From the 4-H Program Leader
Keep Going, Kansas 4-H: Fair Season and Beyond Ready
July 15, 2026
Fair season is here, and with it come some of the best and busiest weeks of the 4-H year. All across Kansas, youth are finishing projects, practicing for the show ring, setting up exhibits, and stepping up to lead. These weeks ask a lot of our agents, volunteers, and families. They also give a lot back.
This is the season when learning by doing comes to life. A young person who felt nervous last fall walks into the ring with confidence this summer. The plate of cookies, the finished project, and the conversation with a judge become the moments that build curiosity, resilience, and the confidence to lead. That is what Beyond Ready is about. We meet youth where they are and open doors to where they can go.
As the days get long and the work piles up, keep going. Embrace the time together. The evenings at the fairgrounds, the shared meals, and the quiet word of encouragement before a class are the connections and relationships that make the difference, and they are the heart of what we do.
I also want to share a resource that can help you tell the Beyond Ready story all year long. Visit the Kansas 4-H Beyond Ready page at kansas4-h.org/about/beyond-ready. There you will find messaging and tools to help you show families, volunteers, community partners, and youth what Beyond Ready means in your county. When you post a fair recap, welcome new members, or plan your next program, these tools make it easy to connect your local work to our shared movement.
Thank you for everything you pour into this season. Let's keep making the best better, making connections and relationships first, and finish fair season strong, together.
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