To enroll for the 2025-2026 4-H Year, go to: https://4honline.com/#/user/sign-in. We would love everyone to re-enroll by the December 1st deadline! We want you to continue receiving the 4-H Newsletter, emails from the State 4-H Office, and our online broadcasts. Just do it!
To enroll for the 2025-2026 4-H Year, go to: https://4honline.com/#/user/sign-in
Jasper, Asher, Lora, and Fran traveled to Rock Springs Ranch to attend the annual Kansas Youth Leadership Forum. While there, they attended leadership and career building workshops, small and large group sessions. One of the main purposes for KYLF is elections for Kansas 4-H Youth Leadership Council. Douglas County represented the North-East region in voting for members. One of the highlights of the event was the Keynote and Capstone speaker, Brandon Lee White. Brandon is a motivational speaker for youth leaders and gave advice on how teens can take hold of their lives, and shared his motto, “Own It”. The weekend was full of learning, friends, and fun. We hope to get more Douglas County 4-Hers interested so we can have an even better experience next year. LeeAnn Hartwick and Anja Woolverton attended the Kansas 4-H Volunteer Leaders forum held concurrently with the Youth event. In addition to hearing from the keynote speaker, they heard updates on the Kansas 4-H program, discussed tips on navigating volunteer burnout, and learned about the use of AI tools. LeeAnn was elected to the volunteer board as the Regional Vice President for the Northeast region. Written by Lora, Fran, and Asher
Here is a great opportunity for early release students on 12/10! How about some fun cooking tips and demos, then eating your yummy work! Youth do not need to be a 4-H member, so be sure and tell your friends not yet in 4-H. Register at this link https://bit.ly/kids-cooking-dec2025
It is time to think about Douglas County 4-H Foundation Scholarship applications! The Douglas County 4-H Foundation is thoroughly committed to assisting 4-H members and alumni in advancing their education. Each year, a major portion of the Foundation’s budget is allocated to scholarships. Please visit our 4-H Foundation website for more information and application details HERE. The application period will close on February 2nd at 11:59 PM.
Watch for a live registration link coming in the January News! Here is all the information https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/news-events/4h-news/4h-events/4-hclubdays.html. We can't wait to see you shine on March 7th!
The following slides are upcoming county-wide project meetings. Come out to your project meetings! You can learn a lot from your leader and other 4-H members while having a lot of fun! Please direct your questions to nnoyes@ksu.edu
Our meeting dates are the 3rd Tuesday of each month. All winter meetings are held in the Dreher Building, starting at 6:30 p.m. We strive to finish by 7:30 p.m. The 2025-2026 meeting dates are November 18, December 16, January 20, February 17, March 17, and April 21. Check emails or our club Facebook page for any updates! In May, we will begin our ride nights to prepare for the Douglas County Fair. We will post the calendar in early spring. The county fair horse show will be held on Sunday, July 26. If you have any questions about the club, please contact leader Bobbie Hinds at 515-480-3533 or email bobbiehinds@yahoo.com. The club's Facebook page is updated throughout the year with activities and can be found at Douglas County 4-H Horse Project Club
RSVP for one or both meetings by January 7, 2026, at: https://bit.ly/SwineProjectMeetings. We require a minimum of five attendees, or the meeting will be canceled. We will notify you of any changes. Matt Kocher will lead these meetings with helpful information to assist Swine Project Members with their animals. Questions? Please email nharding@ksu.edu or call our office and speak with Nickie Harding. For any questions regarding YQCA in-service training, contact Nancy nnoyes@ksu.edu. This is a great way to attend your meeting and become YQCA certified for the Douglas County Fair, Kansas State Fair, and Kansas Junior Livestock Show.
Brand new year! The first County-Wide Poultry Project meeting will kick off on January 18th at 1:00 p.m. in the Dreher Family 4-H Bldg. Are you in the project? This is for you! Come find out about buying show-quality birds, showing at the county fair, opportunities for judging, field trips, and more! Do you want more information? Email or call poultry project leader, Janine Leslie, at j9dolphins@hotmail.com or 785-330-3867. Please note that hatcheries are now accepting orders for chicks with delayed shipping. Please take a look at what's out there. Janine mentioned two hatcheries above have opened orders. Don't know what birds to order? You may want to visit https://www.feathersite.com/ or research a Poultry Guide book for more information!
