ISU Extension and Outreach Clay County

09/01/2026

September Clover Notes are here! 🍀

Stay up to date with Clay County 4-H and all the exciting things happening this month. 💚
September Clover Notes:
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/clay/clovernotesSeptember2026

A few important fair reminders:

🐖 Livestock invoices and fair passes were mailed on Monday, August 31. Fair passes for 4-H members not exhibiting livestock may be picked up at the 4-H Exhibit Building September 8-10 from 3:00-7:00 p.m.

👕 4-H t-shirts are available for purchase at the Extension Office this week and at the Livestock Office beginning September 8. Shirts are $10 each.

🎠 New or returning static exhibit projects should be brought to the 4-H Exhibit Building on September 8 or 9 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. Please include a completed General or Photography Goal Sheet with each project.
General:https://www.extension.iastate.edu/clay/files/documents/Clay%20Co%20Goal%20Sheet.pdf
Photography:https://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/files/documents/4hp_5220_photography_exhibit_label_feb_2023.pdf

🚐 The Extension Office will move to the Fairgrounds on Friday, September 4, and will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

🏆 Clay County 4-H Awards Night will be held in the 4-H Auditorium on Monday, September 14, at 6:30 p.m. We hope you'll join us as we celebrate the achievements and contributions of our 4-H members, volunteers, and community supporters.

We look forward to seeing you at the fair!

Main Newsletter page (the newest will always be at the top):
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/clay/newsletter

09/01/2026

🥐📣 We've Extended the Deadline! 📣🥐

The registration deadline for the new Great Clay County 4-H Scone Bake Off has been extended to September 10!

If you've been thinking about entering, now is the perfect time to sign up.

☘️ Open to: • Clover Kids (Grades K-3) • 4-H Members (Grades 4-12) • Adults (18+)

What makes this contest unique? Everyone starts with the same base recipe and adds their own flavors, mix-ins, and toppings to create a one-of-a-kind scone. 🍓🍋🍎🍫

😋 And here's the best part: you can bring your scones ahead of time! Entries can be dropped off: 📍 Saturday, September 12 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 📍 Sunday, September 13 from 9 a.m. to Noon

🏆 Awards include: • Division Champion & Reserve Champion • Grand Champion • Most Creative Flavor • Best Iowa-Inspired Scone

Whether you're an experienced baker or just looking for a fun challenge, we'd love to see what you create!

📅 Registration Deadline: September 10 🔗 Register here: https://www.jotform.com/form/260915220614045

📖 Contest rules & recipe:https://www.extension.iastate.edu/clay/files/documents/2026%20Scone%20Bake%20Off%20Contest_0.pdf

🥐 Same Recipe. Endless Possibilities.

08/25/2026

📣🥐 Ready to Create Clay County's Greatest Scone? Join us at the Clay County Fair! 🥐📣

The Great Clay County 4-H Scone Bake Off is coming this September, and we want to see what YOU can create!

Open to Clover Kids, 4-H members, and adults, this unique contest challenges participants to start with the same official scone recipe and transform it into something all their own with creative flavors, mix-ins, and toppings.

🍪 Chocolate Chip? 🍋 Lemon Poppy Seed? 🍎 Apple Cinnamon? 🌽 An Iowa-inspired creation?

The possibilities are endless!

🏆 Awards include: • Division Champion & Reserve Champion (each age division) • Grand Champion Overall • Most Creative Flavor • Best Iowa-Inspired Scone

Contest Rules and Recipe:https://www.extension.iastate.edu/clay/files/documents/2026%20Scone%20Bake%20Off%20Contest_0.pdf

📅 Entry Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2026 🔗 Register here: https://www.jotform.com/form/260915220614045

📍 Scone Drop-Off September 12 (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.) or September 13 (9 a.m. to Noon) 4-H Exhibit Building Information Desk

👩‍🍳 Open to the Public! Join us Sunday, September 13, in the 4-H Auditorium for: • Judging at 1 p.m. • Scone Making Demonstration at 3 p.m. • Winners Announced at 4 p.m.

Whether you're an experienced baker or trying something new, this is a fun opportunity to show off your creativity and compete for bragging rights as the creator of the Great Clay County's best scone!

☘️ Eligible Divisions • Clover Kids (Grades K-3) • 4-H Members (Grades 4-12) • Adults (18+)

Register today and start dreaming up your perfect scone creation! 🥐✨

08/24/2026

🚨 Today is the LAST day for 4-H/FFA livestock late fair entries!🚨

August 24th is the last day for Clay County Fair 4-H/FFA livestock & animal late entries to be accepted with a $25/exhibitor late fee.

We welcome exhibitors from across Iowa, the bottom two tiers of Minnesota (all of Minnesota for swine), and bordering counties in Nebraska and South Dakota. If you're an active 4-H or FFA member, we hope to see you in the ring!

🍀 Register here: https://claycounty4hffafair.fairentry.com/Fair/SignIn/23096
🍀 Non-livestock projects to be pencil judged can be dropped off at the 4-H Exhibit Building on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 8 & 9, from 3:00-7:00 p.m.

