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Clover Clips
A newsletter for 4-H families
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County Club Day
By George Delancy, County Council Reporter
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The Johnson County 4-H Club Day was held on February 28, 2026 at Pioneer Ridge Middle School in Gardner, Kansas. At this event, 4-H'ers from across the county came together to compete in events across 18 categories and 3 age divisions, such as Instrumental Solos and Ensembles, Public Speaking, Dance, and many other performance categories.
4-H'ers that competed in these various events, regardless of the ribbon received, should be proud of themselves for demonstrating immense courage, preparation, and determination. If participants received a Top Purple Ribbon at this event, they will also have the opportunity to represent Johnson County at Regional 4-H Club Day.
It takes many workers to plan and execute an event of this scale, including the youth and adult volunteers that served as room monitors throughout the day or provided snacks for the judges. Attendees were also able to participate in several judging opportunities that were prepared and administered by Johnson County Extension Agents. Eleven judges from all across the state came to lend their expertise to participants through advice and personalized feedback.
The Johnson County 4-H Club Day is an excellent opportunity for youth in every aspect of 4-H to build their performance and communication skills and showcase them in front of a judge and audience. The performances and categories were as varied and unique as the 4-H'ers that participated. Every member who participated returned from this event as a better presenter, performer, and person.
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County Judging Results
Congratulations to our top finishers in the county judging activities that took place at County Club Day. Everyone who participated strengthened their project knowledge and increased their critical thinking skills. Don't forget to mark your pin applications! Great job, everyone!
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County Service Project
The Johnson County 4-H Council is leading a service project to benefit the "Cards for Hospitalized Kids" charity. Cards for Hospitalized Kids distributes empowering and uplifting cards to Children's Hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses in all 50 States. Clubs and individual 4-H'ers can create cards and deliver them to the Johnson County Extension Office before or at the July 6th meeting of the Johnson County 4-H Council. Once all cards have been collected, the club with the most quality cards submitted will receive a donation of $100 from an anonymous donor. For more information and guidelines, please view the flyer or the organization's official website. If you have any questions, please contact council officer, George D.
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Regional 4-H Club Day
For those that qualified for Regional Club Day, the event will be held on Saturday, March 21st at Baldwin City Junior High School. If you receive a purple at Regional Club Day, you may present your public speaking presentation at the Kansas State Fair.
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2026 Food Stand Poster Contest
We are calling on our artists again to help create a food stand poster that highlights:
• The food and drink items offered at the 4‑H Food Stand
• How Food Stand proceeds support Johnson County 4‑H members
• Eye‑catching artwork, photos, or drawings that will grab fairgoers’ attention
Please submit your design by June 22nd to the 4-H Team so the committee has time to review entries and have posters printed before fair.
| | Adding/Dropping Projects & Enrollment Status | | The project add/drop deadline for new and returning 4-H’ers is May 1. 4-H members must be enrolled in the project by May 1 and be approved in 4-H Online to be eligible to exhibit in the corresponding project area at the Johnson County Fair. Project enrollment is an important component of the project experience. 4-H families can update this information any time in 4-H Online by simply clicking the Edit button in the Projects tab within the 4-H member’s profile. This option will be available through May 1 and after that the system will not allow any changes to be made to a 4-H member’s projects. If you have questions about project enrollment or the May 1 deadline, please contact Christin Bartels. | | Join the 4-H agents for an orientation meeting for parents of all first and second year 4-H members (or anyone who needs a fair refresher). The meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 14th from 6:00 - 7:30 PM at the Extension Office (Room 1060). Topics discussed will include project selection, the Johnson County Fair, and summer 4-H programming. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by April 10th. | | Spring Break Classes - March 17th | | |
Cookie 101 Class
Join us for our 4-H Cookies 101 class on Tuesday, March 17th from 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM! This class will help youth learn skills to prepare perfect no bake cookies, drop cookies, cookie bars, and other types. This class is recommended for 4-H youth in the beginners or juniors age category. Registration is required.
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Leathercraft Class
Instructor Randy Cornelius will touch on the basics of leathercraft including some history of leather, how leather is made, and the basic seven tools used to carve floral designs on leather. This class is geared toward youth above the age of 12 and is simply an introduction for those who have never done leathercraft before. Hands on work of carving and tooling a design will be done on a leather coaster.
