4-H Newsletter – September 2026

Thank You!

Thank you to Patrick Leonard-County Weed & Pest for spraying at the range this summer and the Lincoln County 4-H Foundation for sponsoring County Shoot Prizes.

Dustin Price Photography – Thank you for free downloads of livestock show photos from fair.

Jeannie Kinnaman – Thank you for taking general fair and events photos.

Fair Pen Set-Up: Thank you to members, sale committee members, fairboard, and FFA advisors that helped with set up.

Fair – Thank you to fairgrounds staff, livestock sale committee, 4-H Leaders and volunteers, FFA Advisors, superintendents, judges, county road crew, maintenance, fair board, commissioners, donors and supporters of projects and awards, and all other youth and adult volunteers. Thank you to Buckos Feed N’ Freight for shavings; Horse Show livestock providers; award sponsors;
Karval 4-H Club for Fashion Revue help; Council members with general projects and those that helped with sale load out; as well as other volunteers. We appreciate your contributions!

Please also thank any of your individual supporters, mentors, leaders, parents, or businesses, etc. that you know of who may have contributed to your projects or awards over the last 4-H year.

Safety Step-up: Back To School

Back to School Safety Bingo Challenge
The beginning of the school year is great time to review important safety tips and
reminders with youth of all ages. Spend some time reviewing the “Bingo” squares as a
family to help everyone be safe and enjoy the school year.

B I N G O
I don’t walk directly behind vehicles in the parking lot and wait for vehicles to back out or move I remember to drink and fill up my water bottle at least 3x/day I know a “safe” family friend or relative’s cell number if I can’t reach my parents I wear a helmet riding my bike and know hand signals for turning I put an ice pack in my school lunch box to keep my food properly chilled
If I hit my head during recess or practice, I tell an adult and my parents to help reduce injuries I wear reflective clothing or have reflectors on my backpack for walking to school I remember to bring home water bottles, gym clothes, etc. to be washed at least 2x/week I always let someone know where I am going and stick to my “route of travel” I know my parent’s/guardians’ cell phone numbers
I know how to call 9-1-1 and what an emergency is I know how to wash my hands and when I should wash them Bonus:
I help remind others to be safe 		I know my home physical address I look both ways (2x) before crossing the street
I always wear a seatbelt when riding in a vehicle with friends or family I don’t wear headphones or ear buds, and I don’t text or play games on my phone while walking, riding a bike, or driving I don’t share food or drinks with classmates to prevent sharing germs and keep them safe if they have food allergies I check the weather and make sure to take appropriate outdoor clothing with me to school or on activity trips I know where the fire extinguishers and safety kits are in my house and vehicles
I don’t overload my backpack to prevent me from hurting my back I make sure to get out and exercise at least a little bit every day I don’t wear necklaces, bracelets, or have drawstrings hanging out to avoid entanglements on the playground I know who to reach out to if I’m not feeling well mentally or physically

Call or text: 988
or call 1-844-493-8255 		I know what to do if a stranger approaches me or my friends

Outdoor Fun With Obstacle Courses

According to the 2024 US Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, only 20% to 28% of 6-17 year-olds meet the 60 minutes of daily physical activity recommended by the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. One way to encourage youth of all ages to get outside and be more physically active is with obstacle courses.

An obstacle course is simply created using items or obstacles that individuals must go through or around to get to an end point. One of the wonderful things about obstacle courses is there are no set designs or rules. The course can be modified if someone has physical or cognitive challenges or to ensure everyone feels comfortable participating.

Learn More

JUST TO GET YOU THINKIN…

“Find our who you are. And do it on Purpose”
— Dolly Parton

Q – What is the tree’s favorite month?
A – “Sep-timer”

Information & Events

Check your email and monitor the Facebook page for updates on 4-H activities and events. Forms, fees, and registrations are due to the office by the stated day, or the previous Friday if that day falls on a weekend or holiday. County forms and applications are available on the 4-H Forms & Applications page at lincoln.extension.colostate.edu/4-h-formsapplications/. Forms can be mailed, emailed, or dropped through the back door slot. The extension office cannot take credit cards.

State Fair General Exhibit Projects will be available for pickup from September 9-24 (only) from the Extension Office. Projects not picked up during that time will be recycled. State Fair results are available at co4h.colostate.edu and livestock results are available at coloradostatefair.com.

County 4-H Achievement Event will be Sunday, October 25 at 1:00pm with a potluck lunch at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds. Awards will start at 2:00pm. Council Members and Club Help (Heartland) please arrive at 12:00 to set up.

4-H (New Year) Enrollment begins in later fall for new and returning 4-H Members and returning volunteers including foundation members. More information will come out as available on enrollment dates for the new year. 4H Online will shut down at the end of September for annual maintenance. *A reminder that members and clubs need to be enrolled and approved chartered clubs and members/volunteers before participating in new 4-H year activities including fall club meetings.