2026 Clay County 4-H and FFA Fair Book:https://www.extension.iastate.edu/clay/files/documents/2026%20FAIR%20BOOK%20FINAL.pdf
FairEntry Help Sheet:
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/clay/files/documents/FairEntry.Family.Entries.4HO.0625%20%282%29.pdf
Clay County Fair 4-H/FFA Website:
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/clay/county-fair

📞 Questions? Call us at 712-262-2264
We can’t wait to see you at the World’s Greatest County Fair! 🎡💚

08/19/2026

🌟 FFA Day CDE Opportunities at the Clay County Fair! 🌟

🐄🐴 Ready to test your skills?

New this year at FFA Day at the Clay County Fair, students can compete in Career Development Events (CDEs) in:

• Livestock
• Horse
• Dairy Cattle
• Meats
• Poultry
• Milk Products

These contests are designed to be novice-friendly, making them a great opportunity for youth who want to learn more about animal science and agriculture. 4-H members are welcome!

Along with the contests, students can enjoy a National FFA Officer keynote, college fair, leadership workshop, and time at the Clay County Fair.

📅 September 15, 2026
📝 Register for CDEs by September 1
🔗 Registration and Details: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdd3ouzv5mNUePtiBeDoPe-DvFGDwE1lz40Ad5LkId7ux6VwA/viewform
Open to teams from NE, MN, SD, and IA

Iowa FFA CDE Information:
https://www.ffa.org/participate/cde-lde/
https://www.iowaffa.com/cde.aspx

08/18/2026

We spotted some Clay County Projects!

Congratulations to our 4-H members on their static exhibits at the Iowa State Fair!

We are proud of you! ❤️🍀

08/18/2026

🚨 Less than 1 Week Left for Livestock Late Entries! 🚨

Clay County Fair 4-H/FFA livestock late entries are still being accepted until August 24, 2026, with a $25/exhibitor late fee.

We welcome exhibitors from across Iowa, the bottom two tiers of Minnesota (all of Minnesota for swine), and bordering counties in Nebraska and South Dakota. If you're an active 4-H or FFA member, we hope to see you in the ring!

🍀 Register here: https://claycounty4hffafair.fairentry.com/Fair/SignIn/23096
🍀 Non-livestock projects to be pencil judged can be dropped off at the 4-H Exhibit Building on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 8 & 9, from 3:00-7:00 p.m.

2026 Clay County 4-H and FFA Fair Book:https://www.extension.iastate.edu/clay/files/documents/2026%20FAIR%20BOOK%20FINAL.pdf
FairEntry Help Sheet:
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/clay/files/documents/FairEntry.Family.Entries.4HO.0625%20%282%29.pdf
Clay County Fair 4-H/FFA Website:
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/clay/county-fair

📞 Questions? Call us at 712-262-2264

08/17/2026

Results are in!

🍀❗️4-H Livestock and Static Exhibits Judging Results❗️🍀

These are preliminary results. Results will not be final until September 11. Some results are incomplete. Evaluation of exhibits in some divisions is ongoing.

Results found here ➡️ https://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/iowa-state-fair-results

08/12/2026

Thanks, Rabbit Ranglers! 🐰

This summer, the Rabbit Ranglers 4-H Club chose to donate the proceeds from their horse show fundraiser to the Together for Tomorrow campaign, supporting all of Clay County 4-H.

Thank you, Rabbit Ranglers, for your hard work, generosity, and commitment to building a better tomorrow for our 4-H youth! 💚🍀

🐰 A LITTLE THROWBACK TO JULY… BECAUSE THIS ONE DESERVES TO BE SHARED!

We may be a little late getting this post out… okay, a LOT late. 😂 But sometimes a great story is worth telling, even if we’re stepping back into summer for a minute!

Back on July 11 & 12, the Rabbit Ranglers 4-H Club hosted a breakfast and lunch during a weekend horse show at the Clay County Fairgrounds. And they didn't just raise money for their own club—they chose to donate their proceeds to the Together for Tomorrow fundraising campaign, benefiting ALL of Clay County 4H! ❤️

Thanks to their hard work, they raised an incredible $834.61! 🎉 That money will help us continue making improvements to the areas and spaces that Clay County 4-H'ers use at the Clay County Fair.

And just look at those smiling faces! 🥰 These kids were up early, working, serving food, and helping make their fundraiser a success. What a great example of 4-H'ers working together for something bigger than themselves.

This is EXACTLY what we love about Together for Tomorrow. It's not just about one club, one project, or one fundraiser. It's about Clay County 4-H working together. 💚

We LOVE seeing 4-H clubs find their own creative ways to support this campaign and invest in the future of the 4-H Exhibit Building and the spaces our youth use during the Fair.

A HUGE thank-you to the Rabbit Ranglers for choosing to make Together for Tomorrow part of their summer fundraiser. Your hard work makes a difference, and we are so grateful! 👏👏👏

🐰 Rabbit Ranglers, you guys are pretty amazing!

And to all of our Clay County 4-H clubs: Thank you for helping us build a better tomorrow—together. ❤️

08/12/2026

Tots and Tomatoes, our youth gardening program, finished up this week. We had a great season growing all kinds of vegetables!