The class will be held on Tuesday, March 17th from 1:30 - 4:30 PM at the Johnson County Extension Office, Room 1055. The class fee is $25 per participant. All the tools, leather, and other supplies will be provided. Each youth will also be supplied a leatherworking manual that is theirs to keep. Participants will need to bring two #2 lead pencils or a mechanical pencil, a 12” ruler, and a pair of scissors. The class is limited to 10 spots. Preregistration is required. Email Randy with any questions about the class.
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YQCA
The Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) program is an annual certification process. Certification can be done by taking a minimum one-hour in-person training or an online training. Both types of trainings are registered for and paid for by going to the YQCA website. All registrations and payments are handled through the YQCA website and must be done before attending either type of training. The online training is $12 per youth and the in-person training is $3 per youth. (If a family needs financial support, contact the Extension Office.)
Johnson County 4-H will hold one more in-person training at the Extension Office on Tuesday, May 5th at 6:00 PM. Registration is required to attend a training. If you cannot attend one of the in-person trainings that our county offers, you may also attend a training in another county. It is not required that you complete your certification in the county you show in. To find other counties' trainings, view other available dates on the YQCA website.
Families are responsible for turning in a printed copy of their YQCA certificate or emailing a copy to the Extension Office by June 15th, 2026. No late submissions (after June 15th) will be accepted. Additional details can be found on the Johnson County 4-H Livestock webpage.
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Livestock Tagging
All market and commercial breeding animals, including beef, sheep, goats, swine, and bucket calves, must be tagged on or before the designated tagging deadlines to be eligible to show in the 4-H division at the Johnson County Fair. The cost of the Kansas 4-H EID ear tag is $3 per animal.
Tagging dates and times are as follows and will all take place at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Read more about best management practices for local livestock tagging.
| | | Species Tagged | Tagging Dates & Times | Last Date to Tag | | Small Livestock Tagging | Saturday, April 11th
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| | All Species |
| Swine, Sheep, Goat, Bucket Calf: May 1st | | Beef |
| March 15th | | | If a family is unable to attend any of the tagging dates, they must either bring their animal(s) to the Extension Office or pay a $50 farm fee for Extension staff to travel to the location of the animal(s). All animals must be tagged on or prior to their species' last date to tag. Animals tagged after these dates will only be allowed to show in open class where there is open competition at the county fair unless prior arrangements have been discussed and approved by Extension staff, the Livestock Superintendent, and the Department Superintendent. Please note that these tagging dates and deadlines are for county fair eligibility. If you are ONLY tagging for state / national shows, the deadlines follow state nominations. Reach out to the Extension Office with any questions. | |
State Livestock Nominations
4-H members planning to show their animals at the Kansas Junior Livestock Show (KJLS) and/or the Kansas State Fair must submit nominations to the KSU Youth Livestock office. Market beef nominations are due by May 1. Commercial heifer, swine, sheep, and meat goat nominations are due by June 15. Information regarding state livestock nominations, ordering DNA envelopes, and the nomination process can be found on the webpage.
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CLOVER: National 4-H
Looking for project support? National 4-H is offering CLOVER to help empower all young people find their sparks. CLOVER creates impactful learning experiences in partnership with universities. There are over 260 online, interactive activities. To view and utilize all the activities, you must sign up and create an account for CLOVER.
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Foods Project Information Session and Q&A
Join our Nutrition, Food Safety, and Health Agent, Chelsea King, and the 4-H Foods and Nutrition Superintendent, Sue Pio, for an information session designed to help exhibitors prepare for the fair’s food projects. We’ll walk through the fair book together, highlighting key rules and guidelines, and cover practical tips, such as calculating your frosting percentage, to ensure your entries meet judging standards. The session will conclude with a Q&A, giving you the chance to ask questions you may have around foods for the fair.
Date: April 30 from 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 968 5534 1730
Passcode: 480521
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Tailwaggers Dog Show
The Tailwaggers Invitational Dog Show will be held on Saturday, June 27th at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. This show is a State Qualifier Dog Show for the Kansas State Fair 4-H Dog Show. Walk-in entries will be accepted but pre-registration is encouraged. For more information on the show, contact Donna or Audrey.
