4-H Plant Science Fair Resources

image of plant science contest

4-H Plant Science Fair Resources

Many 4‑H youth choose to showcase their project(s) at the fair. 4‑H members interested in plant science may enter Plant Science contests and/or enter static exhibits. Examples of plant science static exhibits includes floriculture, vegetables, herbs, fruit, forestry and agronomy.

4-H at Super Fair Overview & Fair Book     4-H Fair Contests     4-H Static Exhibits

CONTEST RESOURCES

Lancaster County 4-H In-Person Horticulture, Tree, Grass & Weed ID Contests

June 18, 2025

Open to all 4-H members from all counties, ages 9–18 (by Jan. 1 of the current year) — need not be enrolled in a horticulture project. 4-H members choose which contest(s) to participate in and will be able to use a list of plants while identifying samples. 

Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 10 a.m.–Noon

Location: Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County Conference Rooms, 444 Cherrycreek Rd, Suite A, Lincoln

Registration deadline: Monday, June 17, 2025 by calling 402-441-7180.

Contest options include:
• Tree Identification — identify tree samples. See “Tree Identification Manual” (4H332) for a list of trees that will be used.
• Grass & Weed Identification — identify grass and weed samples.
• Horticulture Contest — identify samples of vegetables, fruits, nuts, herbs and landscape ornamentals. The plant list contains plants commonly used or sold in Nebraska.

For more information about the in-person plant science contests, contact Mary Jane Frogge at mfrogge2@unl.edu or 402‑441‑7180.

Nebraska State Fair 4-H In-Person Plant Science Contests

At the Nebraska State Fair, Nebraska 4-H offers a Horticulture Identification Contest, Tree Identification Contest and Weed & Grass Identification Contest for 4-H members ages 8–18 (by Jan. 1 of the current year). 4-H members do not need to qualify at the county contest to participate.

4-H Fair Book Contests

Lancaster County 4-H Online Tree and Grass & Weed ID Contests

June 10–24, 2025

The Lancaster County 4-H Online Tree ID and Grass & Weed ID Contests provide youth opportunities to test their knowledge of identifying plants that grow in Nebraska. The contests are open to all youth, as well as adults. Youth do not need to be enrolled 4-H members to participate. 

Rules:
• Before beginning the online contest, you will need to fill in all of your information, including full name, county and 4-H age (age as of January 1st of the current year).
• The online contest should only be taken once by each participant.
• The Tree species list from the 4-H Tree ID manual and Nebraska 4-H Weed & Grass plant list can be used, but no other resources are to be used while taking the online contest.
• The contest will allow participants an opportunity to review the answers prior to submitting. Once submitted, the participants will see their score but will not be able to see which questions were answered incorrectly.
• No awards are offered by Lancaster County 4-H, except ribbons for currently enrolled Lancaster County 4-H youth are provided. Some county 4-H programs may offer awards and ribbon placings if they choose to use the online contest as their official county-level contests. For more information, please contact your local Extension office. 

LINKS WILL BE POSTED HERE IN JUNE

For more information about the online Tree and Grass & Weed ID contests, contact Mary Jane Frogge at mfrogge2@unl.edu or 402‑441‑7180.

Nebraska 4-H Online Horticulture Judging Contest

June 10–24, 2025

Nebraska 4-H offers this statewide online Horticulture Judging Contest, which tests 4-H'ers knowledge in three areas: identification, judging and general knowledge. 

Rules & Links to Participate

For more information abut the online Horticulture Judging contest, contact Elizabeth Exstrom at elizabeth.exstrom@unl.edu or 308-385-5088.

Contest Study Resources

Tree ID:

Weed and Grass ID

Horticulture

STATIC EXHIBIT RESOURCES

4-H members and volunteers should use these resources to help prepare plant exhibits for Lancaster County Super Fair and Nebraska State Fair Contests.