May 4-H Newsletter - May 15, 2026 at 17.29.34

Day Camps: Clover Camp Adventure Series

Looking for an adventure this summer? Join us for the Clover Camp Adventure Series! Six morning day camps aimed at grades 3-5. From tacos to safety to planes - whatever the interest, there's a class for everyone! There is not a 4-H membership requirement, so bring a friend! Space is limited, register today! For more information and to enroll, visit https://bit.ly/kse-summer-camp

Biology & Natural Sciences SPIN Club

Our April SPIN outing was to the Baker Wetlands for a bird walk. We had twelve members and six University of Kansas postdoctoral mentors to attend! Two of the KU students are studying ornithology and were happy to share their knowledge. We identified our 'local' birds and many species who were migratory on the Central Flyway, which was exciting! We also got in a bit of flora, fauna and terrestrial creature observation. Our May session will include a tour of Bowersock Hydropower Dam and KAW River ecology.

A SPIN Club is a Special Interest Club that has a specific focus and meets for at least 6-one hour sessions in a year. This is our third year of the Biology & Natural Sciences club. https://www.kansas4-h.org/about/clubs-programs/4-h-spin-club/ If you would be interested in joining this group next season, or have an idea of a focus for another SPIN Club, please let Nickie or Nancy hear your ideas!

Douglas County Fair Information

The Fair Entry System is Live! Entries will close at 11:59 p.m. on June 30. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. All Douglas County Fair information, including the how-to guide for making entries, can be found at: https://bit.ly/DGCountyFairInfo To view all the 2026 updates, rules, and fair information, go to: https://bit.ly/DGCountyFairInfo For questions, contact Nickie at nharding@ksu.edu or Candice at clavalette@ksu.edu.

Douglas County Fair Exhibitor T-shirts

New Douglas County Fair T-Shirt design for 2026. Thank you, Douglas County 4-H Foundation, for purchasing our fair exhibitor T-shirts! All enrolled 4-H members may claim one free T-shirt. Please scan the QR code or visit https://bit.ly/DGCOUNTYFAIRTSHIRT to order by May 31st!

Final In-person YQCA Certification

We are offering our last in-county certifications on Wednesday, 5/27, at 6:00 p.m. You have to pre-register! 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. We have one in-person training left this year. It will be held on Wednesday, May 27, at 6 p.m. Please log in to the site using the same email address you previously used, which applies 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. We do not take payment, and cannot register members. Our county's deadline to complete your certification is June 15th! Be sure to register in the name of your 4-H member! Registration is tied directly to the issuance of the certificate, which will allow you to enter animals in the Douglas County Fair, Kansas State Fair, and the Kansas Junior Livestock Show. Your 4-H members will need their YQCA certificate number when entering livestock in the Douglas County Fair Entry System.

County-Wide Sewing Workshop

May 27, 2026 - 9:00 - 11:00 a.m., Dreher Family 4-H Building

This session is for beginner sewist level 4-H members. The workshop limit is 16 participants; each member must have an adult accompany them. This is not a drop-off event. Please DO bring your own machine if you have one. We will be sharing. Participants will need to bring their sewing kits (scissors, pins or clips, measuring tape, seam ripper, 6" metal sewing ruler, and a box to keep all these things contained). We are going to make pillowcases, and adult help will be necessary! All the material and thread are provided. When completed, this could be a fair exhibit. Please sign up at: https://bit.ly/4HSEWING.

Forestry Project Meetings

Calling all beginning foresters to a hands-on workshop to collect leaf specimens for your Douglas County Fair forestry project. You will leave with all the information you need to complete this project. Registration is required. Contact: Barbara Mullen at mullenfam96@gmail.com to RSVP by 5/25! Workshop time: Saturday, 5/30 from 9-11 AM, 5720 Robinson Dr., Lawrence, KS

Aerospace & Rocketry Project Meetings

Are you interested in building a Rocket for the Douglas County Fair? Well, be sure to attend the 4-H Rocketry series of meetings. You will learn how to build your rocket, launch it, and prepare it for the Douglas County Fair. Meeting dates are as follows: Sunday, May 31, at 2:00 p.m. in the Dreher Family 4-H Building * Sunday, June 28, at 2:00 p.m. in the Dreher Family 4-H Building * Saturday, July 11, at 2:00 p.m. in the Dreher Family 4-H Building. You MUST be enrolled in the 4-H Aerospace project to enter the 4-H division at the Douglas County Fair. Please RSVP to Nancy at nnoyes@ksu.edu by May 27.

