All carnival prizes will be provided by the 4-H Council and handed out to games at the time of the carnival. Please call the office to let us know what carnival games you will be running.

Pre-Fair Clean Up - July 25

Don’t forget to come and help with Pre-Fair Clean up on July 25 at 8:00 a.m. Bring rakes, shovels, hammers, buckets and rags to help set up livestock pens and stalls and to set up the exhibit hall. Weed eaters are handy to get around areas where the mower did not reach. Remember to wear old clothes that you can clean in. All clubs and independents are asked to attend so we can have a great fair. With everyone participating the task will be fun and fast.

It is the expectation that EVERY 4-H family helps with Pre-Fair Clean Up. See you at Clean Up!!!

Livestock Auction Requirement

All 4-H’ers who sell an animal at the County Fair Livestock Auction will once again be required to turn in a written thank you to their buyer to the Extension Office before sale checks will be released to exhibitor.

This requirement is being made to due greater number of buyers commenting that they are not being thanked by 4-H’ers. We truly appreciate those who have sent thank you’s in a timely manner. A simple thank you note goes along way in showing appreciation to our sale buyers/sponsors. You may still give extra gifts/gift baskets to your buyer at anytime however we are requiring the thank you notes be brought to the Extension Office for proof of recognition to buyer has been given by exhibitor.

All you need to do is bring your written and addressed thank you to the office. We will even put the stamp on it to mail it. Don’t know the address just give the Extension Office a call and we will help you out.

4-H Selecting & Preparing Vegetable and Cut Flower Guides

Planning to bring vegetables or flowers to the county fair? Don’t forget to check out this free resources on Selecting and Preparing Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruit for Exhibit And Preparing Cut Flowers!

These free guides are available to download at https://4h.unl.edu/4-h-fairbook-nebraska-state-fair/static-exhibits/horticulture/ or use the QR code to link. These guides will help 4-H members, project leaders, and parents know how to properly select, prepare, store, and ship these exhibits to be judged at county fairs and the Nebraska State Fair.

Don’t forget the Supporting Information

While many of the project require supporting information we have special forms for Photography, Home Environment, Visual Arts and some Clothing. Please read the fairbook very carefully!

Photography:        Home Environment:        Visual Arts        Clothing

Livestock Bedding

Beef Barns

A reminder to families that last year we placed permanent bedding in the beef barns. A few things to keep in mind:

• Bringing rubber mats/carpeting to place under front feet is encouraged to help prevent calves from pawing wood chips out of the barn.
• As you are cleaning the bedding at fair, please do not remove unnecessary wood chips. As mentioned before these wood chips will remain from year to year.
• No other wood chips will be allowed to be brought in to replace or put on top of bedding.

Sheep/Goats Pens

Wood shavings will be supplied again this year for the sheep and goat pens. Please remember it is the exhibitors responsibility to clean up any shavings us at the end of the county fair.

Hitchcock County Fair, July 12-18, 2026

4-H Dress Code

Bowling & Shooting Sports—blue jeans and an approved 4-H T-Shirt purchased from the Extension Office or white sleeved shirt with a 4-H chevron. (no shorts or capris)

Livestock—beef, dairy, swine, goat, sheep, llama, rabbits, cats, dog and small animals. Approved 4-H T-shirt purchased from the Extension Office or white sleeved shirt with a 4-H chevron, blue jeans, hard sole shoes

Horse—white long-sleeved shirt with a 4-H armband (except Hayes), western hat, dark blue jeans, hard-soled shoes or cowboy boots. Be sure to check Horse Judging and Show Guide for specific rules.

Fair Volunteers Needed!

Once again, fair time is fast approaching. We will be making contacts for fair superintendents and helpers soon. If there is an area you would like to help in, please contact the Extension Office to let us know. Volunteers are one of the most important aspects of carrying out a successful fair and 4-H Program. Thanks to those who volunteer their time to help out the 4-H program.

Pre-Fair Entries Due June 25 by 9:00 p.m.

Pre-Fair Entries will be completed online at hitchcock.fairwire.com with the exception of Horticulture/Floriculture. These will be done on paper. Please see enclosed instructions. Horticulture and Floriculture forms are to be turned in at County Fair when entering exhibits.

