From humble beginnings, 4-H now exists in all 50 states and includes children ages 5 through 18.
February is 4-H Member Month. Ann Dobesh of Nebraska Extension in Seward County said membership is the cornerstone of 4-H. Youngsters can be in a club or independent members, she said.
Seward County 4-H includes 15 clubs and 407 participants. Including the after-school programs and other special interest programs, 4-H reaches 1,748 young people, Dobesh said.
“There is a place for everybody,” she said.
Dobesh said the sky is the limit for what members can work on. Projects range from electricity and robotics to woodworking to foods to photography. Dobesh said photography has grown because it’s something everyone can do.
She has seen a renewed interest in first aid and safety, she said.
“We know all youth need something to spark their interest,” Dobesh said, adding that the variety of projects lets the members try different things.
“That’s unique about the 4-H program,” she said. “The whole goal is to find that spark.”
Staplehurst Livestock is the oldest club in Seward County. It celebrated a century last year, Dobesh said. Some clubs have dissolved over time as members age out.
Each club offers a combination of ways to learn. Monthly meetings provide activities for the 4-Hers. Some do something different every month, Dobesh said.
Clubs are asked to meet at least six times a year. Some meet more often, Dobesh said. Each meeting is a little different. Some clubs do community service projects, learn about projects available to participate in or have members give demonstrations of their projects.
A club can have as few as five members and three families, Dobesh said.
The Junior Leaders is an additional club for members ages 13-18. It meets monthly and focuses on leadership and service, Dobesh said. Seward County had 31 enroll in Junior Leaders, with 20 members active in projects.
The club plans and leads day camps in the summer, coordinates the achievement day program and puts on the 4-H carnival.
This year’s carnival is March 1 from 2-4 p.m. at the 4-H Center. Those attending are encouraged to bring non-perishable items to donate for 10 tickets each.
Other service projects include cleaning abandoned cemeteries and going to the Ronald McDonald House and making a meal for the families staying there.
“Teen leadership is important,” Dobesh said. “I would like to see all the members grow in leadership.”
There are some clubs that focus on a specific topic like livestock or shooting sports. Those that offer shooting sports must have a certified instructor, she said.
“We offer workshops all summer. You never know where their interest will be,” Dobesh said. “Come to the fair and see what they’ve worked on.”
Speaking of the fair, Dobesh said finding judges can be a challenge, especially if multiple fairs are scheduled at once. The state 4-H organization has compiled a database of judges, which makes it easier to find people.
“It’s important for them to know their subject but also how to interact with youth,” Dobesh said.
Moving the dates of the fair have changed some of the entries, mainly in horticulture and floriculture, she said. Some vegetables and flowers simply aren’t ready for a July harvest.
Numbers of static exhibits, however, were up in 2025.
Dobesh is a lifetime 4-Her. She started when she was 8 and living in Saunders County. She participated in collegiate 4-H, as well, and was a counselor at 4-H camps, including one in North Carolina.
She interned in Seward County and was a 4-H assistant in Seward, Buffalo and Butler counties before returning to Seward full time.
Dobesh said her favorite part of 4-H is watching the members grow from Clover Kids (age 5) through high school.
