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ONLY 1 ENTRY PER CLASS NUMBER PER 4-H MEMBER.
RANGE MANAGEMENT
Each exhibit must be properly identified with Unit and Class. All plant displays and display covers must be the result of the current year’s work. Plant identification and lists of appropriate plants in each category (grasses, forbs, shrubs and grass-like plants) can be found in the Range Judging Handbook and Contest Guide (EC150, Revised July 2016), Common Grasses of Nebraska (EC170) and Common Forbs and Shrubs of Nebraska (EC118).
Books
For books, plants must be mounted on sheets that are no larger than 12 inches wide x 14 inches high. Plants should be glued rather than taped and the mounts should be protected with a clear cover. Proper plant mount should include root as well as stem and leaf tissue. Exhibits will be judged based on completeness of plant mount, accuracy of identification, labeling, neatness and conformation to project requirements. Each completed mount must have the following information (see example below) in the lower right corner of the mounting sheet: 1) scientific name (in italic or underlined), with authority, 2) common name, 3) county of collection, 4) collection date, 5) collector’s name, 6) personal collection number, indicating order that plants were collected in your personal collection and 7) other information, depending on class selected, i.e., value and importance, life span, growth season origin, major types of range plants. This information should be typed or printed neatly.
Scientific name: Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash
Common name: Little bluestem
County of collection: Lancaster County
Collection date: 6 July 2025
Collector’s name: Joe Smith
Personal collection number: 3
Value and Importance: Livestock Forage: High, Wildlife Habitat: High, Wildlife Food: Medium OR Life Span: Perennial OR Season of Growth: Warm Season OR Origin: Native
D330001 Value and Importance for Livestock Forage and Wildlife Habitat and Food Book — a collection of 12 different plant mounts, with 4 classified as high value, 4 as medium value and 4 as low value for livestock forage, wildlife habitat or wildlife food. Value and importance classifications can be found in the “Range Judging Handbook and Contest Guide” Appendix Table 1 (EC150, Revised July 2024) starting on page 42. Plants can consist of any combination of grasses, grass-like plants, forbs or shrubs. Assemble plant mounts in order of high, medium and low value and importance. Label each plant mount with its value and importance classifications for each of the 3 areas; Livestock Forage, Wildlife Habitat, Wildlife Food.
D330002 Life Span Book — a collection of 6 perennial plant mounts and 6 annual plant mounts selected from grasses or forbs.
D330003 Growth Season Book — a collection of 6 cool-season grass mounts and 6 warmseason grass mounts.
D330004 Origin Book — a collection of plant mounts of 6 native range grasses and 6 introduced grasses. Introduced grasses are not from North America and often used to seed pastures.
D330005 Major Types of Range Plants Book — a collection of plant mounts of 3 grasses, 3 forbs, 3 grass-like and 3 shrubs.
D330006 Range Plant Collection Book — a collection of 12 range plant mounts with something in common (i.e. poisonous to cattle, historically used as food by Native Americans, dye plants, antelope’s favorite forage, etc.). Include a short paragraph at the front of the book which describes what the plants have in common and why you have chosen to collect them.
Displays
The purpose of the display is to tell an educational story to the viewer. The display is a visual representation (pictures, charts, graphs) no larger than 28 inches x 28 inches on poster board. The display should be neatly titled. Make sure to label display with 4-H member’s name, address and county on back side.
D330007 Parts of a Range Plant Poster — mount a range plant on a poster board. Label all the key plant parts useful for ID and correct for that plant species, such as root, branch, cotyledon, petiole, midrib, stem, node, leaf, leaflet, spikelet, collar, ligule, sheath, internode, culm, crown, flower, etc. Include the plant label in the lower right corner, including the scientific and common name of the plant.
Boards
Boards should be no larger than 30 inches wide x 36 inches tall. Boards should be adequately labeled.
D330008 Special Study Board — a display of the results of a clipping study, a degree of use study, range site study, etc. A short essay must accompany the display to explain the reason for the study, what was learned and study results and should be placed in a sheet cover attached to the board.
D330009 Junior Rancher Board — this exhibit should include a ranch map with a record book or an appropriate educational display on some phase of rangeland or livestock management. A short essay must accompany the display to explain the purpose of the rancher board, what was learned, etc.
