It’s county 4-H fair season in Kansas! Whether your 4-Her (or anyone entering open class) is cleaning wheat samples from the combine, mounting the perfect harvest photo or still testing out recipes for foods entries, mark your calendar for the Kansas 4-H Wheat Expo for an additional showcase and learning opportunity for youth and adult alike.
The wheat expo is a one-day 4-H event showcasing all things wheat, designed as an educational and hands-on program for all Kansas 4-H members, siblings, parents, grandparents and K-State Research and Extension staff. 4-Hers do not have to be enrolled in the crops or plant science projects to participate. There are great opportunities for adding those learning experiences to the record books, particularly for 4-Hers in the foods and nutrition, photography and field crops projects.
Sponsored by the Kansas Wheat Commission and other partners across the state, this year’s event is scheduled for August 12, 2024, at Pottorf Hall in Manhattan, Kansas. Starting at 9:00 a.m. and running through 3:00 p.m., the event includes tours of the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center and the Hal Ross Flour Mill.
The Kansas Wheat Innovation Center is the facility at Kansas State University where scientists create new varieties of wheat that will have greater yields and/or quality. It has research laboratories where different traits and selected to create new wheat varieties and greenhouses where new varieties are grown and tested for yield and quality.
The Hal Ross Flour Mill is a facility at Kansas State University where wheat is brought in and made into flour. The mill is used to teach students and wheat industry workers about the process of making flour from wheat and is used to perform research on ways to improve the flour milling process.
Lunch and refreshments are sponsored, but there is a $10 registration fee for all participants to offset costs.
In addition to a wheat judging contest, 4-H and FFA youth ages 7 to 19 and Cloverbuds ages 5 to 6 can participate in a Market Wheat Show. Enrollment in the project is not required (except for Division 1) and there will be cash awards for the top three placings in each division in addition to ribbons for all entries.
The Market Wheat Show includes:
Division 1- Bin Run Wheat – Crop Production Project Send a 1 lb. bin run sample of wheat along with a completed entry card to KSU. Exhibitors must be enrolled in Crop Production and Management. Limit 2 per exhibitor. Entries must be of different varieties. Open only to youth ages 7–19 (no Cloverbuds). Samples must be postmarked by July 20, 2024.
Division 2 – Bin Run Wheat – Adopt a Producer Send a 1 lb. bin run sample of wheat along with a completed entry card to KSU. For youth not enrolled in Crop Production and Management who adopt a wheat producer. Limit 2 per exhibitor. Entries must be of different varieties. Open only to youth ages 7-19 (no Cloverbuds). Samples must be postmarked by July 20, 2024.
Division 3 – Clean Wheat – 1 Quart One quart jar of cleaned wheat. May be mechanically cleaned, but handpicked is advantageous. Bring entry day of show, labeled with name, county/district, club and variety.
Division 4 – Yeast Rolls Three standard yeast rolls, any kind with wheat flour as a major ingredient and no additions (i.e. nuts, fruit, cheese). Place on a plate enclosed in a plastic bag and include the recipe. Bring entry day of show, labeled with name, club and county/district.
Division 5 – Cookies Three standard-sized cookies of any kind with wheat flour as a major ingredient. Place on a plate enclosed in a plastic bag and include the recipe. Bring entry day of show, labeled with name, county/district and club.
Division 6 – Muffins Three standard-sized muffins of any kind with wheat flour as a major ingredient. Place on a plate enclosed in a plastic bag and include the recipe. Bring entry day of show, labeled with name, county/district and club.
Division 7 – Wheat Photo 8 x 10 photograph related to wheat. Black/white, color, landscape, etc. are accepted. All photos compete against each other. Use Kansas State Fair 4-H mounting rules. Bring entry day of show, labeled with name, county/district and club.
Division 8 – Wheat Educational Poster Use standard poster board (22” X 28”) or 3’ X 4’ (maximum) display board. The central theme must be related to wheat. Photos and artwork are allowed, but no copyrighted materials. Bring entry day of show, labeled with name, county/district and club.
Division 9 – Cloverbuds (ages 5 – 6) Cloverbuds may compete in Divisions 3 – 8.
Participation ribbons will be given. Entries will not be judged and are not eligible for cash prizes.
Registration is open now and ends July 25. Register at https://bit.ly/wheatexpo. Contact
Kelsey Nordyke ([email protected], 620-222-1311) with questions.
Still looking for inspiration for those fair or Wheat Expo entries or for summer activities with the family? Check out EatWheat, a consumer-facing website that provides awareness of farm and production practices while also sharing beautiful wheat photography, full meal ideas and activities for the entire family like salt dough ornaments (a great 4-H craft project!). Explore the fun at EatWheat.org.
You can also find festival-tested recipes for that Grand Champion ribbon, including detailed instructions, tips and nutrition information, from the National Festival of Breads, at https://nationalfestivalofbreads.com/recipes. ;
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Written by Julia Debes for Kansas Wheat