Getting Started as a 4-H Member

The 4-H Youth Development Program of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is an informal, practical, learn-by-doing educational program for boys and girls ages 5 to 18. Your child can enroll as a club member by starting their 4-H club with a few friends or family members, joining an existing club, or enrolling as an independent member. 

 

Steps to Getting Started

  1. Get enrolled
    1. Choose a Club to join or participate as an Independent Member. Scroll below to see our list of active 4-H Clubs.
    2. Choose your Project Area.
  2. Stay informed.
    1. Newsletters | When you enroll you'll be added to our e-newsletter mailing list. When these hit your inbox, read them!
    2. Emails | All important deadlines & information is shared via email. We'll never spam your inbox with useless information.
    3. Social Media | Follow our Facebook
    4. Deadlines & Events | Print this calendar to hang on your fridge!
  3. Visit our Resources page to learn more about opportunities for 4-H Youth Members in Washington County or contact our office.

Find a 4-H Club

Badger Buddies

Leaders: Erin Denker, Janene Huntley
Location: Bennington
Focus: Static, Shooting Sports, Other Contests, Companion Animal
Contact Information: 402-321-4027 (Janene)

About Us: Badger Buddies received their charter November 20, 2020! Our club leaders started the club with their two families. The club quickly grew and showed us that 4-H is STRONG, especially in the Bennington community. We usually have about 35 youth enrolled each year, with ages from clover to high school age (5-18).  Our club meets monthly at the Bennington Library conference room. We ask our youth to volunteer for a demonstration at each meeting and another family provides a snack. As club leaders we try to have one project that our club members can enter at the fair.  We encourage and assist youth with all project areas.  We find ways to help around our community, this can be cleaning the parks, planting trees around the softball/baseball fields, flag drop box for our local American Legion, seed library to name a few.  If you want to see what we are about, please email, text or call!

Blue Ribbon Livestock

Leaders: Stacy Nelson, Tami Erixon, Beth Fickenscher
Location: Arlington
Focus: Livestock, Static, Companion Animal, Small Animal, Other Contests
Contact Information: terixon1113@gmail.com, 402-533-0937 (Tami)

About Us: 

Busy Bears

Leaders: Amanda Nemechek, Carrie Paper
Location: Blair
Focus: Static, Other Contests
Contact Information: carrie.claussen@gmail.com (Carrie)

About Us: The Busy Bears were chartered June 6th, 2024. This new 4-H club in Blair meets every month at the First Lutheran Church in Blair. Our focus is on a variety of crafts and projects, such as art projects, knitting, baking, or recycling projects. We also focus on educational presentations by our club members and outside resources, such as photography, CPR skills, pet care, and diabetes awareness. We have done a variety of community service opportunities in the area. We are currently composed of 3 families, with ages ranging from Clover Kids to middle school students. We're excited to continue to grow!

Champions

Leaders: Chelsea Lambert, Sarah Fuchs
Location: Arlington
Focus: Small Animal, Livestock, Static, Companion Animal, Other Contests
Contact Information: 402-641-2939 (Chelsea), champions4h@gmail.com

About Us: This club started in 1995 when the Telebasta Travellers 4H club disbanded. Chelsea has been a part of the club since it started, and continues to lead it. In the early 2000's we used to take part in a music contest where the club would learn a song and dance and present it in the Rybin building. We sang songs from the Beach Boys, and Addams Family.

Future Producers

Leaders: Joy Lauritsen, Mindy Hilgenkamp
Location: Arlington
Focus: Livestock, Static, Other Contests
Contact Information: 

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Happy Hearts

Leaders: Jennifer Opfer, Samantha Opfer
Location: Blair
Focus: Static, Other Contests
Contact Information: 

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Lucky Clovers

Leaders: Alicia Rhea, Christy Ott
Location: Arlington
Focus: Small Animal, Livestock, Static, Shooting Sports, Other Contests
Contact Information: 

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Pasture Pals

Leaders: Craig Behnken, Rob Ferris
Location: Bennington
Focus: Livestock, Static, Other Contests
Contact Information: 

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Pioneer Pals

Leaders: Vicki Smith, Megan Hemphill
Location: Fort Calhoun
Focus: Static, Small Animal, Other Contests
Contact Information: 

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Prairie Winds

Leaders: Karen Wimpey, Lisa Duff
Location: Blair
Focus: Static, Other Contests, Shooting Sports, Small Animal
Contact Information: ladybug143@gmail.com (Karen)

About Us: We are a group made up primarily of homeschool families. We meet during daytime hours. We focus heavily on static entries, but are slowly venturing into animals. If you are a homeschool family, or not, we would love to have you!

Silver Spurs

Leaders: Abby Sheets
Location: Herman
Focus: Livestock
Contact Information: 

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The Cattle-Acts

Leaders: Beth Wakefield
Location: Blair, Arlington
Focus: Livestock, Static
Contact Information: 

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Tomorrow's Leaders

Leaders: Beth Korinek
Location: Valley
Focus: Static, Livestock, Other Contests
Contact Information: 

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Trail Blazers

Leaders: Mary Larsen, David Anderson
Location: Kennard
Focus: Horse
Contact Information: mlarsen9@unl.edu (Mary), cowboydove@gmail.com (David)

About Us: Our club focus is on the Horse project for ages 8-18. We meet monthly from January through April, then twice a week for riding lessons/meetings during May, June and July. Several members exhibit in other project areas and we do have a full club booth at the county fair.

Western Wranglers

Leaders: Kori Jensen, Kylie Fullner
Location: Arlington
Focus: Livestock, Static, Other Contests
Contact Information: 

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Washington County 4-H Archery Club

Leaders: Kent Tjardes, Rob Dolezal
Location: Orion Archery Range (One Blair Place, 1526 Washington St, Blair)
Focus: 4-H Archery Project
Contact: kenttjardes@gmail.com (Kent), rdozer660@gmail.com (Rob)

About Us: All Washington County 4-H Members who wish to participate in the 4-H Archery project must become a member of the Washington County 4-H Archery Club and meet practice/meeting requirements to shoot in contests. This club is typically a secondary club, where members are active in other clubs or are independent members.

Washington County 4-H Shooting Sports Club

Leaders: Kerry Huntley, Beau Denker
Location: Meetings @ Blair Trap Range Clubhouse, Trap Practice @ Blair Trap Range, BB Gun/Air Rifle Practice @ Washington County Fairgrounds, .22 Rifle Practice @ Kuhr Farm
Focus: 4-H Firearm Shooting Sports
Contact: wc4hss@yahoo.com (Kerry)

About Us: All Washington County 4-H Members who wish to participate in a 4-H Firearm Shooting Sports project must become a member of the Washington County 4-H Shooting Sports Club and meet practice/meeting requirements to shoot in contests. This club is typically a secondary club, where members are active in other clubs or are independent members.