Clover Clips

A newsletter for 4-H families

Announcements

Reporter's Corner

Club reporters submit their 4-H related articles, and you get to read about the latest Johnson County 4-H Club happenings! Click the button below for some fun news and updates!

Read October's Edition

2026 Enrollment

4-H Online will open October 1 for families to re-enroll current 4-H members and enroll new 4- H members for the 2026 4-H year. We ask that all current 4-H members be reenrolled by November 1, 2025. As a reminder, the $15 program fee will be paid at the time of enrollment within 4-H Online. (Adult volunteers and Cloverbuds will not be charged the fee.) Enrollment guides for families and volunteers are posted on our website.

A note to families re-enrolling 4-H’ers…You will need to select the club and all desired projects during re-enrollment as Projects and Clubs will not prepopulate from last year. If a project is selected that the 4-H’er was enrolled in last year, the years in project will increment correctly based on what number was entered the previous year. If you have any questions about enrollment, please contact your club leader or the Johnson County 4-H office.

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. There are many fun ways to participate!

On Monday, Go GREEN and show your 4-H State spirit! A simple, cohesive way for youth, professionals, volunteers, alumni & supporters across the country to celebrate their 4-H programs being Beyond Ready. Wear a green hat, clothing, face paint—anything green goes.

Let’s paint the nation green on

Monday, October 6!

On Thursday, help us SHINE a light on all the good that 4-H does! A day to

recognize all the 4-H’ers who are doing good and making positive impact by helping their communities and beyond. Share your own story or celebrate someone who is making a difference - another 4-H’er, volunteer or educator.

Share your stories and spotlights on

Thursday, October 9!

4-H Window Promotion

Six businesses around Johnson County have agreed to partner with us to help promote 4-H during National 4-H Week. Gather your family and 4-H friends and paint some clovers on storefront windows! If you would like to participate, you can sign up for a business, and the 4-H team will be in contact with you. More details can be found on the sign-up.

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.

County Events & Updates

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.

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. The Ambassadors will also be holding a food drive for a local pantry. If you want to participate, please bring a canned food item to the celebration.

Project News

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 - Class Registration is FULL

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.

BB Gun and Air Rifle Projects

Plan to Join Us in October for the Popular BB Gun and Air Rifle Projects!

An Intro to Learning Safe, Responsible, and Fun Shooting Sports.

The popular 4-H Shooting Sports BB Gun and Air Rifle projects return for another season starting in October. Youth (and parents!) can learn to safely and responsibly use firearms, promote sportsmanship and ethical behavior, get acquainted with the fundamentals of competitive shooting, and foster shooting as a fun, family recreation.

Here’s how to join us.

If you have already participated as part of the competitive squad in years past, do the following:

Go to 4-H Online and re-enroll in 4-H as soon as the new enrollment year opens in October. This is important! If you show up for practice and are not officially enrolled in 4-H, you will not be permitted to shoot. Remember to select the BB Gun and/or Air Rifle project, as appropriate.
Send an email to the club and let us know you plan to return this year and which discipline(s) you plan to participate in.
Watch the Shooting Sports website calendar for updates on scheduled practice dates and times. The first practice for returning shooters is scheduled for November 11. Returning participants please note: If you would like to volunteer to help teach new participants during the introductory sessions explained in the next session, please plan to attend. However, live firing at those introductory sessions will be reserved for new shooters only.

If you have not participated as part of the competitive squad in years past, do the following:

Be aware of the following requirements for the Shooting Sports program:

BB Gun is open to youth between ages 9 and 15 as of Jan. 1, 2026.
Air Rifle is open to youth ages 12 to 18 as of Jan. 1, 2026, who have successfully completed at least one season of the BB gun program (unless over age 15).
Successful completion of at least one season of the Air Rifle program is a required prerequisite for participation in the advanced shooting disciplines of smallbore rifle (.22 caliber) and muzzloading rifle, which will begin in Summer 2026.

Plan to attend the initial introduction to 4-H BB-Gun safety classes scheduled for. October 15, October 16, October 21, October 22, and October 28 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. For new participants, participation in these classes is required if you are interested in joining the competitive match season shooting with the Johnson County 4-H BB Gun and Air Rifle squads. Participation in 4-H Shooting Sports with the competitive squad is by invitation only. Invitations will be extended by the 4-H instructors based on student performance in the introductory classes and available resources.
As soon as possible, send an email to the club to introduce yourself and let us know you plan to participate.
Enroll in 4-H on 4-H Online as soon as the new enrollment opens on October 1. Be sure to enroll in the BB Gun and Air Rifle projects as appropriate to your participation plans. This is important! If you show up for practice and are not officially enrolled in 4-H, you will not be permitted to shoot. Enroll as soon after October 1 as possible, as your enrollment must be accepted by Johnson County K-State Research and Extension before your enrollment is official, and it may take several days for your enrollment to be processed. You will only be permitted to shoot if you can demonstrate your enrollment is official—no exceptions will be permitted.
Watch the Shooting Sports website calendar for updates on scheduled practice dates, times and locations for the introductory safety class and regular practices.

