Clover Clips

A newsletter for 4-H families

Please join us in welcoming our new 4-H Office Professional, Katie Crowe. You will see her in the office and around our summer events, so be sure to introduce yourself and give her a warm welcome! Here is a note from Katie:

As a 12-year 4-H member in Finney County, KS, I grew up on a farm, showing hogs and sheep. But my favorite projects were Arts & Crafts, Crochet, and Geology. I studied Journalism and Mass Communications at K-State. After Graduation, I moved to Kansas City where I met my husband and we started a family. I have been fortunate to be at home with my two kids the past 8 years, but I could not be more excited to join K-State Extension Johnson County.

Clover Clips: Fair Edition

The 2026 Fair Edition of Clover Clips has been published. Click the button below to read and find all the fair details! Fair News includes information on project entries, events like Fashion Revue, public presentations, details on project check-in and SO MUCH MORE. Don't skip it!

Updates to Fair News as of 6/15:

• Project Auction time change (the auction will now occur at 6:00 PM)

There are a few project superintendents who are looking for youth leaders (ages 12 and up) to serve in a junior superintendent role. The responsibilities vary, based on the project department's needs. If you are interested, please view the details and sign up via the Sign-Up Genius. Once signed up, you will be contacted with further information.

July 1st Entry Deadline

Don't forget - if you plan to enter projects into the Dog or Sewing & Textile Design departments or participate in Fashion Revue, those project entries are due by July 1st. The online entry system is now open on the Johnson County Fair website.

Take note: All other project entries are due July 13th.

Every year Johnson County 4-H offers a scholarship to two individuals who are either 4-H seniors or former 4-H members. The scholarship application and guidelines for the 2026 Johnson County 4-H Scholarships are posted on the Johnson County 4-H website. Applications are due to the Extension office by 5:00 PM on Monday, June 22, 2026. Take note of these requirements if you are applying as a high school senior or 4-H alumni:

• Must be or have been a Johnson County 4-H’er within the past four years.
• Must have been a 4-H Club member for a minimum of five years.

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 22^nd to the 4-H Team so the committee has time to review entries and have posters printed before fair. View this document for examples of past posters and for a list of past food and drink offerings.

County Service Project

The Johnson County 4-H Council card drive supporting the Cards for Hospitalized Kids (CFHK) charity is underway. The current number of cards donated by each club as of June 10th can be seen on the graph. There are a few more weeks left - keep submitting cards! Please deliver cards to the Johnson County Extension Office or to the County 4-H Council meeting on July 6th. Take note: the cards do NOT need to be in envelopes.

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.

Mr. and Miss 4-H

The Johnson County Mr. and Miss 4-H Program recognizes young people for the leadership and commitment they have contributed to the 4-H program and their communities. Mr. and Miss 4-H support and participate in county events and activities throughout the year including Fair and promote Johnson County 4-H in the community. All 4-H’ers who have been a member for at least three years and are at least 13 (before January 1, 2026) are eligible to apply. More information about the Mr. and Miss 4-H Program can be found on the website. The application is also posted on the website and is due June 26. Interviews will be held at the Extension office on the evening of July 14 and coronation will take place on July 29.

Poultry Testing

Kansas continues its designation as a Pullorum-Typhoid (P-T) Clean state. The Johnson County 4-H Fair Book states that all poultry (chickens, turkeys, and guineas) must show proof of negative Pullorum-Typhoid testing at check-in. The exception is birds that are less than 90 days old. Johnson County 4-H will hold a testing date on Saturday, June 27th, 9:00 AM - 12:00PM at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. There will be a testing fee of $5.00/per family. If you have questions, please contact the Johnson County 4-H Office. View the brochure for more information regarding testing. If you are unable to make this testing date, please review the list of certified testers through KDA and contact them to schedule other testing options.

