Post Rock District 4-H Events

Good Friday Bake Sale Fundraiser, April 18th 8:00am. First Bank Meeting Room, Beloit. Free will donation. Proceeds support Mitchell County 4-H.

4-H Program Assistant, Mitchell County: The 4-H Program Assistant is responsible for assisting with the planning and implementation of the Post Rock District 4-H Youth Development Program. An area of focus for this position will be the Mitchell County Fair’s 4-H events and activities. Learn more online at Post Rock District Career Opportunities website.

Position Description

Application

Youth Development Internship, Mankato or Osborne, KS: The Youth Development Intern is responsible for assisting with the planning and implementation of the Post Rock District 4-H Youth Development Program. An area of focus for this internship is planning and implementing interactive education and enrichment experiences for school-age youth audiences in
Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, and Smith Counties. Learn more online at
Post Rock District Career Opportunities website.

Position Description

Application

Applications are due for the 2025 K-State Animal Science Leadership Academy. The goal of this academy will be to further develop young leaders within the livestock industry and prepare them for a successful future in this field. The four-day experience for selected teens is hosted by the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry. In 2025 the program will be held June 11-14. Applications must be postmarked by April 15. Find all the details at the KASLA event website.

Stede Underwood, certified instructor, is planning to organize a 4-H Archery Qualifier at Glen Elder State Park on July 27. Save the date. Details will be emailed to members enrolled in the archery project as they become available. You have to qualify for State Archery at a local qualifier. You can attend a qualifier anywhere in Kansas, and it is allowed to attend as many as you want to register for. The state will post qualifer dates and registration information at www.kansas4-h.org/projects/natural-resources/shooting-sports/shooting-sports-events/local-qualifiers.html.

Citizenship Washington Focus is June 18 - 28. Kansas 4-H will partner with Oklahoma 4-H for the 2025 CWF road trip across the USA to experience Philadelphia, Gettysburg, the Liberty Bell, a close-up view of political process through visits to Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., and more! Details about the trip are published on the Kansas 4-H CWF event website. Registration will be available in February 2025 and spaces will be limited. If you are interested in this national 4-H experience, contact your 4-H Program Coordinator as soon as possible so we can discuss important details and support you through the application process.

Discovery Days is a state 4-H opportunity for youth 13-18 years old (before January 1) to develop college and career readiness skills which prepare participants academically and socially for a successful transition to college and life as an adult. Post Rock District will provide a chaperone and transportation. Save the date and let your local office know if you are interested so we can share registration as soon as it opens later this spring! Learn more at the Kansas 4-H event website.

The K-State Research and Extension Pesticide Safety and IPM Program is hosting its annual insect-themed art contest, open to all ages and skill levels in Kansas. This year, the theme is “By the Light of the Moon: Insects at Night.” The goal is to explore which insects are active or inactive at night and why, then create artwork that fits the contest theme. This would be great for 4-H members in the Visual Arts or Entomolgy projects! For contest rules and details, visit the KSU IPM website.

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The state Kansas 4-H Geology Field Trip is scheduled for June 13-15. It will feature North Central Kansas, with Concordia serving as the experience’s headquarters. Save the date! More information about the 2025 field trip will be posted soon at the Kansas 4-H event website. If you have an interest in participating, let your local office know so we can help keep you updated with registration and other details as they become available.

The Kansas 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest is on August 16, on the K-State Manhattan campus. For more information and study materials go to the Kansas 4-H event website. If you plan to participate, reach out to Cassie Thiessen, Post Rock District’s Horticulture Extension Agent, for support. Call 785-738-3597 or email her at cthiessen@ksu.edu.

The Kansas 4-H Wheat Expo will be August 7 at the South Hutchinson Community Building. Youth participants have the opportunity to take part in hands-on judging opportunities including a Crop ID contest, exhibiting wheat related projects for foods, photography, and wheat variety plot educational displays. For more information visit the Kansas 4-H event website. For study materials and support, contact Sandra Wick Post Rock District’s Crop Production Extension Agent. Call 785-282-6823 or email her at swick@ksu.edu.

The Kansas Youth Range Camp at White Memorial Camp in Council Grove, Kansas, offers high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors a unique opportunity to learn about rangeland management. Camp topics include range plant identification, plant growth, stocking rates, livestock nutrition, and wildlife management. The camp will take place June 10-13, 2025, with a cost of $300. Contact your local Conservation District for scholarship opportunities. To register, go to: www.kglc.org/range-youth-camp-registration.cfm.