REMINDER FROM THE FAIRBOOK:

County Fair Pre-Entry Deadlines - All entries must have been made during the 2023-2024 club year. Exhibits can be exhibited only in classes listed in the 4-H Fairbook. Those exhibits incorrectly entered or identified will become ineligible, however, they may be moved to Open Class. Entries must be entered according to the printed 4-H fairbook and pre-entered online by June 25, 2026 and must be accompanied by all fees (if applicable) or entry will not be accepted. To be eligible to compete at the Hitchcock County Fair, all enrollment and entry deadlines must have been met. No exceptions will be made.

Fairgrounds Clean up Day—EVERYONE IS REQUIRED TO HELP

Don’t forget Sunday, July 12th at 6:30 p.m., to come and help with the clean up of the fairgrounds for fair. Bring a rakes, shovels, hammers, buckets and rags to help set up livestock/animal pens and to set up the exhibit hall. Lawn movers are always need to make the job faster and weed eaters are handy to get around areas where the mowers cannot reach. Remember to wear old clothes that you can clean in. All clubs and independent members are required to help, so we can have a great fair.

It is EVERY 4-H families responsibility to help with Pre-Fair Clean Up. See you at Clean Up!!!

Moving the Office for Fair

We will be moving the Extension Office to the fairgrounds on the morning of Monday, July 13.

We will be available at the fairgrounds in Culbertson from July 13-18.

Livestock Premium Sale Guidelines - Sale will be at 6:00 p.m.

For full rules and regulations please review the packet of livestock sale information you received in the mail. This packet included the cards to take to potential buyers.

Requirements to sell in the livestock premium auction:

• Animals must be shown at the current County Fair livestock shows and animals must remain on the fairgrounds from time of check in until release on Saturday night except for horses that must be on the grounds by 5 pm the day of the sale.
• All animals must be led in the premium auction ring to sell.
• Youth must contact (via phone or in person) at minimum 2 buyers and send/give the buyers a livestock auction postcard. Cards are NOW available to be picked up. If you can not make it into pick up please contact the Extension Office.
• Youth must write a thank you note to their buyer and bring their thank you note to Lisa Spencer (308-340-4145) or Linnette Kisker (308-440-1137) to be mailed or text a picture to them. Once thank you has been brought to either person the youth will receive their sale check when it becomes available. Please note all money must be collected from the buyers before checks will be mailed.
• If either Lisa or Linnette have not received the Thank you by September 18th, then the premium check will be reduced by 20%.

• Pictures will be taken on show day of the exhibitor and their animal.

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4-H Selecting & Preparing Vegetable and Cut Flower Guides

Planning to bring vegetables or flowers to the county fair? Don’t forget to check out this free resources on Selecting and Preparing Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruit for Exhibit And Preparing Cut Flowers!

These free guides are available to download at https://4h.unl.edu/4-h-fairbook-nebraska-state-fair/static-exhibits/horticulture/ or use the QR code to link. These guides will help 4-H members, project leaders, and parents know how to properly select, prepare, store, and ship these exhibits to be judged at county fairs and the Nebraska State Fair.

Don’t forget the Supporting Information

While many of the project require supporting information we have special forms for Photography, Home Environment, Visual Arts and some Clothing. Please read the fairbook very carefully!

Photography:        Home Environment:        Visual Arts        Clothing

Clothing & Fashion Show Entries

All clothing judging including fashion show judging will be completed on WEDNESDAY JULY 8 at 9:00 a.m. in Trenton at the TCDC Building. The Public Fashion Show will be at 9:30 after check in for Clothing Day.

Projects being judged include: Beyond the Needle, Steam 1, 2 & 3, Tailoring, Sew for Your Animals, Quilting, Shopping In Style, General Clothing items, Crocheting & Knitting.

Clover Kids Projects that relate to clothing (decorate your duds, accessories, tie blankets, tye dye t-shirts, etc) are also entered and judged on this day.

Need a Fairbook?

Fairbooks are available to pick up at the Extension Office or have one emailed to you by calling the Office at 308-334-5666 or email Kimberly at kcook2@unl.edu