Clover Clips

A newsletter for 4-H families

Announcements

4-H Program Updates & Summer Engagement

A note from Tara Markley, County Director

As we move into a busy and exciting summer season, we wanted to share a few updates regarding our Johnson County 4-H team.

Recently, we said goodbye to Cyla and Lexi as they departed from their roles with the 4-H program. We are grateful for their contributions and wish them the very best in their future endeavors. We are actively searching for our next 4-H Youth Development Agent, with interviews scheduled for July 7. We anticipate welcoming our new agent to the team in mid-August and look forward to introducing them to our 4-H families and volunteers.

We are also excited to welcome Katie Crowe, who joined the Extension team on June 1 as our new 4-H Office Professional. Katie will be working closely with Christin, who is transitioning into the role of Finance and Office Manager. Over the coming months, Christin will be helping onboard Katie and ensuring a smooth transition. Please join us in welcoming Katie to the Johnson County Extension and 4-H team!

As always, our focus remains on supporting youth, families, volunteers, and clubs as we prepare for the County Fair Showcase and an exciting summer filled with learning, leadership, and achievement opportunities.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We appreciate your patience and support during these transitions and look forward to a great summer together!

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 6/1:

Fair Clean-up & Set-up Schedule for July 19th has been posted
The 2026 Fair Book is now available

Fair News

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 June's Edition

2026 Johnson County 4-H Scholarship

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.

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 is shown by the graph. Let's 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.

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 Events

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.

Cloverbuds Camp

Join us for the 2026 Cloverbud Camp, open to all kids ages 5-7! The Johnson County 4-H Cloverbud Camp is two days of hands-on fun, learning, and adventure. Campers will enjoy activities in different 4-H area projects - all led by Johnson County 4-H Ambassadors and Extension staff. Space is limited, so register to secure your spot! Registration closes Tuesday, June 2nd.

When: June 9th & 10th, 2025 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM daily

Where: Johnson County Extension Office

Registration: Registration required

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.

County-Wide Sewing Class Update

For those attending the county-wide sewing meetings, July 9th will be the last sewing class of the year. At this class, you will also receive information on modeling at Fashion Revue and what to bring to judging. Take note: there will be no regularly scheduled class on Thursday, June 11th but there will be an extra sewing date on Saturday, June 20th. See the Calendar Section for details.

Fashion Revue

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!

Project News

Upcoming Dog Shows

Johnson County Dog Club

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.

YQCA

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is a national, multi-species youth livestock quality assurance program that focuses on nutrition, animal wellbeing, and character development, through age-appropriate educational curriculum for ages 7-21.

If you plan to exhibit in the Johnson County Fair or at State Livestock Shows, you need to be certified. You must be certified by June 15th in order to exhibit in the county fair.

Certification can be done by completing an online training. Registrations and payments must be made through the YQCA website. The online training is $12 per youth. Families are responsible for turning in a printed copy of their YQCA certificate or emailing a copy to the Extension Office by June 15th, 2026. No late submissions (after June 15th) will be accepted. Additional details can be found on the Johnson County 4-H Livestock webpage.

State Livestock Nominations

4-H members planning to show their animals at the Kansas Junior Livestock Show (KJLS) and/or the Kansas State Fair must submit nominations to the KSU Youth Livestock office. Commercial heifer, swine, sheep, and meat goat nominations are due by June 15. Market beef nominations were due by May 1.Information regarding state livestock nominations, ordering DNA envelopes, and the nomination process can be found on the webpage.

4-H Calendar Events

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

Tuesday, June 2nd 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM

4-H Summer Cooking Class: Mastering Quick Breads

This class is for junior to intermediate aged members who want to learn all about quick breads.

Registration: Registration Closed

Contact: Chelsea King

Location: Johnson County Extension Office

Thursdays, June 4th, 18th, 25th 6:30 - 8:30 PM

County-Wide Sewing Meetings

All levels welcome. Bring your sewing machine! No class on June 11th.

Contact: Martha Powell

Location: Johnson County Extension Office

Tuesday and Wednesday, July 9th & 10th - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM daily

Cloverbuds Camp

Young explorers, ages 5 to 7, are welcome to join the Johnson County 4-H Ambassadors for a two-day camp full of fun and learning.

Registration: Required

Contact: Victoria O.

Location: Johnson County Extension Office

Monday, June 15th 6:00 PM

Johnson County Entomology Project Meeting

You are invited to join us on the third Monday of each month at the Johnson County Entomology Project Meetings. It’s time to break out your nets and containers or camera, because the June Entomology Meeting will focus on going out into nature to catch insects. Please bring any collection tools that you have (a net, kill jars, containers, or a camera) and anything you need to be prepared to go outside (bug spray, sunscreen, and appropriate clothing). If you are new to the project, don’t worry, there will be supplies provided and time to learn. We will begin at our usual meeting location at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church and travel together to a nearby park for collection.