Dog Project Meetings

Participants in this project will learn how to care for a dog and how to train a dog in basic or advanced commands. Members without dogs can participate in quiz bowls, conferences, and other activities that do not require owning a dog. To find more project information, go to: https://www.kansas4-h.org/projects/animal-science/dog/. Project practice nights are to be held in the Open Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. on 6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25, 7/9, and 7/16. Please contact Lauren Berg, Dog Project Club Leader, with any questions. Lauren can be reached at 785-917-0226 or by email at laurenrberg@yahoo.com.

Building Block Engineering Project Meeting

Building Block Engineering County-Wide Project Meeting: Sunday, June 7th at 1 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Building. Bring your builds to showcase and share, learn about the forms needed for fair entries, and more! For more information about the Building Block Engineering (BBE) project, visit https://www.kansas4-h.org/projects/engineering-technology/building-block-engineering/ or contact County Project Leader Marisa at 913-915-9151.

County-Wide Cloverbud Meeting

The next 4-H Cloverbud meeting will be on June 7 at 2:00 PM in the Dreher Family 4-H Building. Please RSVP for this meeting by June 3 to Kjrsten at kjrstena@hotmail.com. This meeting will focus on the 4-H Plant Sciences Project. Cloverbuds will learn about the project and all about Show and Share.

Pets Project Meetings

We have two upcoming Pet Project Meetings scheduled to assist members in preparation for the Douglas County Fair. June 7 | 3:00 p.m. 📍 Dreher Family 4-H Building Topic: Preparing for the Douglas County Fair Pet Show and Fair Entries July 6 | 6:00 p.m. 📍 Dreher Family 4-H Building Topic: Douglas County Fair Pet Show Practice RSVP Information RSVPs are required for each meeting by June 3rd. A minimum of five participants is required to host each session. Please RSVP by June 3 at: https://forms.gle/jQWqzCbdbBeyJDpV9

DgCo 4-H Horse Project Club

The Douglas County Fair Open Horse Show will be held on Saturday, July 25, and the Douglas County Fair 4-H Horse Show will be held Sunday, July 26. If you have any questions, please contact leader Bobbie Hinds at 515-480-3533 or email bobbiehinds@yahoo.com. 4-H members planning to show their horse at the Douglas County 4-H Horse Show and/or Kansas State 4-H Horse Show are required to ID their horse. Horse ID papers are due to the Douglas County Extension Office by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 1st. New members showing a horse in the Douglas County Fair or the Kansas State Fair must pass the horse safety quiz. You must present a negative Coggins test dated within the past twelve months at show check-in. For County Fair Horse information and links to Horse ID Papers, Safety Quiz, etc., go to: https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/news-events/4h-news/4h-events/douglas-county-fair-updates.html

Countywide Poultry Project Meetings

Sunday, June 14, at 2:00 p.m. in the Dreher Family 4-H Building. Meeting Topic: Poultry Breeds 101, Showmanship, Part ll Chicken Bingo! Wednesday, July 15, 6:00 p.m. in the Open Pavilion Meeting Topic: County Fair Preparation These meetings are important for anyone who plans to show birds at the Douglas County Fair or participate in the Douglas County Poultry Judging Contest! For questions or information, reach out to project leader Janine Leslie at 785-330-3867 or j9dolphins@hotmail.com

County Fair Poultry Pullorum Testing

ALL POULTRY (except waterfowl & pigeons) are required to show proof of being P-T clean by one of the following: -- Originate from a certified U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid clean flock if coming from a hatchery or out of state (certificate required at check-in). - Show proof of a negative test at check-in of the county fair. Blood test must be within 90 days of the show. Pullorum-Typhoid testing will be held Saturday, July 11, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on the Northeast side of the Community Building. Register for your testing spot by July 1 at: https://bit.ly/2026PoultryTesting | 2026 County Fair Update: All birds intended for exhibition must be tagged with a leg band identifier. Tags are available at the Extension Office.