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Clovia is a 4-H Cooperative Leadership House for girls located near KSU in Manhattan. Living at Clovia is a great opportunity as it is one of the only ways to live off campus freshman year. It provides a community of caring friends, leadership development, accountability and fun. Details about Open House on April 26 are at https://www.alphaofclovia.org.

The K-State Invitational Meat Judging Contest is April 5 at KSU Weber Hall’s meat lab in Manhattan. The experience will include six classes, two set of questions, and retail ID. There will be an educational walk through after the contest. Registration will be online at judgingcard.com. Direct questions to Erin Beyer at erbeyer@ksu.edu.

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Every summer, K-State hosts summer programs that spark curiosity and fuel inspiration! The experiences are designed to educate and support youth in a variety of academic, athletic, creative, and extracurricular endeavors. Participants have the opportunity to further their education and skills while experiencing life at K-State. Check out the amazing opportunities at www.k-state.edu/summer/camps/... a few are listed below!

• Vet Med ROCKS Summer Camp, July 28/29/30
• Musical Theatre Camp, July 6-12
• Health Professions Exploration Program, June 8-13/22-27
• Champions Livestock Judging Camps, TBD
• Farm to Fashion Camp, July 7-10
• Feeding Your Future Summer Camp, July 22-26
• GROW Summer Workshop, June
• Youth Horse Judging Camps, TBD

Experience the power of K-State Salina when you attend any of their hands-on, interactive summer camps. Topics range from unmanned aircraft systems to robotics to aviation! K-State Aerospace and Technology summer programs are for K-12 students. Explore the opportunities and registration details at www.salina.k-state.edu/academics/youth-programs/summer/.

If you are seeking opportunities related to livestock projects - like spring shows and other contests - the KSU Youth Livestock Program website provides a listing of many opportunities. It certainly doesn’t contain every learning and competition opportunity, yet it is a great reference point as you plan for spring and summer. Visit https://www.asi.k-state.edu/extension/youth-programs/events/.

The North Central Kansas Livestock Circuit is not affiliated to K-State Research and Extension or Kansas 4-H, but it provides many showing opportunities in our region. Follow their Facebook page for information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ncklc.

National Volunteer Week is April 20-26. This is an excellent opportunity for your family or club to execute a plan to recognize volunteers in your community and county. 4-H is successful because of contributions from our amazing volunteers! Write a special thank you note, put an ad or story in the newspaper, bake a special treat to share, go out of your way to make a personal visit, post a shout out on social media, make an announcement at a ball game, record a radio ad, create a window display, hang gratitude posters throughout town, invite guests to your next meeting, etc. April is a great month to show appreciation for all the hard work and dedication volunteers put into 4-H! It is a fantastic way for 4-Hers to express gratitude and highlight the positive impact they have on youth development and the community!

• If you would like to give a special shout out to a club leader, project leader, or another important 4-H volunteer please send a testimonial and photo to Tonia at tiunderw@ksu.edu. We can share it on the Post Rock District Facebook page.
• Recognizing volunteers could be a fun activity for a 4-H club committee or a unique project for the officer team to work on together.
• Michigan 4-H has a great worksheet to help youth learn to write a quality thank you. Find it at https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/236/66837/CYI048ThankYouNoteHandout.pdf

Spring Project Meetings: Post Rock District Dog Project Leader, Kelli Burrus, will be leading dog project meetings at the Osborne County Fairgrounds on spring Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. Dates are April 13, 27; May 4, 18; and June 1. No prior experience or knowledge is required to attend, just a desire for you and your dog to have fun while learning. Kelli understands everyone is busy so come to the meetings you are available to attend. It is important to be registered in 4-H Online in the dog project, so please call your local extension office to make sure you are in the project. To help with preparations, please RSVP interest in participating by emailing Kim Naber at kimn@ksu.edu.

Fair Dog Show: The 2025 Post Rock District 4-H Dog Show has been set for the morning of Saturday, June 14. The reason for setting the date in June is that it provides a date in advance of the Post Rock District county fairs to avoid 4-H scheduling conflicts. This is the official dog show for all county fairs. Due to the uniqueness of this project, we do not have a dog show at each county fair; instead, we do the dog project as a district-wide show.

Mock Dog Show: To help dog project members prepare for the dog show, there will be a mock show on June 13 in Osborne. More details will be shared as the date gets closer.

