4-H has been a summertime tradition for Clay County families for generations. Deweese’s Cara Felber wants to ensure 4-H stays that way.
That’s why she jumped at the chance to schedule “pop-up office hours” in communities around Clay County—to meet more parents where they’re at, in their communities, and at the time of day that work best for them.
“I got the idea from Alexis (Schmidt) in Fillmore County,” said Felber, a former Clay County 4-H member and now office manager at Clay County’s University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Service, located at the courthouse in Clay Center.
Schmidt had trialed popup office hours in Fillmore County in 2024 with positive results.
“I am trying this here in Clay County this year,” Felber added, “because I realize that it can be hard for some families to get to Clay Center during business hours.”
These pop-up office hours, which aim to help parents with completing their 4-H paperwork for the upcoming Clay County Fair in July, will be held:
• June 4, 2-3 p.m., at the Edgar Community Building;
• June 5, 4:30-5:45 p.m., at the Sutton Public Library;
• June 9, 4:45-6 p.m., at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Clay Center.
Walk-ins are welcome. “So by going to communities within the county,” Felber said, “I am hoping to relieve some of that stress next week when we have many things due June 13. It will also be an opportunity for families to ask any questions they may have about projects.”
The pop-up office hours are available for parents or youth already in 4-H as well as those interested in learning more and possibly joining this 123-year-old youth program.
To date, there are 197 Clay County youth ages 5-18 enrolled in 4-H. The deadline to sign up for 4-H is June 15 at https://v2.4honline.com/.
Clay County 4-H staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide 4-H exhibit information, livestock tags, and required 4-H exhibit entry forms to take home. Families may also drop off their completed paperwork at the pop-up during office hours.
Examples of paperwork due on June 13 include 4-H exhibit entry sheets, 4-H livestock identification sheets, 4-H Fashion Revue forms, and 4-H horticulture cultivar forms for the Clay County Fair, as well as DNA envelopes for 4-H livestock entries at the Nebraska State Fair in August and the Aksarben Stock Show in September.
The deadline for this paperwork to be turned in is June 13.