State 4-H Events

Upcoming 4-H State events in various projects

Discovery Days -June 3-5 -registration closed
Geology Field Trip - June 12-14 -registration closed
4-H Insect Spectacular - June 19-20 REGISTER NOW!

🪲Beetles, 🐝bugs, 🦋butterflies, and more! It's time to register for the 34th Insect Spectacular, to be held in Iola on June 19-20th. https://cvent.me/4oL0D4 This is a two day event, and a parent/guardian is required to attend with their 4-H youth. All pertinent information about this event is available on the registration page. Follow the link above to register by May 25. If you missed one of the state events this year, keep them in mind for 2027!

Douglas County Reading Contest Books are in the Office!

The 2026 book selections have arrived!

The County Reading Contest will be held on Sunday, July 12th, from 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. on the Douglas County Fairgrounds during the 4-H Contest Day. It is a come-and-go contest. Awards will be given to the top scorers in each age category! The books are free, provided to youth by the Douglas County 4-H Council. *Junior 7–9-year-olds: Otter Chaos! by Philip Reeve *Intermediate 10–13-year-olds: Isle of Ever by Jen Calonita *Senior 14 – 19-year-olds: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D Taylor. You may reserve a book by calling our office at 7856-843-7058 or by emailing Cheyenne at cheybartz@ksu.edu. The titles are also available at our county public libraries.

4-H Clothing Judging Schedule Change

Please note the change to this year's fair schedule: Tuesday, July 21 8:30 a.m. 4-H Clothing Judging, Bldg. 21, and Dreher Bldg. Wednesday, July 22 7:00 p.m., Fashion Review, Building 21

Photography Mounting Clinic

We will have Deal Six Auditorium set up for photography mounting on Tuesday, July 21st, during 4-H Clothing Judging. Our clinic hours will be 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Please bring your photos ready to mount. We will have matte boards and sleeves for sale($3) at our reception desk.

County Fair Camper Hookup Lottery

2026 Douglas County Fair Camper Electrical hookups are available through a lottery system due to limited availability. There are sixteen spots east of the Open Pavilion. Each enrolled 4-H household will only be entered in the drawing once. Violation of this rule will result in forfeiture. Registration will close at 11:59 PM on June 30th. Names drawn in the lottery will be notified by the Douglas County Maintenance Office in the first week of July. The cost for the hookup is $15/day, and campers will be charged for the entire week of the fair, totaling $105. Payment details will be provided after the drawing.

You can register for a camper spot at:https://bit.ly/ElectricCamperSpots

Hayleigh Wempe 4-H Mentoring Award

The Hayleigh Wempe 4-H Mentoring Award will be awarded to a Douglas County 4-H member who shares their time and talent with other 4-H members through mentoring. The cash award is intended to celebrate a 4-H member who intentionally lives by the 4-H motto, “To make the best better,” by helping others succeed in their 4-H project work. Anyone can nominate a Douglas County 4-H member for the Hayleigh Wempe 4-H Mentoring Award. There are no project enrollment or age requirements. Each nomination application will be reviewed by a selection committee. They will select the finalists who will be evaluated by secret judges during the county fair. A winner will be selected by the committee based on information collected from the application and in-person interactions during the county fair. The award will be presented at the Douglas County 4-H Fair Awards Ceremony. The award is a cash award and a plaque that will be displayed in the Dreher Family 4-H Building with each recipient’s name. Nominations must be submitted by July 1. Click the link below to nominate a 4-H'er by July 1 at: https://bit.ly/HayleighWempe4HMentoringAward

Commercial Heifer and Small Livestock Nominations for KSF and KJLS

Any 4-H'er planning to show a commercial heifer and/or small livestock at the Kansas State Fair (KSF) or Kansas Junior Livestock Show (KJLS) is required to nominate their animals by June 15. A complete nomination includes an official 4-H EID tag, a hair sample with a DNA envelope, a household declaration form, an online nomination, YQCA certification, and a $12 nomination fee per animal. To view the 2026 nomination instructions, go to: https://www.asi.k-state.edu/extension/youth-programs/nominated-livestock/

