4-H Family Handbooks are available at the Extension Office. Please make sure you have one for your family. Information on deadlines and procedures are included!

All 4-H’ers are invited to fill out an application for the Diamond Clover Awards program. It truly is an achievable goal-setting and application process.

There are six levels. Youth can start at the beginning or at the age level associated with the award. For each level, there is a list of possible accomplishments from which 4-H youth choose their goals. The accomplishments increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. At the beginning of the 4-H year, participants plan what to accomplish and at the end of the 4-H year, they report on their completed accomplishments. In Seward County, goal sheets are due April 1 and reports are due October 1. Successful completion of a level's Plan & Report form results in a 4-H youth earning that level of the Diamond Clover program. In Seward County youth receive a pin, a certificate, and a prize. These are awarded at the annual 4-H Achievement Party. More information on the Diamond Clover Program is at: https://4h.unl.edu/diamond-clover

Nebraska 4-H is now accepting nominations for a new awards program to recognize the outstanding contributions of 4-H volunteers across the state.

The Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Recognition Awards honors adult and youth volunteers, as well as and multi-generational families, who have provided meaningful contributions to Nebraska 4-H. One Outstanding Adult Volunteer Award and One Emerging Adult Volunteer Award winner will be chosen for each of the state’s 11 Nebraska Extension Engagement zones. One statewide winner will be named in the each of the youth volunteer and multi-generational family categories.

The nomination period runs through March 15. Nominations can be submitted by any 4-H member, family, supporter, or Extension staff member. Nominees must fit the award categories and can be a volunteer for any Nebraska 4-H experience. Some examples may include 4-H club leader, project leader, junior leader, county or State Fair volunteer, special interest volunteer, such as robotics or shooting sports, afterschool club volunteer or 4-H camp volunteer. More information, along with the nomination form, is available online at: https://4h.unl.edu/volunteer-recognition.

Winners will be announced virtually the week of April 18, in which Nebraska 4-H will be celebrating the Week of the Volunteer. A special awards presentation will take place at the 2022 Nebraska State Fair.

Please review the rules concerning the Clover Kids Livestock showmanship class. Nothing is new, however, rules will be enforced for the 2023 Seward County Fair.

• Clover Kid Showmanship Class Pre-fair entry is required.
• Clover Kid must ID animal with own Animal ID sheet or include their name on the ID sheet of the animal owned by another 4-H/FFA exhibitor.
• Each member may bring one animal (or use another 4-H/FFA member's animal) in this division to the county fair.
• The animal may be stalled during the fair or be brought the day of the show.
• If exhibiting their own animal, a stall will be needed and must be indicated on 4-Her's entry form.
• The animal needs to be an animal the youth has cared for.
• An adult is required to be with the Clover Kid when working with or showing their animal.
• The Clover Kid will lead the animal in the show ring or be placed in a holding pen (according to the superintendent's discretion).
• The youth will discuss their knowledge of care and raising of the animal with the official.
• Age, size and temperament of the animal project must be appropriate for the exhibitor's age and size.

Rules that must be followed include:

• The show will be non-competitive.
• There will be one adult/teen volunteer per Clover Kid assisting when the animal is being handled.
• The animal must be 6 months of age or younger the day of show.
• The animal must be less than 350 pounds the day of the show.