FIELD CROPS
Grain or Plant Exhibits
A completed Crop Production Worksheet (available at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hagronomy) must accompany grain and plant exhibits or it will automatically be lowered 1 ribbon placing. The worksheet must include the 4-H member’s name and address, county, plant hybrid or variety, plant population, whether crop production was irrigated or dryland, and general information including farm cropping history, soil type and weather effects. The worksheet also must include an economic analysis of the project, listing individual expenses and income, on a per acre basis. Other topics to discuss are the selection of variety or hybrid, impacts of tillage and conservation practices, inputs (fuel, fertilizer, irrigation, labor, pesticides, etc.), any observations made during the growing season and what you learned from your crops project. The worksheet counts as 50% of the total when judged. Worksheet must be the original work of the individual 4-H member or it will be lowered 1 ribbon placing. Attach the worksheet to the entry in a clear plastic cover such that it can be read without removing it from the cover. In addition to the worksheet, grain and plant exhibits will be judged on condition, appearance (i.e. disease and insect damage, grain fill), uniformity (size, shape, color, maturity) and quality of exhibit. Bring in an appropriately sized clear box/container so that it can be viewed and displayed.
Grain exhibits must be 1 gallon per sample. Fall harvested crops (e.g., corn or soybeans) may be from the previous year’s project. Bring in an appropriately sized clear box/container so that it can be viewed and displayed.
Plant exhibits — plant exhibits, with the exception of ears of corn, must be the result of the current year’s project.
- Corn — 10 ears or 3 stalks (cut at ground level with no roots or soil and bound together)
- Grain Sorghum — 4 stalks (cut at ground level and bound together)
- Soybeans — 6 stalks (cut at ground level and bound together)
- Small grains (oats, barley, wheat, triticale) — sheaf of heads 2 inches in diameter at top tie with stems about 24 inches long
- Other crops (alfalfa, sunflower, millet, etc.) — sheaf of stems 3 inches in diameter at top tied with stems cut at ground level or half size small square bale
G750001 Corn (includes yellow, white, pop, waxy or any other type)
G750002 Soybeans
G750003 Oats
G750004 Wheat
G750005 Any Other Crop (includes grain sorghum, alfalfa, millets, barley, rye, triticale, amaranth, dry beans, sugar beet, mung bean, canola, forage sorghum, safflower, etc.)
Displays
The purpose of the display is to tell an educational story to those that view the display. The display is a visual representation (pictures, charts, graphs) no larger than 24 inches wide x 24 inches tall on plywood or poster board. The display should be neatly titled. Make sure to label display with 4-H member’s name, address and county on back side. Explain pictures and graphs clearly and concisely. Consider creativity and neatness. Each display must have a 1-page essay (minimum) explaining why the 4-H member chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include any references used. The essay should be in a clear plastic cover with the 4-H member’s name outside. If a display does not have an essay, it will automatically be lowered 1 ribbon placing.
G750006 Crop Production Display — the purpose of this class is to allow original and creative exhibits that contain educational information about crop production aspects, such as crop scouting, alternative crops, pest management, etc.
G750007 Crop Technology Display — display information about aspects of technology used in crop production, such as genetic engineering, crop breeding, GPS, yield mapping, computers, etc.
G750008 Crop End Use Display — display information about the final product or end uses for a crop, such as food, feed, fuel or other products (i.e. corn can be processed into livestock feed, ethanol, plastics, etc. or soybeans can be processed into bio-diesel, pet bedding, crayons, oil, etc.) This should not be about the process of crop production, but focus on an end product(s).
G750009 Water or Soil Display — display information about water or soils, such as how soils are being used for crop production, range, conservation, wildlife or wetland use or ways to protect or conserve water and soil resources.
G750010 Career Interview Display — the purpose of this class is to allow 4-H members to investigate a career in agronomy. 4-H member should interview 1 person who works with crops about such topics as, what parts of their job do they enjoy or dislike, why did they choose that career, what was their education, etc. Include a picture of the person interviewed.
