Youth Gardening is Fun & Educational!
Resources for 4-H Plant Science Contests at the Lancaster County & Nebraska State Fairs.
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2021 Lancaster County 4-H Plant Science Contests
Three Plant Science Contests will be held Wednesday, June 9, 10 a.m.–12 noon at the Lancaster Extension Education Center, 444 Cherrycreek Road, Lincoln. Registration is required by Monday, June 7 by calling 402-441-7180 (there is no entry form). Open to all 4-H'ers from all counties ages 10-18. Enrollment in a horticulture project is not required to participate.
Youth choose which portions of the contest to participate in:
- Tree identification
- Weed & grass identification
- Horticulture contest
Participants will be able to use a list of plants while identifying samples. Ribbons will be awarded at the Lancaster County Super Fair or mailed.
Here is a print-friendly flyer with above information.
2021 Nebraska 4-H Online Horticulture Judging Contest
Nebraska 4-H offers a statewide online Horticulture Judging Contest which tests 4-H'ers knowledge in three areas: general knowledge questions, plant part and seed identification, as well as a judging portion. This year, the contest will be available June 4-21, 2021. The link to participate will be at https://go.unl.edu/hortcontest.
Tree ID Contest Study Resources:
- Nebraska Extension publication Tree Identification Manual (4-H 332). $5.50 for pdf.
Weed and Grass ID Contest Study Resources:
- Nebraska 4-H (pdf) Weed & Grass Plant List for Identification Contest.
- Nebraska Extension publication Common Grasses of Nebraska (EC170). Free web versions, $5 for print version.
- Nebraska Department of Agriculture Weeds of the Great Plains. $35 for hardbound book.
Horticulture Contest Study Resources:
- National Example (pdf) NJHA Horticulture Contest Identification Answer Sheet.
- Lancaster County 4-H PowerPoint With Lots of Photos (.ppt - large file) Landscape Ornamentals.
- Lancaster County 4-H PowerPoint With Lots of Photos (.ppt - large file) Flowers and Indoor Plants.
- Lancaster County 4-H PowerPoint With Lots of Photos (.ppt - large file) Vegetables.
Resources for Plant Exhibits at Lancaster County Super Fair & Nebraska State Fair
4-H members and volunteers should use these resources to help prepare plant exhibits for Lancaster County Super Fair and Nebraska State Fair Contests.
- Lancaster County 4-H website with Fair Book, Resources, Forms and Fair Results/Photos
- Nebraska Extension free online publication (pdf) Selecting and Preparing Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruit or Exhibits at County Fairs and the Nebraska State Fair - Nebraska 4-H.
- Nebraska Extension free online publication (pdf) Preparing Cut Flowers for Exhibits at County Fairs and the Nebraska State Fair.
- Lancaster County 4-H handout (pdf) Showing Flowers and Vegetables at the Lancaster County Super Fair
- Nebraska Extension NebGuide (pdf) NebGuide G1853 "Propagating House Plants" includes a list of includes a listing of common houseplants found in Nebraska.
2021 Special Garden and Agronomy Projects
4-H families have the opportunity to participate in the special garden and special agronomy projects this year. The Special Garden Project is growing Hakurei Turnip. This vegetable is a white salad turnip. The Special Agronomy Project is Teosinte. A Mexican grass that is considered to be one of the parent plants of modern corn. Seed packets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Call the Extension office, 402-441-7180, to sign up for these special projects. The seed packages are free and one seed packet per project, per family. Seeds will be mailed after April 30.