State Fair is the showcase for 4-H, but growth, achievement a constant pursuit

Lincoln, Nebraska, Aug. 20, 2025 — Nebraska 4-H’ers across the state are making final preparations for the Nebraska State Fair, a showcase and culmination of a year’s work, growth and achievement.
A total of 4,105 4-H exhibits and livestock entries will be at the state fair, Aug. 22 through Sept. 1 in Grand Island. County fairs and the state fair are the most recognizable ways 4-H’ers participate in the organization, but Nebraska 4-H is much more, serving one in three youth in Nebraska in a variety of modes. In 2024, 4-H programming directly impacted 127,786 youth in the state.
About 250 Nebraska Extension staffers and more than 300 volunteers will organize, judge and display 3,197 exhibits; check in more than 1,000 livestock exhibitors; and work with 324 youth competitors during contests, including the fashion show, culinary challenge, dog skillathon and insect identification.
“Each exhibit, animal or performance represents a story of dedication, learning and personal growth. The fair is a celebration of these stories, and the lifelong impact 4-H has on its members,” said Kathleen Lodl, associate dean for Nebraska Extension. “The State Fair is a platform for Nebraska 4-H youth to demonstrate what they’ve learned, celebrate their achievements and represent the values of hard work, curiosity and resilience that define Nebraska 4-H.”
Beginning more than 100 years ago, 4-H is the largest youth development organization in the United States. Its humble beginnings can be traced to Ohio, where small agriculture clubs were started with the aim of teaching youth how to plant different crops. After the establishment of Cooperative Extension through the Smith-Lever Act in 1914, 4-H expanded across the country, with more than 100 land-grant universities facilitating 4-H.
Today, 4-H boasts an impact of 6 million youth served across the U.S. Its growth hinges on the organization’s ability to meet youth where they are.
“I think the biggest thing it’s given to me is communication skills, both written and oral, through my different projects,” said Emily Brhel, a 17-year-old from Fairfield, Nebraska. “Another one is connections. There are a lot of connections you can build through 4-H, whether it’s with fellow leaders, community members or younger 4-H’ers you’re helping mentor. And you can explore and discover new interests. 4-H has a lot of avenues to do that.”
Over the years, 4-H has expanded on its club model to include after-school programming, classroom enrichment, camps, virtual learning and special interest opportunities. Each piece of programming helps youth be “beyond ready” for their next chapter and to be leaders of their communities.Nebraska Extension has plans to reach even more youth in the coming years.
“We want one in two, and a lot of our counties are already one in two,” Lodl said. “Our club enrollment is about 25%, and we don’t expect that to change much. There will always be a place for that, but we’re focusing on those other delivery models to reach that goal.”
One delivery model they are leaning into is virtual learning. Through the new Clover platform, youth can explore and learn from more than 260 online modules on topics ranging from financial literacy to aerospace. They learn, earn rewards and play games — all designed through research-backed information and collaboration across the 100-plus land-grant universities that facilitate 4-H.
Lodl said Clover offers a more rigorous learning experience than many other platforms, and it can be utilized by youth — and their parents and teachers. Many modules offer different modes of learning, making them adaptable to home and classroom use.
“We expect this to be a huge game changer for us, because kids like to learn online,” Lodl said. “We expect it to be a catalyst for them to then get into other things. We’re exploring next steps in Nebraska and piloting ideas to engage locally connected kids — and others nationwide — who share interests in the topics on Clover."
There has also been a resurgence in focus around career readiness. Extension 4-H professionals partnered with Admissions at Nebraska to launch Next Chapter, a college readiness program, and partners with schools to host Connecting the Dots events, which bring representatives from various careers to meet with high school students. In 2024, 80 schools hosted Connecting the Dots events for students.
“What we’ve heard from students, parents, from campus, young people were not prepared to navigate the college and career search,” Lodl said. “We want them to know the choice is yours, but to go into it with as much knowledge as you can.”
As 4-H continues its evolution, its mission remains — to positively guide youth in their development, preparing them to be leaders in their communities.
“We’re always looking for the long-term impact,” Lodl said. “Kids are going through lots of stress and lots of transformation. How do we steer them positively to doing positive things, giving them access to be successful. We want them to be the next generation of leaders, contributing to the economic development of their community and state long-term.”
Youth, families, alumni and friends of 4-H from across Nebraska can join in on the Nebraska State Fair's 4-H Day on Aug. 24. A celebration will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Pump and Pantry Pit (north of the horse barns) to celebrate the impact of the Nebraska Extension 4-H Youth Development Program. There will be UNL Dairy Store ice cream, a 4-H photo booth and the launch of “Beyond Ready” — Nebraska 4-H’s commitment to help youth in the state be ready for life and work after high school. At 2:30 p.m., 4-H volunteers will be honored.