Clover Clips: Fair Edition

The 2025 Fair Edition of Clover Clips has been published. Click the button below to read and get all the fair news like fair book updates, entry deadlines, specific project requirements, project check-in & judging and MUCH MORE.

**Fair books will not be printed this year, please refer to the fair book link for access**

Project Conference Judging Sign Ups

Preparing Projects for Fair

Food Stand Advertising Poster Contest

Calling all artists! We are looking for creative, informational, and original ideas in the form of a poster to be placed around the fairgrounds during fair week. 4-H members are encouraged to submit their artwork promoting the 4-H food stand by 5:00 PM on July 18th. View the Food Stand Poster Contest flyer.

Auctions at Fair

4-H Foods Auction - Invite friends and family to attend the foods auction on Tuesday, July 29th at 7:30 PM in the Grange Building for a chance to buy a yummy variety of food project entries. This auction supports the Foods & Nutrition project.

4-H Project Auction - Plan to attend AND invite supporters to the project auction on Friday, August 1st at 8:00 PM in the Livestock Pavilion. If a 4-H member wishes to sell a project, forms must be submitted the week of fair. Refer to the Auction section of the Fair News for all the details. Want to invite supporters? Post and share this flyer to promote the auction.

4-H/FFA Livestock Auction - You’re invited to sell one of your ELIGIBLE MARKET ANIMALS in the 2025 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction on Saturday, August 2nd at 1:00 PM in the Livestock Pavilion. If you’re enrolled in a livestock project area, you will be receiving more details by email. Be on the lookout for this information. Refer to the Livestock Auction Update section of the Fair News for all the details.

4-H Night @ Stilwell Farmer's Market

The Blue River Wranglers are proud to present the Stilwell Farmers Market Tuesdays from 5:30-7pm at 199th & Metcalf in Stilwell, KS. We have scheduled a special night, July 22nd, for 4-H. We are inviting all 4-H'ers in Johnson and Miami County to come out and Paint the Market Green!

The Johnson County 4-H team will be at the market to help answer questions and promote 4-H to the community! 

Clubs & members can participate in several ways:

• Wear a 4-H T-shirt and visit the market

• Set up a booth and sell homemade baked goods or homegrown produce as a fundraiser for your club (no crafts, please) - sign up required via online application

• Display a static project at our project table - sign up by email so we can make sure everyone has space

• Schedule a talk or demonstration to give during the market (presentations begin at 6:00 PM) - sign up by email

• Musicians are also welcome to busk - sign up by email

To sign up for a club booth (or individual/family booth), submit an application and add a note to "Other" to indicate you're with a 4-H Club. 

To sign up to participate in the static project display or talk/demonstration (or busking), please email stilwellmarket@gmail.com

Please make all sign-up and application requests by July 15th.

Stilwell has been very supportive of our 4-H club and would love to see more smiling faces willing to chat about their projects. Any questions can be emailed to stilwellmarket@gmail.com

Foods & Nutrition Project Displays at Fair

States' 4-H - Host Families Needed!

Eighteen more Japanese youth are looking for a Kansas family to host them this summer. These students spend years preparing to come and live in America. This is a great opportunity to learn Japanese culture and share your culture with the student. The students do not need to have their own room, only their own bed. The host sibling needs to be within 3 years of age from the Japanese student. They will be with you from July 23 to around August 15.

Please share this with your Kansas friends, neighbors, or family. The host family does not need to be a part of 4-H. View this list of the remaining students so you can see some of their interests and what they want to accomplish on their stay.

More information can be found on the States' 4-H webpage.

No August 1st Clover Clips

Due to fair, there will be no publication of the August 1st Clover Clips. Clover Clips will resume publication on August 15th with the August Reporter's Corner being published with this edition.

Silver Clovers at the Fair

Silver Clovers is a connection group for older adults in Johnson County, and they are coming to the fair! This group will tour the 4-H building on Friday, August 1st, 9:00 - 10:00 AM and they want to see all the projects AND interact with 4-H youth. Many of them were involved in 4-H when they were young. Please consider joining us in welcoming this group to the 4-H building. This is a great opportunity for youth to share about their specific project work alongside their county fair exhibit. This is casual and informal. Be in the building by 9:00 AM, stand by a project and be ready to share and talk with the adults! There will be a sign-in sheet at the 4-H table so we can track who participated and each name will be entered into a drawing for some 4-H swag!