Do you have a great outfit you are proud of and would like to show off? You can model at the 4-H Fashion Revue this summer! The categories are Purchased Garments and Everything Under $20. You must be enrolled in the Sewing & Textile Design project to enter Fashion Revue. You do not have to sew what you wear in Purchased Garments or Everything Under $20! You can find more information in the Johnson County 4-H Fair Book regarding entries for the Fashion Revue. Judging for the Fashion Revue is Saturday, July 18th, 2026. The Public Fashion Revue is the evening of Thursday, July 23rd at 7:00 PM, held at Pioneer Ridge Middle School in Gardner, KS. Do you need more guidance on modeling in Fashion Revue? Plan to attend the county-wide sewing class on Thursday, July 9th for more details and information from Martha Powell.

Countywide Social Event

Saturday, September 26th

5:00 - 8:00 PM

Erfurt Park (24135 W 71st St, Shawnee, KS)

Join us for a come-and-go social at the park – food, games & PRIZES!

• Please bring a side dish or dessert to share, hot dogs & hamburgers will be provided.
• Bring a lawn chair and any games you may want to play – board games, card games & yard games.
• Gift Card prizes! You won’t need to be present to win gift cards to cool places!
• RSVP is open now!

The JoCo Dog Club has two upcoming shows. A Rally-O & Agility Show will be held on Saturday, June 20th and the Invitational Show will be held on Saturday, July 11th. Registration opens at 8:30 AM, with each show beginning at 9:00 AM. Pre-registration is encouraged but walk-in entries are also accepted. We will have multiple judges to help make it a faster show. Both shows will be at the Johnson County Fairgrounds and are great shows to attend if you are needing to qualify for the Kansas State Fair 4-H Dog Show. For more information contact the Dog Club. If you pre-register, each event is $10. Walk-in registration will be $15 per event.

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.

June 22nd - Food Stand Poster Art Contest Entries DUE

June 22nd - Johnson County 4-H Scholarship Applications DUE

June 22nd - Bob Hines Kansas Swine Classic Registrations DUE

June 26th - Mr. & Miss 4-H Applications DUE

July 1st - Dog, Sewing & Textile Design and Fashion Revue Fair Entries DUE

Bob Hines Swine Classic

The Dr. Bob Hines Kansas Swine Classic is hosted annually by the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry and K-State Research and Extension to provide Kansas youth ages 7-18 an opportunity to exhibit their swine projects. The event includes educational activities, such as a swine skillathon and photography contest, as well as showmanship, a prospect hog show and a market hog show. This event will be held July 10th & 11th at the Riley County Fairgrounds in CiCo Park in Manhattan, Kansas. Registration is due by June 22nd.

Save the date for the 2026 Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes! It will be hosted August 22-23 in Manhattan. The deadline to register will be August 1. All participants must be entered by their local extension unit so contact your local extension office if you are interested in participating!

Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes is an event that encompasses the Kansas 4-H state livestock judging contest, meat judging contest, livestock skillathon, and quiz bowl in one, action-packed weekend. These state-level contests are the national qualifying events for Kansas 4-H members. Youth may participate in as many or as few contests as they would like over the course of the weekend. Individuals who compete in livestock judging, skillathon, and senior/open meat judging will be eligible for the sweepstakes award. Teams who compete in livestock judging, skillathon, senior/open meat judging, and quiz bowl will be eligible for the sweepstakes team award.

Wonders of Discovery is a free event for all ages hosted annually by the Extension Master Naturalists at the Pollinator Prairie. Visitors will be greeted with beautiful native plant gardens that are filled with busy pollinators. There will be interactive exhibits such as Caterpillar Wonders, What’s the Buzz About Native Bees, the Soil Conservation Tunnel, and much more. Games and activities are planned for children, so this will be a fun and educational event for the whole family. This event will take place on Thursday, June 18th from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM at the Pollinator Prairie in Olathe, (320 S. Blake Street).

Read the latest Reporter's Corner to stay up to date on club happenings.

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