The Kansas 4-H Foundation is excited to invite you to join us in celebrating 80 years of Rock Springs Ranch! Our team is hosting a weekend of fun and meaningful events, and we’d love for you to be part of the celebration. Complete details and RSVP at:

• Camp Beautification Day, April 12, , 9:00 a.m. - Noon: Help us prepare for summer camp with various volunteer projects. A volunteer appreciation lunch will be held at Noon. RSVP: Camp Beautification RSVP Form
• Ice Cream Social, April 12, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.: Enjoy a sweet treat at Rock Springs Ranch.
• 4-H Camp Open House and Camp Tour, April 13, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.: Celebrate 80 Years of Rock Springs Ranch! Come and join us for a tour of the property, meet our staff and learn all about the fun to be had at Kansas 4-H Camp at Rock Springs Ranch. Guests will get to see our cabins, activity center, pool, ropes course, horses, dining hall and lots more. Our team is so excited to meet you and answer all of your questions. More details and RSVP online at https://rockspringsranch.org/events/open-house.
• Share Memories: Please consider sharing your favorite memories from Rock Springs Ranch as the Kansas 4-H Foundation highlights 80 years of the state 4-H center. Memory Submission Form

The National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP) is designed for 14- and 15-year-olds seeking employment in projection agriculture. Core content areas focused on during the one-day training include safety basics, agricultural hazards, tractors, connecting and using implements, materials handling, and more! Students are certified after successfully passing a knowledge test at the training and doing both an operating skills test and a driving test administered by their employer.

The cost to participate is $15 due to your local Extension office. Prior to the course, each participant must pick up a manual and complete a pre-test before attending the training event. For questions, contact Blaire Todd at blairet@ksu.edu or 785-738-3597. The flyer is on the Post Rock District website. Register online at https://bit.ly/tractorsafety2025. The registration deadline is one week before the date you plan to attend. Training dates in the region include: April 5th - Ellsworth at Carrico Implement; April 26th - Beloit at Carrico Implement; May 10th - Washington at Bruna Implement Company; and May 22th - Solomon at KanEquip, Inc.

2025 Flyer

Fort Hays State University’s Science and Mathematics Education Institute (SMEI) is hosting a variety of summer camps in June for rising 2-8 graders. Camp themes relate to weather, energy, robotics, and more! Find camp details and registration information at www.fhsu.edu/smei/camps/.

Kansas 4-H Shooting Sports will be having a Shooting Sports Instructor Training on May 10-11 at Rock Springs Ranch. Post Rock District can only offer shooting sports experiences that are led by certified instructors, and we are in need of more! If you are interested contact Tonia Underwood at tiunderw@ksu.edu so we can start the process for you to become a certified instructor! Starting the process by April 3 will allow you plenty of time to be approved to attend the in-person certification training. New instructors must be screened and registered as a 4-H volunteer which includes enrolling in 4-H Online, completing a background check, completing an orientation, and being approved by the Post Rock District. Before attending the in-person Instructor Training, you must also complete the National 4-H Shooting Sports online modules. You can be trained in one discipline at the state training. The cost to become an instructor is your own, but sometimes 4-H Councils will provide support to instructors that plan to host project meetings in the local county.

• Jewell County - April 13, 3:00 p.m., Jewell County Fairgrounds
• Lincoln County - April 26, 10:00 a.m., Lincoln County Fairgounds
• Mitchell County - April 16, 4-6:00 p.m., Mitchell County Fairgrounds
• Osborne County - May 4, 4:00 p.m., Osborne County Fairgrounds
• Smith County - April 27, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Smith County Fairgrounds

Kansas 4-H Shutterbug events are photography workshops put on across the state, and are a perfect opportunity to develop new camera skills, hone your creative talents and try new photography techniques. Workshops are typically scheduled as a morning session and concentrate on a variety of aspects of composition. Sessions focus on topics including Portfolio, Camera Features, Panning, Close-ups, Aperture Settings & Kaleidoscopes/Reflections. Save the date and watch the Kansas 4-H event website for event flyers and registration details as they become available. If you have an interest in an event, let your local office know so we can help keep you connected with details.

• May 3: Shutterbugs at the Botanica Gardens, Wichita
• Fall 2025: Shutterbugs in Manhattan and Hays

The Kansas Association of 4-H Volunteers is hosting “Spring Into Volunteering” on Saturday, April 26 in Salina, Kansas on the K-State Campus. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the event will conclude at 3:00 p.m. This experience is for current and interested club leaders, project leaders, and volunteers. The goal is for participants to go home recharged, excited, and ready to try some new things in their volunteer roles. Fee is $20 and includes materials, snacks, and lunch. For more details and a registration link go to www.kansas4-h.org/volunteers/volunteer-continuing-education/.