County Fair Livestock Health Requirements

2026 County Fair Livestock Health Requirements: The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) has mandated county fair livestock health requirements. All 4-H members exhibiting livestock at the 2026 fair, please review this information prior to attending the Douglas County Fair: https://bit.ly/CountyFairLivestockInfo. All 4-H'ers with Market Livestock, Beef, Goats, Sheep, Swine, rabbits, and Poultry will be required to complete detailed treatment records. The records should include administration of any wormers, antibiotics, medicated feed, etc. The treatment record form can be found at: https://bit.ly/CountyFairLivestockInfo under the General Livestock Information Box.

Livestock Tagging Policy for state 4-H shows

Exhibitors purchasing livestock for state shows after the spring tagging date will be required to bring the animal(s) to the Douglas County Extension Office for tagging. Exhibitors can also have the tags delivered to their farm by an Extension agent for a $40 fee. Make checks payable to Douglas County Extension Council. Either the exhibitor or parent will be responsible for tagging the animal(s) under the supervision of an Extension agent. An appointment is required. The same applies for a lost tag For an appointment, contact Nickie Harding nharding@ksu.edu

Douglas County Contest Day

📅 DATE: Sunday, July 12, 2026 🕐 TIME: 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. 📍 LOCATION: Douglas County Fairgrounds Contest Day is a come-and-go event. HOWEVER, if you plan to participate in more than one contest, please arrive as early as possible to ensure you have enough time to complete each one. Participants planning to enter multiple contests should arrive no later than 1:00 p.m. IMPORTANT! All 4-H Contests take place on July 12, except Livestock Judging, which will take place on July 30th at the Douglas County Fair! Please register at: https://forms.gle/qxgMiuq8eGeH9b6M6 by July 7. Registration is not required, but it helps us plan each contest.

Family & Consumer Science Judging

This contest is to test the decision-making skills of the contestant when it comes to being a wise consumer in all aspects of life, and as it pertains to personal choices for your nutrition, health, comfort, and safety. We make decisions every day as consumers in what we purchase- to wear, to eat, and how we spend our leisure time and furnish our living space. Do you consider yourself a wise consumer? Enter the contest to see how you do!

Horticulture Judging Contest

This contest tests members' knowledge of common horticultural practices through a written test taken from the Kansas Garden Guide material. There is an identification portion of specimens from seed, bark, leaf, flower, or fruit. There are also classes of four plants, vegetables, flowers, or fruit that are judged from most to least desirable. Please visit the K-State 4-H website for study resources. https://www.kansas4-h.org/educational-experiences/project-based-events/contests/horticulture-judging/

Livestock Skillathon Contest

The Livestock Skillathon contest tests a 4-H member’s knowledge and comprehension of animal science and livestock management practices. The contest provides an opportunity for youth to gain and develop production livestock skills and life skills through a competitive environment. Contest subject matter may include, but is not limited to, the following topics:

Livestock equipment identification – name and use category
Livestock breed identification – breed name and descriptions
Retail meat cut identification – beef, lamb, pork; identify specie, primal, and retail cut
Feed sample identification
Potential judging classes – hay, wool, meat, livestock
Quality Assurance Exercises
General Livestock Industry

Contact Nancy at nnoyes@ksu.edu for study materials and information.

Photography Judging Contest

The 4-H Photography Judging contest allows 4-H members to demonstrate skills in the evaluation, selection, and placement of photographs based on industry standards and expectations. Photo Judging classes can consist of photographs from the categories of people, animals, plant/flora, nature/landscape, special/digital effects, night photography, black & white, animals (domestic or wildlife), details/macro, architecture, or other categories as deemed by the contest committee and judges. Photography problem classes will cover topics such as exposure, ISO, shutter speed, focal length, white balance, camera settings, composition, technique, shooting situations, and other topics as deemed necessary by the contest committee.

Poultry Judging Contest

Participation in judging and other competitive events helps 4-Hers learn to make and defend decisions and to speak in public. Poultry judging provides an excellent opportunity for 4-Hers to learn about live chickens and the basis of grade and quality of poultry products. Our Douglas County Poultry Judging Contest will have these classes: exterior egg grading, egg candling, live bird judging, and ID chicken meat products. Please attend the countywide poultry meetings to learn more and practice!

