Clover Clips

A newsletter for 4-H families

Welcome new and returning families! With the excitement of the start of a new year, here is a great guide for new families to learn about all things 4-H. If you have never read this guide, be sure to check it out! Find tidbits of information on project work, record books and achievements, along with county/state events.

Start thinking now about how you want to be involved this year.

• What projects do you want to enroll in? Use this helpful guide!
• For older youth, what areas can you lead in?
• What records can I start keeping now to help me achieve my goals and/or pins and awards? Check out the Record Book Workshop that will be held on 12/1!
• How can I participate on a county level, by attending in events & trips or serving on committees? 

Stay up to date on how to get involved as the new year begins by reading Clover Clips and following us on social media!

Attention 4-H Treasurers, Club Leaders, and Financial Review Committee members: the annual audit is required for all non-appropriated funds generated for Extension programs. This includes funds raised/collected by 4-H clubs, project clubs, affiliated groups, etc.

The Annual Financial Report document can be found on the Leader Resources Page.

Every club/group who has an EIN issued by the IRS is asked to have a Financial Review Committee review the club financial records annually. Members of this committee should NOT be family members of the treasurer or signatories on the account. The committee should be composed of two 4-H members and two adult volunteers. This information is due to the Extension office by November 1, 2026. A reminder that the Treasurer's Book MUST be submitted from every group with an EIN. Contact the Johnson County 4-H office with any questions.

Each club needs to have two youth and two adult mentors serve as their club’s representatives at 4-H County Council. The meetings occur on the first Monday of odd months at 7:00 PM, starting on November 2. The November meeting is especially crucial for your club to have representation, as the new County Council officers will be elected. It is encouraged that all youth interested in a County Council officer position be present for the meeting.

Actively participating in two Council Committees is one of the requirements for Council Reps to receive their pin. Descriptions of each of the Council committees are posted on the 4-H Council Page on the Johnson County 4-H website. Please choose at least one Event Planning committee and at least one Review Committee to participate in this year. A link for the 2026-2027 committee sign-ups will be posted on the 4-H Council Page soon! If you have questions, please contact the Johnson County 4-H office.

2026-2027 4-H Calendar

Happy New 4-H Year! Start marking your calendars NOW for upcoming events.

Project Fair & Ambassador Ice Cream Social

Join us for an interactive project fair & ice cream on Tuesday, October 27th from 6:00 - 8:30 PM at the Extension Office! Come learn about all project areas and get ideas for what projects you would like to try in the new 4-H year. Bring a friend or two who may be interested in learning more about 4-H - you and your friend will be entered into a prize giveaway!

If you would like to present your favorite project at the fair, please sign up to host a project table. The Project Fair Committee will be in touch with you. Don't wait - the sign up will close on October 20th.

County Achievement Celebration

Saturday, November 7th

2:00 - 4:00 PM

(Please plan to arrive by 1:45 PM for check-in)

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church (13145 S. Blackbob Rd. Olathe, KS) 

Join us as we celebrate those who have worked hard throughout the year to earn their achievement pins, project awards, special scholarships and awards. At this time, we will also recognize 4-H leaders and volunteers who give so much to the program.

Please RSVP by November 1. You are welcome to attend the celebration even if you won't be receiving an award. Come to meet other 4-H'ers in the county and join in on the fun.

The Achievement Celebration Committee invites you to give back by bringing a canned or boxed food item to donate to a local food pantry. Let's stock their shelves in preparation for the holiday season!

County Service Project: Noah's Bandage Project

The Johnson County 4-H Council is hosting a final collection drive to round off the current 4-H year and start the new one strong. Members are encouraged to donate bandages with fun designs or characters. All bandages collected will be sent to Noah's Bandage Project where they will be distributed to children with cancer all across the country. Something small like this can make a big difference.

The final collection will occur at the County Council Meeting on November 2nd. Each club should arrange a time to collect their donations for delivery at this meeting. 

If you have general questions about the drive, you can contact Council Officer, George Delancy or view this flyer. If you have questions about how your specific club is handling donations, you should ask your Club Leader or County Council Representatives.

Set yourself up for success in the coming 4-H year by attending the Johnson County Record Book Workshop on Tuesday, December 1st from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at the Johnson County Extension Office (Rooms 1070 & 1075).

All Project Report Forms (PRFs) in Kansas are transitioning fully into the ZBook interface for the 2026-2027 4-H year. This workshop is the perfect opportunity to get ahead of the upcoming change. The workshop will also cover all kinds of methods and tips for creating and submitting quality record books from two-time State Project Winner George Delancy. All members are welcome to attend and learn more, regardless of skill level.

