County-Wide Social Event!

Fair Premium Checks

If you did not pick up your Johnson County Fair Premium Check on Sunday (August 3rd), you will need to contact the Fair Board via email to make pick up arrangements.

State Fair Results

Results are in! Congratulations to all our county members who exhibited, presented or showed at the State Fair. What a great way to wrap up all the work you put into your 2024-2025 4-H year.

National 4-H Week

Let's kick start the new 4-H program year with National 4-H Week, October 5th - 11th. This year's theme is "Beyond Ready". Beyond Ready is the new national 4-H initiative, focusing on the mindset and framework that positions 4-H as an organization to not just prepare youth for the future, but capable of leading the generations to come. This initiative highlights the real-world skills youth gain in 4-H and emphasizes workforce readiness, leadership, and civic engagement. This year's activities will be focused on two days, highlighted below.

48 Hours of 4-H

Join us this fall in seeing just how much we can give back to our communities! The days following National 4-H week, October 11th & 12th, are the perfect opportunity to setup a service project. Invite your friends, clubs, adult volunteers and 4-H Alums too! Find all the information about 48 Hours of 4-H and start planning your projects. Please register your projects and then follow up with a report so we know about all the great things that happened across the state. 48 Hours of 4-H is the perfect way to #InspireKidstoDo. 

Need a little bit more information to help you plan? View the guide to give you some more ideas.

2025-2026 4-H Calendar

The new 4-H program year is right around the corner. View the 2025-2026 calendar and start marking your calendars for upcoming events!

Preparing End of the Year Awards

All 4-H’ers should complete their Record Book (this includes the personal page, 4-H story, and permanent record) so you can get rewarded for the year’s hard work. Be sure to check with your club leaders to find out the deadline to submit your record book to them.

• If you would like to apply for a membership pin, complete and submit a membership pin application to your club leader.

• If you would like to apply for an officer pin, submit an officer pin score sheet/application and a book or supporting documents to your club leader. Make sure to review the scoring sheet to meet all requirements. Score sheets can be found under "Club Resources" on the website.

• Finish your Project Report Forms.

Consider watching these informational slides from a past training workshop that provides helpful information and tips for filling out record books.

You will submit ALL record books, applications, project report forms and officer books to your club leaders.

Officer Training

Were you elected to a new officer position for the 2025-2026 program year? Get trained in your new position, build your leadership skills and strengthen your parliamentary procedure knowledge all in one evening at Officer Training. This event will be held on Tuesday, September 30th 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the Extension Office.

• 6:00 - 7:00 Opening Session & Officer Workshops
• 7:00 - 8:00 Breakout Sessions (Leadership 101 and Par-Law Fun) & Closing Session/Mock Meeting

Please RSVP if you plan to attend!

County Award Nominations Due

Four new county awards were added this past year:

• Johnson County 4-H Impact Award
• Most Helpful 4-H'er Award
• Johnson County 4-H Innovation Award
• Johnson County Friend of 4-H Award

The first nominations will be accepted this year and are due by October 1, 2025. More information can be found on each of these awards on the nomination forms. Find the links to each of these under the "Forms" section.

Project Fair & Ambassador Ice Cream Social

Join us for an evening of project presentations & ice cream on Wednesday, October 8th 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. Bring a friend or two who may be interested in learning about 4-H!

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.

County Awards Judging Help

County Awards judging will be on Wednesday, October 15th at 6:00 PM at the Extension Office. Club leaders and adult volunteers come together to judge officer pin applications/officer books, project report forms and Key awards. We will need all the volunteers possible for awards judging! We would love to see you there, even if you have never judged county awards before. We will give you the necessary information and paperwork so you can judge the award applications.

Save the Date: Achievement Celebration

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 15th, 2:00 - 4:00 PM! Join us as we celebrate those who have worked hard throughout the year to earn their achievement pins, project awards and special scholarships and awards. We will also honor our volunteers who give so much to the program. The event will be held at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Olathe.