Reading Contest

Books are available at one/level/family, please! Also, please consider passing them along if you do not wish to keep your copy. Superintendent Paula has checked with local libraries and there are copies to loan as well.

Please call Cheyenne at 785-843-7058 to reserve your copy or stop by the office to pick one up. The contest questions will reflect the book read and the reader's level. You may read 'up' a level but not the reverse.

County Fair Trivia Contest!

You may assemble your team ahead of the contest but there is no registration ahead of contest time. Just come to the contest at 2:30 in Dreher Family 4-H Building on Wednesday, July 29th.

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Please sign up for the American Red Cross Blood Drive with 4-H! This donation drive is hosted by the 2026 4-H Citizenship Washington Focus Delegation. The drive is on Friday, May 29th, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the Flory Meeting Hall on the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Please sign up at: https://rcblood.org/4eBAKwS

Douglas County 4-H Council Community Service Grants

This service grant program is hosted by the Douglas County 4-H Council. All 4-H community clubs, project clubs and county-wide groups are encouraged to participate in service to the community through the end of the 4-H year on September 30. To apply, please visit this link https://bit.ly/ServingBetterTogtherGrantImpactReport The Douglas County 4-H Council has graciously agreed to pledge $2,500 to the service grants. The grant applications will be reviewed on February 16, April 20, and August 17. Applications will continue to be reviewed until all the funding has been awarded. The applications will be reviewed by the 4-H Council Service Committee.

Calendar of Events

May 27 - County-Wide Beginner Sewing Workshop, 9:00 a.m., Dreher Family 4-H Bldg. Register here May 27 - Final In-Person YQCA Training, 6:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Building May 29 - 4-H American Red Cross Blood Drive - 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m., Flory Meeting Hall, Douglas County Fairgrounds. May 30 - County-Wide Forestry Project Meeting, 9:00 a.m. RSVP required to mullenfam96@gmail.com May 31 - Final day to order your Douglas County Fair exhibitor T-shirt, Online May 31 - County-Wide 4-H Rocketry Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Building RSVP Required June 1 - Horse ID Papers Due by 5:00 p.m. to the Douglas County Extension Office June 7 - County-Wide Building Block Engineering Meeting, 1:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Bldg. June 7 - 4-H Cloverbud Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Building RSVP Required June 7 - County- Wide 4-H Pet Project Meeting, 3:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Building RSVP Required June 14 - County-Wide Poultry Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Building June 15 - 2026 YQCA Certification Deadline for Douglas County Fair June 28 - County-Wide Rocketry Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Building RSVP Required June 30 - Douglas County Fair Entry Deadline, Online July 11 - Douglas County Fair Poultry Pullorum Testing, 7:30 - 9:30 a.m., Community Building RSVP Required July 11 - County-Wide Rocketry Meeting, 2:00 p.m., Dreher Family 4-H Building RSVP Required July 12 - 4-H Contest Day, 12:30 p.m., Douglas County Fairgrounds RSVP HERE for Details July 15 - County-Wide Poultry Project Meeting (fair prep), 6:00 p.m. Open Pavilion July 18 - Douglas County Fair 4-H Pet Show, 8:00 a.m. Building 21 | 4-H Dog Show, 1:00 p.m., Building 21 July 21 - Douglas County Fair 4-H Clothing Judging, 8:30 a.m., Building 21 July 22 - Douglas County Fair 4-H Fashion Review, 7:00 p.m., Building 21 July 26 - Douglas County Fair 4-H Horse Show, 8:30 a.m., Douglas County Fairgrounds Community Bldg. July 27 - August 1 - Douglas County Fair August 2 - Douglas County Fair checkout and cleanup, 7:30 -10:30AM, Douglas County Fairgrounds

Non-discrimination Disclaimer

Kansas State University is committed to making its services, activities, and programs accessible to all participants. Contact K-State Extension, Douglas County at 785-843-7058 should you require assistance due to a physical, vision, or hearing disability. Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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