About the project

The 4-H Shooting Sports BB Gun and Air Rifle projects are administered under the K-State Extension 4-H Youth Development program and operated by a team of adult volunteers who are experienced in shooting and youth instruction, who have been recommended and background-screened by the county Extension office, and who have received mandatory intensive training and state-level certification in the rifle shooting discipline and in youth development training techniques.

The competitive squad portion of the project consists of a combination of live-fire shooting instruction and classroom lecture covering general gun knowledge, proper gun handling, and procedures for participating in air gun competitions. The BB-Gun program is open to beginners and requires no previous shooting experience or training. The competitive season lasts from October until the state 4-H championship in early April, and it includes weekly practice meetings and participation in about six competitions throughout eastern Kansas during the winter. You do not have to own your own equipment to participate. The 4-H Rifle Club has sufficient safe and proper equipment to outfit most youth who are interested in participating.

Questions? E-mail the club.

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).

4-H Foods Class: Mastering Pie Baking

Join us for our 4-H Mastering Pie Baking Class on Monday, November 24th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Johnson County Extension Office! This class will help youth learn skills to prepare perfect pies from crust to filling. Learn how to make a pie right before the holidays to practice your skills before next year's fair! This class is recommended for 4-H youth in the intermediate and senior age category.

4-H Calendar Events

Check out all the available 4-H Projects and Events coming up in the next few weeks.

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

Tuesday, October 14th 6:30 - 9:00 PM

Johnson County Geology Meeting

Interested in geology? Want to learn more about this project? Check out the county geology meetings held the 2nd Tuesday of every month.

Contact: Natasha Graham

Location: Johnson County Extension Office, Room 1015

Wednesday, October 15th 6:00 PM

County Awards Judging

We welcome all club leaders and adult volunteers to help judge county awards.

Contact: Cyla or Lexi

Location: Johnson County Extension Office

Monday, October 20th 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!

As we enter the new 4-H year, we will continue learning more about the fascinating world of insects through the entomology project. If you are looking for a new project where you can learn more about the world around us, entomology is an excellent choice, and this meeting will give you the right place to start learning about the insects all around us!

Registration: None required

Contact: Patrick Delancy

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

View 4-H Calendar

Upcoming Deadlines

October 1 - Kansas Youth Leadership Council Applications Due

October 15 - Kansas Leadership Weekend Registration Due

October 26 - KYVEC Registrations Due

State Events & Updates

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.

Kansas 4-H Leadership Weekend

The Kansas 4-H Leadership Weekend will be November 22-23, 2025 at Rock Springs 4-H Ranch and consists of the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum and the Kansas 4-H Volunteer Leader Forum. KYLF is for youth ages 14-18 before January 1, 2026, and KVF is for all Kansas 4-H Volunteers.

KYLF will feature leadership workshops, Youth Council Elections, a speaker, and opportunities to learn and have fun. Each delegate will get a KYLF T-shirt. There will be a number of new workshops this year. The Kansas 4-H Volunteer Leader Forum will feature workshops and information to help volunteers be more effective and learn from each other. The Kansas Association of 4-H Volunteers organizes this Forum for adults.

This year's speaker will be Brandon Lee White. Author, speaker, and youth mover, Brandon Lee White has spoken to thousands of youth and adults in nearly all 50 states about “owning it” in life and leadership.

Registration is open and due by October 15th, 2025. Again, this year participants in both forums will register through the same system.

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

Partner Events

Douglas County 4-H Fall Horse Show

The Douglas County Horse Project is hosting a fall invitational horse show on Saturday, November 1 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Grounds open at 7:30 AM and the show starts at 9:00 AM. Find out more details in the informational flyer.

Riley County Geology Trip

A geology field trip, hosted by Riley County, is an open field trip for all geology members! The field trip includes Permian fossil, limestone and shale collecting; along with some minerals collecting in the Riley County area. Field guides, trip information and meeting times will be emailed out the week of the trip. The trip is limited to 50 people and about 20-25 cars due to locations and the parking. This is a great opportunity to start towards gathering your first 15 specimens for the new 4-H year. You must register for this trip. Question? Contact Wally Mack, the Riley County Geology Leader.

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

Contact Us!

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