Kansas 4-H Member Achievement pins are designed to recognize 4-H members as they reach milestones throughout their 4-H journey. The pins are awarded in a series and as a member’s 4-H journey progresses, the achievement pin requirements expand to challenge individuals to explore and engage in more opportunities to develop life skills. Working toward these achievements is not required but serves as a benefit to the 4-H'er as they work to lead and serve in their clubs, their communities and within their 4-H project work. Record keeping and Project Reporting are valuable skills taught to members. We will also recognize 4-H leaders and volunteers at this time. This is a county-wide event and 4-H'ers from several clubs will be present - this is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with members outside of your own club!

Gardner 4-H Afterschool Cooking Program

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 each month (September - May), focusing on a different topic/theme.

Students will participate in hands on cooking activities and will be engaged in other fun educational activities centered around the theme.

Looking ahead: Mark your Calendars for these dates!

October 9th - "Spooky Foods"

November 13th - "Yummy Sweet Potatoes"

December 11th - "Cookies" and sharing these decorated goodies with our community

Registrations for these classes are on the website.

Shooting Sports Project: Air Pistol SPIN Club

The Johnson County 4-H Shooting Sports project will hold an introductory Air Pistol class. Join us to learn the basics of air pistol shooting in a fun, safe environment. This indoor class will focus on introducing the sport of target air pistol shooting with an emphasis on gun safety and handling. Pistols, targets, pellets and other equipment will be provided; however, participants are asked to bring their own safety glasses. The class is taught by Kansas certified 4-H Shooting Sports instructors. Participants do not have to be a 4-H member but must be between 12 and 18 years of age (before January 1, 2026).

This class is a pre-requisite for joining the air pistol competition squad and for participating in smallbore pistol next summer. Those who show an affinity and wish to compete further may be invited to join the air pistol competition squad for the regular season which will run from December to April.

Air pistol SPIN will meet on the following evenings, October 16, 23, 30 and November 6 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM. The class location is indoors on the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Gardner, Kansas. A $45 equipment fee will be required. Registration is open! The registration link is also posted on the website. Participants will be required to turn in a SPIN enrollment form and a Kansas 4-H Participation Form. 

For further questions contact Sara Eccles or the Johnson County 4-H office with questions about signing up.  

County Knitting Project Meetings

Are you wanting to learn to knit? Do you have some knitting experience and want to craft alongside other knitters? Monthly county knitting project meetings will be held on Friday evenings this year. Each meeting will be from 7:00 - 8:30 PM at the Open Class building on the Johnson County Fairgrounds.

Upcoming dates:

• October 17th
• November 14th
• December 19th

Contact Sarah Kallansrud with any questions!

County Sewing Project Meetings

Attention sewers OR those who want to sew! Starting October 2nd, the county wide sewing class will start up again. We will sew each Thursday at 6:30 - 8:30 PM at the Extension Office. The first session, which is an introductory session and a "get back to sewing after fair time" class. We will sew each Thursday until November 13th. Classes will start up again January 8th and meet each week until the fair. If you have any questions, contact Martha Powell (913-302-5812).

Monday, September 15th 6:00 PM

Johnson County Entomology Project Meeting

Join us on the third Monday of each month as we dive into the art of pinning 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 September meeting we will dive deep into the workings of Insect senses. No matter how much or little you know already this will be the perfect opportunity to gain more knowledge about these interesting creatures. There will also be time to get help pinning and identifying insects that you have already caught.

Registration: None required

Contact: Patrick Delancy

Location: Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church (Room #115) 13145 Blackbob Road, Olathe, KS 66062

Saturday, September 20th 5:00 - 8:30 PM

Johnson County 4-H Social

Join us for food, fun games, friends and cool prizes at this come-and-go social.

Registration: RSVP by 9/17

Contact: Cyla or Lexi

Location: Shawnee Mission Park, Shelter 1

Tuesday, September 30th 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Officer Training

Attend a training presentation for your newly elected office, plus partake in various topical workshops.

Registration: RSVP by 9/24

Contact: Cyla or Lexi 

Location: Johnson County Extension Office

Thursdays, October 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th 6:30 - 8:30 PM

County-Wide Sewing Meetings

All levels welcome. Bring your sewing machines!

