New 4-H Year Enrollment

Don’t delay, enroll today! You can use the following link to enroll in 4-H https://4honline.com

Remember, you have to re-enroll each year to be able to take part in the 4-H program.

Just a reminder, if you will be applying for an upper-level Achievement Pin (the Leadership Pin, the Gold Pin, or Gold Guard Pin) at the end of this 4-H year, you will need to be enrolled in the Leadership Project. So now is the time to add that to your project list! Already enrolled and need to add that project? No problem. Once your enrollment is approved, you can log back into 4-Honline.com and add that project. If you need help, let Melissa know.

Projects

If you want to try a new project this year, check out the 4-H Project Selection Guide to decide what you will enroll in this year. Project information can be found at: https://www.kansas4-h.org/projects/

Upcoming Activities

Christmas Craft Day

We are planning a fun Christmas Craft Day this year! This event will be held on Monday, December 22, from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm at the Extension Office. We will make some craft projects, a fun food project, and a treat for the birds! We will eat lunch, followed by Christmas caroling on Main Street if the weather permits. Participants do not have to be in 4-H to participate but there is a $10 registration fee for each participant. Please call the office by Monday, December 15, to register. You can find a flyer with more information here.

Kingman County Fair

New Auction Eligibility Form

There will be a new Auction Eligibility Form that members must complete for the 2026 Kingman County Fair. To participate in either the Purple Ribbon Food Auction or the Livestock Auction, members must fulfill a few additional requirements. Returning 4-H members will need to attend 50% of the club meetings from July 2025 to June 2026, fair set up and clean up will be required, attending the livestock meeting on the Monday before the fair for Livestock Auction participants, take part in two club activities, and two county, regional or state events will also be required. The new Auction Eligibility Form can be found here. These are not hard requirements to fulfill. Just remember, 4-H is a year-long youth program, as long as you are active all year, you will meet all of these requirements. 

The dates have been set for the 2026 Kingman County Fair! Join us for fair fun July 22-25, 2026!

The Kingman County Fair Association is still looking for more members. If you are interested in being on the Fair Board, join in on the Annual Meeting on October 22 at 7:00 pm at the Saddle and Ropers Building. 

4-H Council

4-H Council Meeting

The next 4-H Council Meeting will be on January 8 at 7:00 pm at the Extension Office. Congratulations to our new 4-H Council Officers! President: Sean K, Vice President: Stratton Y, Secretary: Peyton B, Treasurer: Kristyn M.

Watch your email and our Facebook for information about upcoming programs!

Ambassador Happenings

The Ambassadors will once again be hosting a Chili Feed and Bingo night this year. This event will be held on Sunday, January 18, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at The Hangar. The proceeds from this event will go to the Kingman County Humane Society. If your family would like to donate to the meal, you can find a Sign-Up Genius link here.

A Look Ahead

Here are dates for upcoming Kingman County 4-H events. Go ahead and mark them down on your calendar!

March 1 - Beef Weigh In

March 27 - Kingman County 4-H Senior Scholarships due

April 25 – Small Animal Weigh In

May 1 – Enrollment Deadline to take Part in the County Fair

May 8 – Fair Entries Due

July 7 – County Fair Fashion Revue Judging

July 12 – Public Fair Fashion Revue

July 18 – Fair Horse Show

July 19 – Fair Dog Show

July 20 – Fair Set Up

July 22-25 – Kingman County Fair

Project Engagement Information

4-H is an organization that lasts all year! It is important to do project work all year. Engage in educational opportunities all year. Find your spark with something new every day. This year, in this section, you will find ideas to engage in your project areas all year long. Take some time each month and learn, grow, and find out something great in your project work. 

Photography Showcase Project

Pick up your camera or phone and take pictures all year long! In each newsletter, I will give members a photo prompt and you can take pictures and send me your best 2 by the 20^th of each month. You can email me the file at mthimesch@ksu.edu or text me the files at 620-243-3766. I will apply a watermark to your image and then post a showcase each month on our Facebook page. I will also showcase photos on our digital frame here in the office. If a member isn’t in photography but would like to give it a try, this would be a great opportunity for that! 

December’s Photo Prompt is “Twinkly Lights.”

Monthly Food Project Challenge

The foods and nutrition project is more than just what you make for the County Fair. This year, I will give you a fun monthly food challenge. If you take part, take photos and email those to me. You might just be featured on our Facebook page! 

December - Cookie Swap: Bake and share your favorite cookies.

Club Corner

The Norwich Boosters 4-H Club held their monthly meeting on November 10th at the Norwich Dotzour Center Members enjoyed a banana split–themed installation of officers, where everyone in attendance was treated to a banana split! Before the meeting, officers and leaders met to plan the upcoming 4-H year, focusing on community service projects, fun events and activities for the members.

