Local, Nebraska 4-H Youth Earn National Recognition at NJHA Convention
Nebraska 4-H youth showcased their horticulture knowledge and public speaking skills at the 92nd National Junior Horticulture Association (NJHA) Convention in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Nebraska participants earned recognition in national competitions, including a national championship in the Speaking of Horticulture Contest.
Four Nebraska youth — Nathan Brhel of Fairfield, Aidan Choat of St. Edward, Jenalee Garwood of Valentine, and Brooklyn Reiman of Cozad — represented Nebraska 4-H in the senior horticulture identification and judging contest. The competition challenged participants to complete an 80-question exam, judge eight classes of horticultural materials, and identify 100 horticultural specimens, including seeds, twigs, leaves, fruit, flowers, and underground plant structures.
Nebraska youth earned strong individual results. Brhel placed second, Reiman placed 13th, Choat placed 19th, and Garwood placed 30th. As a team, the Nebraska participants placed third in their division. Elizabeth Exstrom, Nebraska Extension Horticulture, Landscape, and Environmental Systems Extension Educator, coached the team.
Reiman also competed in the Speaking of Horticulture Contest, earning the title of Grand National Winner in Extemporaneous Speaking for her speech, “Totally Tomatoes.” In this competition, participants select a topic from a list of horticulture-related categories and have just two minutes to prepare a three- to five-minute speech. Reiman’s achievement demonstrated her horticultural knowledge, communication skills, and ability to think quickly under pressure.
Nebraska youth also participated in Horticulture Connections, a fast-paced, team-based, Jeopardy-style trivia competition. Questions covered a wide range of horticultural topics, from state flowers and plant-related song titles to horticultural puns, giving participants an entertaining opportunity to test their knowledge and work together.
“The NJHA Convention provides an incredible opportunity for young people to challenge themselves, learn from others, and discover new ways to apply their horticulture knowledge,” said Exstrom. “I am so proud of all the Nebraska participants and the hard work they put into preparing for these contests. They represented Nebraska 4-H exceptionally well through their knowledge, teamwork, and willingness to step outside their comfort zones. Seeing Brooklyn earn national recognition for her speech and watching our horticulture identification team place third in their division were highlights of the convention. I hope these experiences build their confidence and inspire them to continue exploring horticulture and developing their leadership skills.”
In addition to the competitions, the convention offered educational tours that connected youth with horticulture and wildlife conservation in Michigan.
The group toured Wenke Sunbelt Greenhouses, a nearly fourth-generation greenhouse operation established in 1942. The business operates more than 83 acres of greenhouses, produces more than 3,500 varieties of plant material, and ranks among the top 20 growers in the United States.
Participants also visited the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, established by W.K. Kellogg in 1927. Located around 40-acre Wintergreen Lake, the 180-acre sanctuary provides diverse wildlife habitat and played an important role in Trumpeter Swan restoration efforts in Michigan during the 1980s. The visit offered youth an opportunity to learn about wildlife conservation and the relationship between natural habitats and environmental stewardship.
The NJHA Convention provides educational and competitive opportunities for youth interested in horticulture through activities such as plant identification, flower arranging, public speaking, demonstrations, photography, state displays, and more. These experiences help participants strengthen their horticultural knowledge, develop communication and teamwork skills, and connect with other young people who share an interest in plants and the environment.
# # #
Elizabeth Exstrom is the Horticulture Extension Educator with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Grand Island, NE.