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4-H Calendar Events
Check out all the available 4-H Projects and Events coming up in the next few weeks.
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Monday, March 16th 6:00 PM
Johnson County Entomology Project Meeting
You are invited to join us on the third Monday of each month at the Johnson County Entomology Project Meetings. At these meetings we dive into the art of collecting and learning about insects! Whether you're a seasoned collector or just starting out, this hands-on meeting is perfect for anyone looking to improve their skills and take their insect collection to new heights. All skill levels welcome!
At the March meeting we will learn more about the various ways insects eat and how their digestive system is specialized for each insect. If you are new, you can come and learn no matter your skill level! Please remember to bring any insects you have already caught for practice and help pinning and identifying.
Registration: None required
Contact: Patrick Delancy
Location: Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church (Room #115) 13145 Blackbob Road, Olathe, KS 66062
Tuesday, March 17th 6:00 PM
Johnson County Horticulture Project Meeting
Join us for the monthly horticulture meetings.
We hope that during your spring break, you will join us for a fun St. Patrick 's themed lesson and activity. Don’t forget about your IPM Insect Art for the Integrated Pest Management Contest.
Registration: Sign up required
Contact: Anthony or Markis
Location: Johnson County Extension Office, Room 1060
Thursdays, March 19th and 26th 6:30 - 8:30 PM
County-Wide Sewing Meetings
All levels welcome. Bring your sewing machine!
Contact: Martha Powell
Location: Johnson County Extension Office
Saturday, March 21st
Regional Club Day
Top Purple qualified presentations can present at this event.
Contact: Cyla or Lexi
Location: Baldwin City Junior High School
Monday, April 6th 6:30 PM
Johnson County Council Officer's Meeting
The council officers meet on the first Monday of the even-numbered months.
Contact: Cyla or Lexi
Location: Johnson County Extension Office
Saturday, April 11th 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Small Livestock Tagging
All market and commercial breeding animals, including beef, sheep, goats, swine, and bucket calves, must be tagged on or before the designated tagging deadlines.
Contact: Cyla or Lexi
Location: Johnson County Fairgrounds
Tuesday, April 14th 6:00 PM
Spring New Family Orientation
This meeting is for parents of all first and second year 4-H members, or those needing a refresher!
Registration: RSVP by 4/10
Contact: Cyla or Lexi
Location: Johnson County Extension Office (Room 1060)
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March 15th - Last date to tag beef to be eligible to show in the 4-H Division of the Johnson County Fair
March 20 - K-State Junior Sheep Producer Day Registration DUE
April 1 - SLS Scholarship Program Applications DUE
April 1 - AG Tech Day Registrations DUE
April 1 - Fair Judges Training Registrations DUE
April 15 - IPM Insect Art Contest Entries DUE
| | State/National Events & Updates | |
AG Tech Day
Join Kansas 4-H for an engaging, collaborative AG Tech Day on Saturday, April 4th in Moundridge, Kansas at Flickner Innovation Farms from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Attendees are welcome to come and go as they please, and snacks will be provided. This event is geared for youth in grades 5-12 and gives the unique opportunity to explore the farm and learn about both new and established technologies that are helping make farm management easier and more efficient for producers. A wide variety of stations will be set up around the farm for attendees to visit while they learn from presenters. Ag Tech Day is FREE and open to the public, but registration is required. Please register by April 1. You can register as an individual or as a group. Group registration allows up to five people at a time.
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K-State Junior Sheep Producer Day
Junior Producer Days are hosted to provide educational material and hands-on experiences for youth, parents, leaders, extension agents, and ag teachers. Various speakers share information on topics such as selection, nutrition, showmanship, fitting, reproduction, feeding, and disease control. Talks, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and door prizes are present at all events. Beef and Sheep days are hosted in even years, and Swine and Meat Goat days are hosted in odd years. Sheep Producer Day registration is still open, register before March 20th!