Livestock Sale Committee ( Livestock Scholarship Program Beef) applications are due November 1 for 4-H and FFA members. Goat, swine, and sheep applications are due February 1. For program information and applications go to “Programs & Services”, “4-H”, then scroll towards the bottom of the page to “County 4-H Resources”, then “Forms/Applications” at extension.colostate.edu/lincoln/offering/lincoln-county-4-h/.
Contact the sale committee or extension office if you would like to donate to a scholarship.

Hunter’s Safety (Shooting Sports) – Now is a good time to start looking for Hunter’s Safety courses if you are interested in taking shooting sports as a project this next year.
Hunter’s Safety certification must be completed by the project add/drop deadline
(March 1) for project continuation. Find classes @ cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/HunterEducation.aspx.

If you have club events, fundraisers, or pictures you would like to include in the
newsletter or post on our Facebook page, please send them in at least two weeks
before the beginning of the next month.

Please contact the office if you have a request for project assistance or a workshop
request.

Other Opportunities

Please verify details, guidelines, cancellation procedures, and registration requirements with the listed contacts for each event.

Activity Page

Monthly Reader:

“The Big Book of Moo” by Leigh Rubin

Vegetable Art:

A good way to use up garden vegetables that have become too large or lose their flavor because they overmatured is for craft fun.

*Be sure to have permission before working with sharp tools and don’t forget to wash your hands and surfaces when finished with your project.

Supplies:
– Garden vegetables
– Pumpkin carving tools, small pairing knives, peelers, etc.
– Cookie sheet or cutting board
– Sharpie and/or cookie cutters (different shapes)

Steps:
-Wash vegetables with soap and water to remove dirt and bacteria from the garden
-Draw shapes freehand or using shape outlines
-Utilize tools to carve, cut up, and/or make shapes on your vegetables
-Take a picture of your item or leave out for family members to see
-Dispose of all vegetable items into compost or trash. *Do not feed cuttings or vegetables to pets as some can be harmful

*Bonus Idea: Make it a family activity and hold a contest for different categories (most creative, best art, most fun design, etc.)

*Instead of carving vegetables, utilize household craft items to decorate or make a creature out of your vegetable (toothpicks, glitter, glue, sequins, ribbon, pipe cleaners, etc.)

Plant Observation Activity:

As we move into fall the temperatures often dramatically change from morning to afternoon to evening each day. It may be 50° in the morning, 85°in the afternoon and 65° in the early evening. Go out for a week and record the temperature and time of day. Also take a notebook and draw a picture or write down what the plants leaves look like. (i.e. are they fully extended out or maybe shrunk down). Ask yourself if the leaves look any different as well as observe if there was any moisture overnight or during the day).

This is great way to learn more about plants and how they behave based on light, temperature, and moisture.

September 2026 Calendar

  • September 7: Office Closed-Holiday
  • September 9: State Fair Projects Available Pick-Up (9-24 Only)
  • September 24: Last Day to Pick Up State Fair Projects
  • September 30: End of 4-H Year & 4H Online Shutdown till Re-enrolment Opens

More events and information available at lincoln.extension.colostate.edu/events

4-H’s: Head, Heart, Hands, Health

HEAD — Summer Animal Travel-Disease Reminders: Summer often means more travel for livestock or equine events, in or out of state. This is a good time to review biosecurity procedures for traveling and returning home, and to stay aware of current disease outbreaks locally and nationally. This helps everyone prepare for travel, report disease outbreaks, and meet additional health requirements at shows. Make a plan with your local veterinarian, and watch for outbreaks at ag.colorado.gov/animals.

HEART — Window Cleaning Help others, particularly elderly neighbors, freshen up their home this summer by offering to clean their windows. This task is often too difficult for elderly adults or those with physical limitations. As a family, connect with grandparents or neighbors to spend a couple of hours cleaning windows so they can enjoy the summer beauty.

HANDS — Data Genie Data Genie is a company providing cattle producers with consulting services around genomic tools and data management, including data submission for breed associations, calving-to-yearling tracking, dam enrollments, sale transfers, and mating consultation. It’s one of many companies helping producers use information to improve genetics and production, regardless of operation size — and a great career path for youth to explore in agriculture. Learn more at datageniellc.com.

HEALTH — Men’s Health Week As we celebrate Father’s Day in June, it’s a good time to reach out to the men in our lives, of all ages, and encourage annual check-ups and screenings for potential diseases, including cancer. Offer to be an accountability partner for other men and help break the stigma around asking for help and seeking medical resources. Resources: Local physician; Men’s Health Network (menshealthnetwork.org); National Alliance on Mental Health Resources (nami.org).

Colorado State University is an equal access and equal opportunity University. Any mention of company names and/or products doesn’t imply an endorsement of those entities or their services, nor does it imply criticism of their competitors or products. Items mentioned are strictly for educational or informational purposes.