The event will begin at 6:30 PM with a presentation explaining everything you need to know about completing 4-H record books in Kansas. After the presentation, members are invited to come and go for specific questions and individual help until the workshop ends at 8:30 PM.

We hope to see you attend and learn the benefits to keeping good records. If you have questions, please contact George Delancy.

Hop right into the rabbit project! Join us for county-wide project meetings held on the first Mondays of the month from 6:30 - 7:30 PM in the Open Class Building on the Johnson County Fairgrounds. We will learn about keeping, judging, breeding, and showing rabbits. Rabbit owners, rabbit lovers, and rabbit curious are all welcome! Email Kate Downey with questions or call (913-205-4098).

Have you ever been fascinated by the way a butterfly gracefully moves through the air, or the way a beetle crawls across the ground, or wondered how everything around us is connected? If so, the 4-H Entomology Project is perfect for you! In this project area, youth have the opportunity to catch, identify, preserve, and learn more about the amazing, creepy-crawly friends all around us. Don't feel like touching gross insects? No worries! There is a special category where members can capture and curate photographic collections.

If you want to learn more or are already in the project and want to be more involved, you are invited to attend the monthly Johnson County Entomology Project Meetings, held every 3rd Monday of the month, at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. All are welcome to come and learn more, regardless of age or skill level. These meetings teach scientific taxonomy, how to find and preserve insects, ecological conservation, and much more through interactive activities and fun presentations. Questions? Please contact George Delancy.

ATTENTION sewing enthusiasts and new learners! The County Sewing Class is open to all 4-H'ers who want to learn to sew, want to increase their skills or just want to have a fun place to sew once a week. Classes have begun and you can jump in as they start their first project! Sewing classes will be held from October 15th to November 19th. Classes will reconvene in 2027 on January 7th. Class will then be held every Thursday until July 15th. For questions email Martha Powell or call at 913-302-5812.

Celebrating our third year of powering up young minds! This annual STEM workshop returns for the 2026-2027 4-H year, giving youth another opportunity to explore the exciting world of electricity through hands-on activities and experiments. Ever wonder what makes the lights turn on or how circuits really work? Join us as we build circuits, investigate electrical concepts, and discover how electricity powers our everyday lives.

Where: Johnson County Extension Office, Room 1070

When: Monday, November 30th at 6:00 PM

Who: Open to 4-H youth (with a parent/guardian in attendance)

Cost: Free

Register: tinyurl.com/368xjewb

What You'll Learn:

• The fascinating history of electricity
• What actually causes electricity
• How to build and test different types of circuits
• The difference between insulators and conductors
• Essential home electrical safety tips
• 
  

Class size is limited to 10 youth, so sign up early to reserve your spot! If the class is full but you'd like to join a future session, email Paul Voelker.

Join the Tailwaggers 4-H Dog Project Training Season! These trainings give 4-H dog project members the opportunity to learn, practice and grow alongside your four-legged friends. Training season starts in January - all registrations must be received by January 1, 2027. Throughout the training season, you will work on Obedience/Showmanship. Agility and RallyO. Find more details and guidelines on the registration form.

November 1 - Registration for Achievement Celebration DUE

November 1 - 4-H Financial Audits DUE

Mark your calendars for the 2027 Kansas 4-H Horse Panorama, scheduled for February 21-22, 2027. The annual event will have a new home in 2027 as participants gather on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan for a weekend focused on equine knowledge, leadership development, and friendly competition.

Horse Panorama provides youth with opportunities to strengthen their understanding of the horse industry while developing valuable communication, teamwork, and decision-making skills. Participants can look forward to a variety of educational contests and activities that challenge their horse knowledge and showcase the skills they have developed through their 4-H horse projects. The event also offers an opportunity for youth from across Kansas to connect with fellow horse project members, learn from industry professionals, and experience the K-State campus.

Additional information regarding contest details, schedules, registration, lodging, and event activities will be released in the coming months.

Kansas State Research and Extension Master Food Volunteers are offering another year of 4-H Afterschool Cooking Classes at First Baptist Church of Gardner (324 E. Shawnee St.). These will be held on the 2nd Thursday of October, December and March (2027) from 3:30 - 5:00 PM. Students will participate in hands on cooking activities and will be engaged in other fun educational activities centered around the theme.

Each month has it's own theme! Click on the theme to register!

December 10th - "Holiday Goodies"

March 11th, 2027 - "Breakfast"

Read the latest Reporter's Corner to stay up to date on club happenings.

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