Contact: Martha Powell

Location: Johnson County Extension Office

October 5th-11th

National 4-H Week

Wednesday, October 8th 6:00 - 8:30 PM

Project Fair & Ambassador Ice Cream Social

Come learn about various 4-H projects and enjoy a sweet treat! Bring a friend too!

Contact: Cyla or Lexi 

Location: Johnson County Extension Office

October 11th-12th

48 Hours of Service

Allen County Entomology Meeting

The next Entomology project meeting will be on Saturday, September 20th beginning at 1:00 PM at the Allen County Extension Office meeting room. The hot weather should be producing lots of insects for you to catch. Bring your pinning board and supplies and 3 or 4 insects to pin. If you are new to the project, I will have a couple of pinning set ups available for purchase for $15 each and some insects to pin. If you are doing a photography notebook, there should be a nice group of insects at the meeting to get photos of. Due to several project fairs occuring in October, we will not have a meeting in October. Family Day will be in November this year. Questions? Call Vicky Wallace @ (620)804-9170. 

Kansas Youth Leadership Council

The Youth Council and National 4-H Conference applications will be combined, with applicants indicating if they are applying for one or both opportunities. 

• Youth may run for a one-year term as a representative on the council. Youth Council Applicants must be ages 14 and 18 before January 1, 2026.

• Those who are selected as National Conference Delegates will serve a two-year term on the council. Applicants must be 15-18 before January 1, 2026.

The process includes an online application, online reference form, and signature page. All items are due by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. All resources and links can be found on either the National 4-H Conference or Youth Leadership Council page linked above. Elections will happen at this year’s Kansas Youth Leadership Forum and the National 4-H Conference Delegates will be announced there as well.

Rock Springs Ranch Workday

RSR invites you to the Volunteer Workday at Rock Springs Ranch on Saturday, October 11th during 48 Hours of 4-H! Kick-off will begin with check-in and refreshments at 8:00 AM in the Johnson Administration Building. After that, you'll get to pick a project category and get to work with an awesome crew of fellow volunteers. Choose Your Project!

There are options for everyone, whether you want to break a sweat or keep it light:

● Outdoor – High Intensity: Trail work, landscaping, repairs

● Outdoor – Low Intensity: Gardening, painting, cleanup

● Indoor – High Intensity: Deep cleaning, lifting, organizing

● Indoor – Low Intensity: Light organizing, office support

You’ll be assigned a project when you arrive, so come ready to jump in where you feel most comfortable!

Please let RSR know you're coming by filling out this quick form.

Questions? Email or call 785-257-3221

Bridging the Gap: Service Opportunity

A local non-profit, Bridging the Gap, partners with Heartland Tree Alliance team to help to plant trees around parks and neighborhoods in KCMO. They utilize volunteers to get the majority of these plantings done and are gearing up for our fall planting season starting after Labor Day. This would be a great opportunity for 4-H clubs or small groups of several 4-H families. Individuals are welcome to sign up too.

Workdays are both during the week and on Saturdays and typically last about 2-3 hours. The staff will give a demonstration on how to properly plant a tree, and then smaller groups will split off with a staff member to plant trees around a park or neighborhood. The plantings are suitable for all ages, no prior planting experience is required, and it's a fun time (especially with friends!)

The link to sign up to volunteer for a specific date is listed on the event calendar. Under the "select program" bar, select Heartland Tree Alliance. Any of the events labeled "Heartland Tree Alliance Tree Planting" are volunteer tree planting events.

Questions? Contact Emily Kresin (Community Forestry Associate with Bridging the Gap).

Kansas Youth Virtual Entrepreneurship Challenge (KYVEC)

The Kansas Youth Virtual Entrepreneurship Challenge is a great starting point for young innovators to explore entrepreneurship, build confidence, gain experience pitching ideas AND win cash prizes! Participation in KYVEC also serves as excellent preparation for the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC Summit).  

Who: Open to elementary, middle, and high school students across Kansas. 

What: A statewide virtual business pitch competition. Students submit a 3–5 minute video pitching their business idea for a chance to win cash prizes.

Where: Online (virtual submission & judging)

Important dates if you plan to participate:

• September 1 - Registration opens
• October 26 - Submission deadline
• October 28 - Judging begins
• November 6 - Winners announced

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