Newly installed officers are:

• President: Cora Turner
• Vice President: Natalie Francie
• Reporter: Madison Francis
• Secretary: Mila Durr
• Treasurer: Reese Allen
• Parliamentarian: Paisley Turner
• Song Leader: Makenna Adams
• Recreation Leader: Camden Stark
• Historian: Ella Carrol

This meeting also included the club’s annual achievement celebration, recognizing the hard work and accomplishments of members over the past year.

The club had two very generous donations from the Milton Baptist Church and another from the Scott and Gina Gage Foundation. Mila and Amy Durr were also recognized at the meeting and thanked for handing out candy at Norwich’s Annual Trunk or Treat for the club.

Looking ahead, the Boosters are preparing for the holiday season. Plans include Christmas-themed photos with miniature cattle from Susie’s Mini Moos, offered by Hollie Marie Photography. These photos will be used to create festive Christmas and thank-you cards. At their next meeting, members will also craft cards to deliver to The W Place in Kingman and Sunflower Z Homes in Garden Plain, spreading cheer to residents.

--Norwich Boosters Club Reporter Madison Francis

Whispering Willow 4-H Club Meets in November

During the November monthly meeting of the Whispering Willow 4-H Club, members took down all of the decorations from the Haunted Forest.  The Club would like to thank everyone who attended this year’s event. We are already planning bigger scares for next year!

The Christmas Float Committee is working hard on the Club entry for the Christmas parade. Look for us at the parade on December 6.

Sam Thimesch

Whispering Willow Club Reporter

This year, I would like to share club highlights each month in the 4-H newsletter. If club reporters would like to email me a short paragraph about what your club is doing each month, I will include that here! Please email that to me at mthimesch@ksu.edu by the 20^th of each month.

State Events

NEW Deadline Alert for Kansas 4-H Scholarships!

Attention, Kansas 4-H members! The deadline for the Kansas 4-H Scholarships is Monday, January 5, 2026. 

We know spring is packed with 4-H activities and deadlines, so this change is designed to make your scholarship experience smoother and less stressful. With two separate due dates for project award applications and scholarships, you’ll have more time to prepare your best work in both areas!

Plus, selections will be completed early enough for seniors to share scholarship results with their high schools, so you can be recognized for all your accomplishments.

The scholarship application is now live on the Kansas 4-H website — don’t wait, start yours today!

https://kansas4h.org/resources/awards-and-recognition/scholarships.html

4-H Dog Judges and Leader Training

The 2026 Kansas 4-H Dog Judges Training/Recertification and Leader Training will be held in Salina at the Saline County Expo Center January 31-February 1, 2026.

New judges can be certified, returning judges can get a refresher and be re-certified, and leaders can gain a better understanding of the various classes to better prepare local youth for project work. Older 4-H members are invited to observe the training and better understand how they will be judged at invitational and the Kansas State Fair 4-H Dog Show. Participants must be 16-years-old and older to attend this certification and training.

Registration will open December 1 and is due by January 2, 2026. Complete information and registration link is available on the 4-H Dog Judge and Leader Training page.

2026 K-State Junior Producer Days have been scheduled

K-state Junior Producer Days are one-day, educational events for families to learn about the selection and management of youth livestock projects.

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

K-State Junior Sheep Producer Day

Date – Saturday, April 11, 2026

Registration Deadline – March 20, 2026

Cost - $20/person by March 20 ($30/person after March 20)

*Only those who register by March 20 will receive a t-shirt.

**Both youth and adults attending (including parents) need to register.

***No refunds.

Online Registration - https://bit.ly/SheepJrProducer

Follow us on Facebook

If you would like to stay up to date with what is happening at K-State Research and Extension – Kingman County and the Kingman County 4-H Program, follow us on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/kingmancountyextension You have all helped us reach our goal of over 1000 followers! Thank you!

Dates to remember

Dec. 12 Extension Office Closed Early for County Christmas Party

Dec. 15 Register for Christmas Craft Day!

Dec. 22 Christmas Craft Day

Dec. 24-Jan. 5 Extension Office Closed – Merry Christmas!

If you have questions regarding the information in this newsletter, please contact me at:

Kingman County K-State Extension Office

Melissa Thimesch

125 N Spruce

Kingman, KS 67068

620-532-5131

mthimesch@ksu.edu

K-State Research and Extension is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services, and activities. Program information may be available in languages other than English. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, including alternative means for communication (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, and American Sign Language) may be requested by contacting the event contact Melissa Thimesch two weeks prior to the start of the event at 620-532-5131 or mthimesch@ksu.edu. Requests received after this date will be honored when it is feasible to do so. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information will be provided free of charge to limited English-proficient individuals upon request.

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.