K-State Junior Sheep Producer Day
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Registration Deadline: March 20
Cost: $20/person by March 20 ($30/person after March 20)
*Late registrants will not receive a T-shirt
**All attendees must register, including youth & adults
| | Shutterbug Photography Event | | The Shutterbug Photography Event will be on Saturday, April 11th in Manhattan, KS. This will be the only statewide Shutterbug event for 2026. Shutterbugs will be held at the Midwest Dream Car Museum (3007 Anderson Ave, Manhattan, KS. 66503). Registration will begin at 8:30 AM. Workshops will begin at 9:30 AM and end at 12:00 PM. | |
Save the Date: 2026 Insect Spectacular
Beetles, bugs, dragonflies and more! It’s time to get registered for the 34th Insect Spectacular. The State Entomology Workshop will be held Friday and Saturday June 19th and 20th. Activities will be based at the North Community building in Iola, Kansas.
Registration for the workshop will open April 24th and run through May 25th. Once registration closes, it will not be reopened. There will be no cancellations or refunds of money after registration closes. Cancellations before registration closes are eligible for a 50% refund. A parent from each family must pay full registration and attend the workshop. A parent is to stay with your child or children at the workshop.
View the event flyer for more trip details.
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Rock Springs Summer Camp
Summer Camp Registration is OPEN - secure your spot today! Camp offerings include a mini camp, half week and full week sessions, teen leadership programs and several new specialty camps. All camp sessions are offered on a voluntary three-tiered pricing model based on the needs of families. For a description of the tiers and the pricing list, please visit this webpage. For families who are unable to pay the Tier 3 pricing, camperships are available through the generosity of donors to the Kansas 4-H Foundation. To apply for a campership, please complete the Campership Application.
Registration is also open for the Counselors in Training (CIT) and Leaders in Training (LIT) sessions. Registration for the Leaders in Training (LIT) and Counselors in Training (CIT) programs will be covered by generous philanthropic support from the Patterson Family Foundation. To apply, youth must complete a letter of interest.
Check out Kansas 4-H Camp at Rock Springs Ranch for information and registrations. Transportation from Olathe is offered for sessions 1-8.
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Walk Kansas
Walk Kansas is a team-based program designed to help you live a healthy lifestyle! Gather members of your 4-H club for a Walk Kansas Team and join the eight-week program (March 22 - May 16) to get moving! Adult registrations are $10, youth registrations are free. At least one registered adult member must be on the team. Contact Chelsea King to get a youth code to register them for free. Once registered, set a challenge for your team and start logging in your physical activity. You can also optionally track your water, fruit and veggie intake as an added bonus. Registration opens March 1st.
| | Wildlife Habitat Education Program Contest | | The Wildlife Habitat Education Program is well established in Kansas and has over 10,000 participants nationwide. For the past 35 years, Kansas has held state wildlife habitat evaluation contests in which the winning team was eligible to advance to the national contest. WHEP is a 4-H and FFA youth natural resource program dedicated to teaching wildlife and fisheries habitat management to junior and senior level (ages 8-19) youth in the United States. Registrations are needed by March 20, 2026. | |
Miami County Rabbit Club Annual Learn & Show
The Miami County Cottontails 4-H Rabbit Club invites you to join them for their Annual Learn & Show on Saturday, April 4th in Paola, KS (401 Wallace Drive, Paola, Kansas).
This is a single youth-only 4-H sanctioned show and a Team Kansas Qualifier, designed to combine education and competition in a fun and supportive environment for youth ages 5–18. Showroom opens at 6:30 AM, with all rabbits required to be checked in by 10:00 AM.
Event Highlights:
- Youth Only All Breed Show (Begins at 10:30 AM)
- Free Educational Clinics (Begin at 8:00 AM)
- Showmanship & Breed Identification Contests
- Custom Awards for Best in Show, Reserve in Show, and more
- Age divisions following ARBA age guidelines
While this is a day-of-entry show, exhibitors are encouraged to pre-enter by Wednesday, April 1, 2026 to help them prepare accordingly. Entries may be emailed.