Horticulture Judging Classes

On Saturday, August 16, Kansas State University will welcome youth from across the state for the Horticulture Judging Competition. To help you prepare, classes will be held on Thursday evenings at 5:30 PM at the Johnson County Extension Office. The first class will be held on Thursday, July 17th. These sessions will cover all aspects of horticulture, including landscaping, trees, houseplants, and flowers. By participating in these classes, you'll gain the knowledge and confidence needed to compete for first prize against your peers. Classes will continue to be held every Thursday through August 14th.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Anthony Reardon or Markis Hill.

Thursdays, July 17th 6:30 - 8:30 PM

County-Wide Sewing Meetings

All levels welcome. Bring your sewing machines!

Contact: Martha Powell

Location: Johnson County Extension Office

Thursdays, July 17th, 24th, 31st 5:30 PM

Johnson County Horticulture Judging Classes

These classes are designed to help prepare you for the state horticulture judging contest.

Contact: Anthony or Markis

Location: Johnson County Extension Office

Tuesday, July 22nd 6:00 PM

Johnson County Entomology Project Meeting

Join us 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 July meeting, we will discuss getting ready for the County Fair. Bring your collections to get feedback, as well as any more specimens you need help identifying. If you need any more help getting ready for the fair or have any questions, we will be happy to answer them.

Registration: None required

Contact: Patrick Delancy

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

Thursday, July 24th 7:00 PM

Johnson County Public Fashion Revue

Come to support your fellow 4-H'ers who are modeling! Three project categories will be showcased - Sewing & Textile Design, Buymanship and Everything Under $20!

Contact: Cyla or Lexi

Location: Pioneer Ridge Middle School, Gardner, KS

July 26th - August 2nd

Johnson County Fair

Read the Fair News for all the fair events and details

Kansas Wheat Expo

2025-26 Wheat Variety Plot Program

The 2025-26 4-H Wheat Variety Plot program begins in the fall of 2025 with planting and wraps up in the fall of 2026 with the State 4-H Wheat Variety Plot displays at the Kansas State Fair. The 4-H Wheat Variety Plot program is open to all 4-H members enrolled in the 4-H Agronomy project who have an interest in studying how different wheat varieties perform in their part of the state. 4-H members are encouraged to work closely with their local agriculture agent and/or an adult mentor. The 4-H Wheat Varieties are meant to be a hands-on experience for youth and are set in a similar way as local Extension Wheat Variety plots.

New participants will receive a free large plot sign and five individual variety signs. There will be no cost for the program in 2025-26 since the five varieties are again being sponsored by commercial companies.

If you are interested in this program, please contact the Johnson County Extension Office by July 15th to enroll.

Livestock Sweepstakes

All Kansas 4-H'ers are invited to participate in this livestock learning and competition experience on August 23-24, 2025. The Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes includes the state 4-H livestock judging contest, meat judging contest, livestock skillathon, and livestock quiz bowl in one action-packed weekend. 4-H'ers can test their knowledge and display their expertise in a variety of livestock-related events. This is also the qualifying event to select youth who will represent Kansas at each of the national 4-H contests.

All entries must be submitted online through local extension units by August 1. Contact local extension offices for entry information and/or details on local-level qualifying opportunities.

Kansas 4-H + HirePaths

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at video production? Kansas 4-H and HirePaths are introducing a Cool Careers 4-H Video Production Contest, so here’s your chance to become director, cinematographer, editor and/or producer of your own video!

This competition allows members to learn about a career and then produce a video to create their own episode of the series Cool Careers! 

For more information, check out the flyer and read through the guidelines. Get started by deciding if you want to compete as an individual or team, then decide what project and profession you would like to highlight. The most important aspect of this contest is to learn new skills and have fun while doing it!

Jo. Co. Extension Education Signature Event

Please join us for the 2025 JCEEF Signature event on August 16th, 5:00 - 8:00 PM. JCEEF is able to provide about $20,000 in grants to Extension programs each year because of the annual Signature Fundraising Events (along with membership dues). The Signature Event includes a live and silent auction, wine pull, balloon pop, appetizers, dinner catered by Joe's KC, dessert, drinks, live music and more! You do not need to be a JCEEF Member to attend the event. Check out the website for additional details and to register for the event.

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