Registration: None required

Contact: Patrick Delancy

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

Tuesday, June 16th 8:45 AM - 2:00 PM

Johnson County Horticulture Project Meeting

The June Horticulture meeting will take a personalized tour of the gardens on the 2026 Public Garden Tour. Those enrolled in the project were e-mailed details. If you would like to attend this meeting tour and did not receive the e-mail, please reach out for more details.

Registration: Sign up required

Contact: Anthony or Markis

Location: Public Garden Tour

Saturday, June 20th 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

County-Wide Sewing Meeting

Join in for a bonus sewing day to get all your projects ready for fair!

Contact: Martha Powell

Location: Johnson County Extension Office

Saturday, June 20th 9:00 AM (show time)

Johnson County Dog Club Rally-O and Agility Show

Registration opens at 8:30 AM, with the show beginning at 9:00 AM.

Registration: Pre-registration is encouraged but walk-in entries are also accepted

Contact: Dog Club

Location: Johnson County Fairgrounds

Saturday, June 27th 9:00 AM (show time)

Tailwaggers Invitational Dog Show

This show is a State Qualifier Dog Show for the Kansas State Fair 4-H Dog Show.

Registration: Walk-in entries will be accepted but pre-registration is encouraged.

Contact: Donna or Audrey

Location: Johnson County Fairgrounds

View 4-H Calendar

Upcoming Deadlines

June 2nd - Cloverbuds Camp Registrations DUE

June 15th - Commercial heifer, swine, sheep, and meat goat nominations DUE

June 15th - YQCA certifications DUE

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

State/National Events & Updates

Allen County Entomology Meeting

Let's Get Ready for the County Fair! Our next Entomology project meeting will be on Saturday, June 6th and this meeting will help you to get your insect collections ready for the County Fair. The meeting will begin at 1:00 PM at the Allen County Extension Office. Please bring your insect (hopefully with labels on them), your display box, as well as Order labels and box labels. If you are still needing help with pinning, bring those supplies and insects. This will be the last group meeting for the summer.

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.

Partner Events

JCEEF Annual Dinner & Silent Auction

The Johnson County Extension Education Foundation (JCEEF) will hold its annual dinner and silent auction on Saturday, August 15th, at The Lodge at Ironwoods in Leawood. The Foundation Board is asking 4-H Clubs to participate by acquiring or creating items for the silent auction. All proceeds from the event support the Foundation’s grant funding program, which benefits special projects across all K-State Extension program areas, including 4-H Youth Development, Community Development, Family and Community Wellness, Horticulture, and Natural Resources.

4-H Clubs are encouraged to develop baskets centered around 4-H project themes such as gardening, photography, clothing and textiles, foods and nutrition, arts and crafts, woodworking, livestock, and more. As an incentive, the three clubs receiving the highest bids will be awarded prize money:

• First Place — $75

• Second Place — $50

• Third Place — $25

If your club is interested in creating and donating a basket, please contact Tara (or call 913-715-7012). All items are due to the Extension Office by Thursday August 6th.

Thank you for supporting the Johnson County Extension Education Foundation and helping strengthen Extension programming across Johnson County!

4-H Promotional Booth Opportunity

Kids & Car Safety will be holding their annual fundraiser on Saturday, October 4th at Lake Olathe. 4-H clubs and/or families are invited to participate by hosting a 4-H booth, promoting the program to event attendees. If you are interested, please contact Amber Rollins by July 1st.

Public Garden Tour

The Johnson County Extension Master Gardener Public Garden Tour returns June 12–13, 2026, and ticket sales are now open! This beloved biennial event offers self-guided access to six beautiful private gardens you won’t see any other time. Visitors can also enjoy free activities, including the Garden Thyme Marketplace, guided tours of the Dennis Patton Garden Gallery Demonstration Garden, and the Extension Expo. Advance purchase tickets will be $35. You may also purchase day of tour tickets for $40.

Wonders of Discovery

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).

JEMN Wild Kids!

Check out these classes for Junior Master Naturalists! These classes will be held on the following days - June 20th, June 27th, July 11th and July 25th. Each class is held from 9:00 - 11:30 AM at varying locations. Topics include bugs, leaves, habitats, rocks & fossils and streams, with fun games and crafts at each class! These events are geared for youth ages 7 to 12. Registration is required. Don't miss out on the fun!

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