Special Agronomy Project
4-H members experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska by growing it, researching traits of that crop and determining viability of that crop in the part of the state they live. Each year, seeds will be mailed to Extension offices or ag ed classrooms across the state, as ordered by that location. Offices will distribute to 4-H members on a first-come, first-served basis. A different seed will be selected every year. 4-H members will grow seeds in their garden or pots. The 2025 Special Agronomy Project plant is sunflowers.
G750011 Special Agronomy Project – Educational Exhibit — educational exhibit based on what was learned from the project. Present information on a poster no larger than 28 inches x 28 inches on plywood or poster board. The 4-H member's name, age, and county must be on the back of the poster or report cover. Each display must have a 1-page essay (minimum) explaining why the 4-H member chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include references used.
G750012 Special Agronomy Project – Video Presentation — 4-H member designs a multimedia presentation related to the crop. This could include narration of the growing process, presenting facts about the crop or any other innovative multimedia practices. The presentation should be at least 2 minutes in length and no more than 5 minutes in length; include appropriate graphics, sound and either a video clip, animation or voice over and/or original video clip. Any of the following file formats will be accepted: .mp4, .mov, .ppt or .avi.
G750013 Special Agronomy Project – Plant Exhibit — 2 heads with 2 foot long stalks. Supporting documentation (1/2 to 1 page in length) should include the following:
- Economic analysis and/or research that supports feasibility of this crop in Nebraska or how the crop has evolved over time.
- Other topics to discuss are past/current commercial production of this crop. This includes: the selection of variety or hybrid, impacts of tillage and conservation practices, inputs (fuel, fertilizer, irrigation, labor, pesticides, etc.), any observations made during the growing season about this crop and what you learned from your crops project. This 1/2 to 1-page summary counts as 50% of the total when judged. In addition to the summary, grain and plant exhibits will be judged on condition, appearance (i.e. disease and insect damage, grain fill), uniformity (size, shape, color, maturity) and quality of exhibit.
WEED SCIENCE
At least 15 specimens must represent this year’s work. For assistance identifying plants, participants can use Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains or Weeds of the Great Plains.
Exhibits will be judged based on completeness of plant mount, accuracy of identification, label, neatness and conformity to exhibit requirements.
Books
Plants must be mounted on sheets that are no larger than 12 inches wide x 14 inches high. Proper plant mount should include root as well as stem and leaf tissue. Plants should be glued rather than taped and the mounts should be protected with a clear clover. Each completed mount must have the following information (see example below) in the lower right corner of the mounting sheet: 1) scientific name (in italic or underlined), with authority; 2) common name; 3) county of collection; 4) collection date; 5) collector’s name; 6) personal collection number, indicating order that plants were collected in your personal collection and 7) other information depending on class selected, i.e., noxious, life form. This information should be typed or printed neatly.
Scientific name: Abutilon theophrasti Medik.
Common name: Velvetleaf
County of collection: Lancaster County
Collection date: 6 July 2024
Collector’s name: Dan D. Lion
Personal collection number: 3
Life cycle: Annual
G751001 Weed Identification Book — a collection of a minimum of 15 plant mounts including at least 2 of the following prohibited noxious weeds (Canada thistle, musk thistle, plumeless thistle, saltcedar, leafy spurge, purple loosestrife, diffuse knapweed, spotted knapweed, Japanese knotweed, bohemian knotweed or phragmites) and at least 3 weeds that are a problem primarily in lawns.
G751002 Life Span Book — a collection of 7 perennial, 1 biennial and 7 annual weeds.
Displays
The purpose of the display is to tell an educational story to those that view the display. The display is a visual representation (pictures, charts, graphs) no larger than 24 inches x 24 inches on plywood or poster board. The display should be neatly titled. Make sure to label display with 4-H member’s name, address and county on back side. Explain pictures and graphs clearly and concisely. Each display must have a 1-page essay explaining why the 4-H member chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include any references used. The essay should be in a clear plastic cover with the 4-H member’s name outside.
G751003 Weed Display – the purpose of this class is to allow original and creative exhibits that contain educational information about weeds, such as interesting information about a weed species, the effects of weed control, herbicide resistant weeds, what makes a weed a weed or uses for weeds.