Black Hawk County 4-H

Check out this wonderful leadership opportunity to represent 4-H and grow your communication skills! Read the post below for more details 👇

Are you passionate and excited about the future of agriculture? 🍀

Apply now to become an Iowa 4-H Agricultural Ambassador! Represent Iowa 4-H, grow your leadership skills, and connect with youth across the state. 🐮🐔🐑

🔸 Applicants must be at least 16 and not older than 20 as of January 1st of the current year at the time of their application.
🔹 Term will be from August through September of the following year.
🔸 Monthly in-person retreats, virtual leadership and skill building opportunities, service experiences and career exploration tours.

📝 Applications due July 7

🔗 https://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/ag-ambassadors

If you are planning to exhibit a Food & Nutrition project at the county fair, make sure you are following food safety guidelines! Check out the Foods for Iowa 4-H Fair 2026 guide or submit your recipe to AnswerLine!

County fairs will soon be underway. Iowa 4-H members planning to exhibit a food product should pay close attention to food safety guidelines for prepared and preserved foods as outlined in the Foods for Iowa 4-H Fairs Quick Reference Guide for 2026. Members are also encouraged to submit their chosen recipe to AnswerLine for food safety feedback or concerns. go.iastate.edu/H3QVQD

Congratulations to Black Hawk County 4-Her Ahan Tandon! 👏

Ahan participated in this year's State 4-H Recognition Day: he received a Project Area Award for Civic Engagement and was selected to attend National 4-H Conference!

State 4-H Recognition Day is an opportunity for 9th-12th grade 4-H members to showcase their leadership, communication, and career readiness skills along with their project area learning and activities.

Congratulations again to Ahan for his success and great representation of Black Hawk County 4-H at Recognition Day! 🍀🎉

🤩 Don't miss out on this great opportunity to get outdoors and learn new skills from County Conservation and Iowa DNR professionals!

Find all the details below ⬇️

Ready for an outdoor adventure? Spend a full day outside learning to fish, exploring nature, and building real outdoor skills alongside local experts! Youth will connect with Iowa DNR and County Conservation professionals while discovering career pathways in natural resources and outdoor recreation. 🎣

Open to all youth in grades 4–12 (4-H membership is NOT required)
Registration is $25

What to expect:
🐟 Hands-on fishing
🧭 Orienteering & team-building challenge
🌿 Explore Iowa ecosystems & natural resources
🔥 Outdoor skills like campfire cooking, survival basics, fish ID, and stream study (topics vary by location)
👩‍🌾 Learn alongside Iowa Department of Natural Resources & County Conservation professionals

📍 Date & Location Options:
- May 27, 9 AM – 3 PM | Lake Belva Deer, Sigourney, IA
- June 10, 9 AM – 3 PM | Swiss Valley Nature Center, Peosta, IA
- June 29, 9 AM – 2 PM | Lost Island Nature Center, Ruthven, IA
- June 30, 9 AM – 3 PM | North Cedar Park, Plainfield, IA
- July 16, 9 AM – 3 PM | Glissman Conservation Area, Adel, IA

What to bring:
🥪 Sack lunch
💧 Water bottle
🧥 Dress for the outdoors & be prepared for weather — rain or shine!

Register through 4-H Online: v2.4honline.com
⏰ Registration deadline is 1 week before each event.

More information ➡️ https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/registration-opens-new-iowa-4-h-outdoor-skills-days-across-iowa-spring-and-summer

450 broiler chicks arrived to the office this morning! 🐥🎉

The broiler chick project is a valuable opportunity for our Black Hawk County exhibitors to gain experience with raising chicks to broiler weight and to give back to their community!

We'd like to extend a huge thank you to our 4-H Poultry volunteers for all of their help in coordinating the broiler chick project each year and making this opportunity possible for our exhibitors! 🍀

Check out the challenge classes for this year's fair! Challenge classes are open to the public and will be judged on Sunday, July 19th from 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

🎨 Iowa Wood Art Challenge: Grab your Iowa wood cutout and unleash your creativity! Contact the Extension Office for a cutout.
🎂 Ugly Cake Challenge: Use your cake decorating skills to create the ugliest cake you've ever seen!
🧑‍🎨 Button Challenge: Create a unique art piece out of buttons! This class is sponsored by the Black Hawk Button Club. Contact the Extension Office for a button kit.
📸 Photo Challenge: This year's theme is family! Submit your photo in color or black and white, focus on lighting and backgrounds, and use sizes 5x7" or 8x10".

Challenge classes are open to the public and prizes will be awarded for each age division. Find more information in this year's fair book:https://www.extension.iastate.edu/blackhawk/files/documents/2026%20FAIRBOOK.pdf

Don't miss out on your chance to be creative and participate in the 2026 Black Hawk County Fair! 🤩

⏳ We are one month away from the FairEntry deadline! ⏳

ALL fair projects MUST be entered in FairEntry by July 1st! This includes:
👕 Clothing Event entries
🗣️ Communications Event entries
🌱 Crop & Garden Plots
🐑 Livestock projects
📸 Static/Conference Judging projects

Complete entries online at https://blackhawk.fairentry.com/Fair/SignIn/23566

Do not wait to complete this important fair task! If you need assistance with completing the FairEntry process:
FairEntry Helpsheet ➡️ https://www.extension.iastate.edu/blackhawk/county-fair
Email Kaitlyn ➡️ [email protected]
Call the Extension Office ➡️ 319-234-6811

Calling all Junior 4-H members! 📣 Go for the Green this summer at Junior 4-H Camp! 📣

When: Wednesday, August 5th
Drop Off: 9:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Pick Up: 7:45 - 8:00 p.m.
Where: Ingawanis Adventure Base in Waverly
Registration fee: $110 (financial assistance is available!)
Register online by July 1st: https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4O4aDfn86wWQHPg

Camp will include team building, low ropes courses, and other outdoor adventures! Don't miss out on this opportunity to meet new friends from surrounding counties and make amazing summer memories! ☀️🍀

🍀 The June 4-H Newsletter is here! 🍀

It includes information on:
🎉 2026 Fairbooks
⏳ FairEntry due July 1st
💻 YQCA Certification due July 1st
📅 Horse & Dog Practice dates
🐥 Broiler Chick Project
🎣 Youth camp/trip opportunities
🤩 and more!

The newsletter can be accessed online at: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/blackhawk/newsletter/june-4-h-newsletter

Applications are now open for the Fair King, Queen, and Little Miss Contest at the Black Hawk County 4-H & FFA Fair!
👑 Applications are due by July 1st!
👑 Find the application forms online at: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/blackhawk/county-fair

This is a great opportunity for eligible youth to practice their communication skills and make new connections! The 2026 County Fair Queen will also go on to compete at the 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen Contest in August!