Clover Clips

A newsletter for 4-H families

4-H Online opened 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.

Welcome to a New Year! 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?
• How can I participate on a county level, by attending in events & trips or serving on committees? 

2025-2026 4-H Calendar

The new 4-H program year here! View the 2025-2026 calendar and start marking your calendars for upcoming events!

County Achievement Celebration

Saturday, November 15th

2:00 - 4:00pm

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 and special scholarships and awards. At this time, we will also recognize 4-H leaders and volunteers who give so much to the program.

Please arrive promptly at 2:00 PM to check-in!

Please RSVP by November 7. 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 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.

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, 2025. 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 3. 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 committee sign-ups is posted on the 4-H Council Page. If you have questions, please contact the Johnson County 4-H office.

Would you like to help plan county events like Achievement Celebration, Food Fare or Club Days? Would you like to help review scholarships or voice your opinion on county award procedures? There are several county committees to get YOU involved at the county level. Come be a part of one and meet other 4-H'ers in the county. Get your voice heard and make decisions! Anyone can participate in county committees - you do not have to be a council representative to participate. Look over this list of committees and their responsibilities and find one that you want to be a member of and sign up today!

Blue River Wranglers is thrilled to announce a brand-new Youth Poultry Show happening Saturday, November 1 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds Poultry Barn! Come join a full day of fun, learning, and friendly competition — no prior show experience necessary! Register ASAP!

Event Highlights:

• APA-certified judges providing expert feedback
• Prizes, ribbons, and awards for top birds and showmen
• Raffle drawings and concessions throughout the day
• PT testing on site – the State of Kansas will test birds upon entry
• Avian Influenza educational sessions led by state experts
• Open to all youth participants — invite your out-of-town and out-of-state friends and family to join!

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:

1. BB Gun is open to youth between ages 9 and 15 as of Jan. 1, 2026.
2. 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).
3. 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.

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.

October 26 - KYVEC Registrations Due

November 1 - 4-H Financial Audits Due

November 7 - Registration for Achievement Celebration Due

November 14 - Registration for New Family Orientation Due

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