State Fair is the ‘Big Stage’ for NE ag, 4-H exhibitors

From thrilling rodeos and llama shows to milking demos and mac & cheese contests, the 2025 Nebraska State Fair is offering an unforgettable lineup of agriculture-centered experiences that celebrate Nebraska’s heritage while inspiring the next generation.
“I have to laugh when folks say that state fairs shouldn’t spend so much time focusing on agriculture,” competitive exhibits manager Kourtney Lingeman said. “Agriculture is the largest industry in our state — it’s the entirety of what state fairs were built on. A major portion of our jobs here in Nebraska revolve around ag. The food we eat, the household products we use.”
Lingeman said the Nebraska State Fair is about recognizing the hard work of county fairs, while providing opportunities for competition and showmanship on ‘the big stage’ — how many refer to the State Fair. 
“So many families have exhibited here for generations,” Lingeman said. “What we do in all of our barns and buildings is honor that legacy while also creating new opportunities for today’s youth, their families and all of our guests to engage in meaningful ways with Nebraska agriculture.”

Noteworthy events in 2025
*WRCA Ranch Rodeo: Making its debut as a nationally sanctioned event, this high-stakes competition highlights the skills real ranch teams use every day.
*Remarkable Rodeo: On Friday, Aug. 29, youth 18 and under with mental or physical exceptionalities are invited to participate in simulated rodeo events — walkers and wheelchairs welcome.
*Branded Bonanza: See adopted wild horses compete in in-hand events; some may even be available for adoption.
*Hands-On Llama Show: Ever wanted to show a llama? Now’s your chance — no experience necessary.
*Live foods contests: Watch mac & cheese, smoothies, and King Arthur Flour creations judged live in the Foods Department.
Fan favorites return
*Avenue of Breeds and the Birthing Pavilion: These venues offer daily opportunities to meet animals up close, with early-morning Birthing Pavilion Before Hours experiences available on select days.
*Highland cattle, llama & alpaca costume contests, and the Calling All Male Cooks competition are longtime crowd-pleasers.
*Cattle Dog Trials return to the Thompson Foods Indoor Arena on Friday and Saturday, August 29-30.
*High School Rodeo, 4-H & FFA Fieldhouse demos, and the art-meets-faith performance God’s Gallery add to the daily mix.
“People come out year after year for the tractors, the rodeos, the livestock shows,” Lingeman said. “It’s about tradition. It’s about nostalgia. For so many of us, the Fair was something our whole extended family did together — and still does.”

Other State Fair ag highlights
While the full schedule of ag-themed events can be found at StateFair.org the following is a list of other highlights: 
*Llama Yoga: Back by popular demand — $30 includes a commemorative yoga mat.
*Case IH Combine Rides: Daily rides around the track in a Grand Island-made combine
*Moo-U Livestock Tours: Free guided barn tours, fun and educational for all ages
*Milking Parlor Demonstrations: Multiple times daily — see where milk really comes from
*Antique Tractor Games and Tractor Displays: Get your fill of vintage horsepower. 
*Draft Horse Pull, Extreme Trail Challenge, and Team Roping: Action-packed events that showcase grit, grace, and good horses

Ultimate 4-H showcase
For 4-H’ers across Nebraska exhibiting at the state fair is the ultimate achievement, serving as a showcase and the culmination of a year’s work, growth and achievement.
A total of 4,105 4-H exhibits and livestock entries are at the state fair this year. County fairs and the state fair are the most recognizable ways 4-H’ers participate in the organization, but Nebraska 4-H is much more, serving one in three youth in Nebraska in a variety of modes. In 2024, 4-H programming directly impacted 127,786 youth in the state.
About 250 Nebraska Extension staffers and more than 300 volunteers will organize, judge and display 3,197 exhibits; check in more than 1,000 livestock exhibitors; and work with 324 youth competitors during contests, including the fashion show, culinary challenge, dog skillathon and insect identification.
Kathleen Lodl, associate dean for Nebraska Extension, said, “Each exhibit, animal or performance represents a story of dedication, learning and personal growth. The fair is a celebration of these stories, and the lifelong impact 4-H has on its members. The State Fair is a platform for Nebraska 4-H youth to demonstrate what they’ve learned, celebrate their achievements and represent the values of hard work, curiosity and resilience that define Nebraska 4-H.”

4-H evolving to remain vital
Over the years, 4-H has expanded on its club model to include after-school programming, classroom enrichment, camps, virtual learning and special interest opportunities. Each piece of programming helps youth be “beyond ready” for their next chapter and to be leaders of their communities.Nebraska Extension has plans to reach even more youth in the coming years.
“We want one in two, and a lot of our counties are already one in two,” Lodl said. “Our club enrollment is about 25 percent, and we don’t expect that to change much. There will always be a place for that, but we’re focusing on those other delivery models to reach that goal.”
One delivery model they are leaning into is virtual learning. Through the new Clover platform, youth can explore and learn from more than 260 online modules on topics ranging from financial literacy to aerospace. They learn, earn rewards and play games — all designed through research-backed information and collaboration across the 100-plus land-grant universities that facilitate 4-H.
Lodl said Clover offers a more rigorous learning experience than many other platforms, and it can be utilized by youth — and their parents and teachers. Many modules offer different modes of learning, making them adaptable to home and classroom use.
“We expect this to be a huge game changer for us, because kids like to learn online,” Lodl said. “We expect it to be a catalyst for them to then get into other things. We’re exploring next steps in Nebraska and piloting ideas to engage locally connected kids — and others nationwide — who share interests in the topics on Clover.”
There has also been a resurgence in focus around career readiness. Extension 4-H professionals partnered with Admissions at Nebraska to launch Next Chapter, a college readiness program, and partners with schools to host Connecting the Dots events, which bring representatives from various careers to meet with high school students. In 2024, 80 schools hosted Connecting the Dots events for students.

The 4-H portion of this article was written by Deann Gayman, University Communication and Marketing.