| | Money Smarts is a hands-on financial literacy event designed for youth ages 11–14 that will be held on Saturday, April 11th at 10:00 AM in Lawrence, KS. Participants will explore real-world financial skills through fun, interactive stations. Community leaders will explain the basics of budgeting and help youth understand the true costs of owning a car. They will test their knowledge in a life-like simulation where they will roleplay the life of a young adult making monthly money decisions. The participants will visit stations to make essential spending choices for housing, transportation, food, childcare, insurance, and more. This event is organized by Douglas County 4-H Extension, SparkWheel, and LiveWell Douglas County. Lunch will be provided. Participants do not have to be enrolled as a 4-H member to participate. Contact Nancy with any questions! Registration is due by April 1st. | |
Sunflower Livestock Showdown Scholarship Program
The Finney County Youth Livestock Committee, along with their generous sponsors, are pleased to be able to provide graduating high school seniors or college freshmen (still eligible to show livestock through 4-H) the opportunity to apply for a Sunflower Livestock Showdown Scholarship. Eligible students who plan to further their education full-time in an agriculture related field are encouraged to apply for the scholarship. The scholarship program hopes to identify talented students who may emerge as leaders in the agriculture industry. Up to five eligible students will be selected to receive awards during the 2026 Sunflower Livestock Showdown livestock show. Take note of the application requirements and details. All applications must be submitted by April 1st!
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Fair Judges Training
Are you interested in judging county fair exhibits or just learning more about the judging process as a project leader or parent? Join us for a Fair Judges Training on Tuesday, April 14th, in Concordia, Kansas. Judging 4-H Projects isn’t just about ribbons—it’s a youth development strategy. When done well, the evaluation process strengthens the very skills young people need to thrive in school, careers, and life.
At this training you will learn how to conduct effective conference evaluations using recognized standards, with project‑specific guidance in areas like visual arts, posters/notebooks/displays, building block engineering, robotics and more. Registration is due by April 1st.
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IPM Insect Art Contest
The K-State Extension Pesticide Safety and IPM Program is hosting its annual insect-themed art contest, open to all ages and skill levels in Kansas!
This year’s theme is Metamorphosis Magic. The goal is to explore insects that undergo complete and incomplete metamorphosis, then create artwork that fits the contest theme. Artwork may include drawings or paintings, digital art, or a 3-D piece such as sculpture, stained glass or other creative media.
Awards will be given for 1st – 3rd place in each of the following age categories:
- Kindergarten – 2nd grade
- 3rd grade – 5th grade
- 6th grade – 8th grade
- High school
- Adult
Entries must be received or postmarked before April 15, 2026.
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Little American Royal
Save the date for the Little American Royal happening April 18th at the Bilbrey Family Events Center in Manhattan, KS. The Little American Royal is the premier on-campus livestock show. See students compete in showmanship contests with a variety of species raised at our very own animal science research and teaching units. Presented by K-State Block and Bridle, Collegiate Cattle Women's, and the Dairy Science Club, the event begins at 10:00 AM, and all are welcome to attend. For more information or questions contact Ashley Hartman or Rachael Stadel.
| | The Overland Park Chamber Foundation is partnering with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber Foundation to host the third annual National Civics Bee in Northeast Kansas! The National Civics Bee is a nonpartisan competition aimed at improving civics education and literacy among middle school (6th-8th grade) students, their families, and communities. To enter the competition, students must submit essays showcasing ideas to benefit their local communities. This event will take place on Tuesday, April 21st at Johnson County Community College. To learn more about the Civics Bee and for details on the competition, view their webpage. | |
FFA/4-H Night at the ProRodeo
You are invited to the FFA/4-H Night at the ProRodeo on Thursday, April 30th. The evening kicks off at 5:00 PM with food trucks and shopping, followed by the rodeo performance at 7:00 PM, and live music afterward. Come help us celebrate and support the youth involved in agriculture! If you are interested in reserving seats, please fill out the interest form.
Email with any additional questions.
| | Read the latest Reporter's Corner to stay up to date on club happenings. | |
Clover Clips Submission
The deadline for submissions for Clover Clips will be on the 15th of each month. If you have a submission that you would like to have considered for an edition of Clover Clips please send it to Erin at Erin.Yeung@jocogov.org
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Lexi Ray - 4-H Agent
Cyla Gardner - 4-H Agent
Christin Bartels - 4-H Office Professional
Erin Yeung - 4-H Event and Communications Coordinator
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K- State Extension Johnson County
Kansas State University
11811 S. Sunset Dr. Suite 1500
Olathe, KS 66061-7057
(913) 715-7000
| | For all 4-H related information, links, forms and resources | | | Johnson County Extension resources and programs | | K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. | | | | |