We will have our first Plant Science Project meeting on January 20 at 6:00 p.m. in the Dreher Family 4-H Building to discuss the upcoming months. A mix of speakers, educational topics, and leadership experiences. We are starting in January, prepping some collages for the 4-H Skillathon in March. We will also make seed and plant flashcards for us to practice horticulture judging. February - the Kaw Valley Seed Fair is not to be missed! We will have a Scavenger Hunt with prizes and all the free seeds you could need! The March meeting will be for the Skillathon event and is a chance for you to share your knowledge of the project and plant information with younger youth. It is an excellent leadership opportunity! Learn more about the project HERE. Questions? Contact Nancy Noyes, Project Leader and 4-H Program Assistant, nnoyes@ksu.edu
This is where to find more project information: https://www.kansas4-h.org/projects/animal-science/dog/ Lauren Berg, Dog Project Club Leader may be reached at 785-917-0226 or email laurenrberg@yahoo.com
It's not too early to begin planning for summer camp at Rock Springs Ranch! Early-bird registration will open on November 15th until the end of the year. Douglas County dates are scheduled for June 2-5, 2026. Please visit our website to learn more about the 4-H camp experience and how to register. It is truly an amazing and memorable experience! Have fun in a beautiful setting while meeting new friends!
Please consult this calendar for all livestock project-related events and updates. Our Douglas County 4-H website has a section dedicated to livestock. Find that HERE. All the following slides pertain to Animal Science Projects. These are important dates to consider when planning your project year.
All Douglas County 4-H Members
who plan to exhibit a class of livestock that produces meat, milk, fiber, or other saleable products
must complete YQCA certification testing annually. I will be updating the 2026 class offerings for in-person Douglas County by December 1st. Please log in to the site using the same email address as previously, which is applicable to all family members. Important: All 7-year-old 4-H members must take their first YQCA course in person! Here is a helpful guide: https://yqcaprogram.org/local/resources_for_youth_parents.php. You will need to register on the site and PAY THE $3 DIRECTLY TO THE VENDOR. I do not take money. I cannot register you. Registration is tied directly to the issuance of the certificate, which will allow you to enter animals in the Douglas County Fair.
Check out this information for the Junior Beef Producer Day: K-State Junior Beef Producer Day Date – Saturday, March 7, 2026 Registration Deadline – February 13, 2026 Cost - $20/person by February 13 ($30/person after February 13) *Only those who register by February 13 will receive a t-shirt. **Both youth and adults attending (including parents) need to register. ***No refunds. Online Registration - https://bit.ly/BeefJrProducer. Visit the State 4-H page with all the info on both producer days here
Bromelsick Annual Christmas Party for Girl Scouts, 4-H Clubs, and Boy Scouts! Tickets are available at no charge to enrolled members of those youth organizations. Scan the above QR code or secure your digital ticket at Bromelsick Christmas Ticket. Please be accompanied by a leader and/or parent with your group. Please bring an item for the Community Shelter as part of your admission: stocking hats, gloves, scarves, or socks. Make someone warm this season! This is going to be so fun.
This is a Douglas County 4-H County Council Community Service Project. The committee is asking all clubs to participate by bringing their packs of diapers to meetings or dropping them off at the Extension Office. The last collection day is scheduled for December 15, during the December 4-H County Council Meeting. Diapers will be donated to the Ballard Center. Have you visited their new building and pantry? It will be a great asset to our community! Thank you in advance for supporting this mission- Your Community Service Committee
December 1 - 4-H Enrollment Deadline for Returning 4-H Families and Volunteers
December 14 - Bromelsick Christmas Party, 2:00 p.m., Royal Crest Lanes
January 2 - State 4-H Horse Judging Contest Entry Deadline, Online
January 11 - County-Wide Swine Project Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Bldg. (RSVP Required)
January 11 - County-Wide Cloverbud Project Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Bldg. (RSVP Required to kjrstena@hotmail.com by January 7)
January 18 - County-Wide Poultry Project Meeting, 1:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Bldg.
January 23 - 25 - State 4-H Horse Judging Contest and Equifest, Topeka
February 2 - 4-H Foundation Scholarship Applications due by 11:59 p.m., Online
February 13 - Deadline for Registration for Junior Beef Producer Day
February 15 - 16 - Citizenship In Action, Topeka (Registration Coming Soon)
February 21-26 - Horse Panorama, Rock Spring Ranch (Registration Coming Soon)
March 7 - County 4-H Club Day, Douglas County Fairgrounds (Registration Coming Soon)
March 7 - YQCA In-Person Training #1- 1:30 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Building
March 8 – Douglas County Fair Market Beef Weigh-In, 1-3 p.m., Community Building (Sign Up Coming Soon)
March 17 - 4-H Project Skill-a-Thon (Information and Registration Coming Soon)
April 12 - Swine Project Meeting, 1:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Building (RSVP Required)
April 12 - 2nd In-Person YQCA Training, 2:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Building
April 25 - Douglas County Spring Livestock Expo, Douglas County Fairgrounds
May 1 - 4-H Enrollment Deadline to be eligible to exhibit at the 2026 Douglas County Fair
May 1– Kansas State Fair/KJLS Market Beef Nominations due online
May 12 - Douglas County Fair Final Small Livestock Weigh-In, 5-7 p.m., Community Building
May 27 - Final In-Person YQCA Training - 6:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Building
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