Nebraska youth excelled at the 90th National Junior Horticulture Association (NJHA) Convention in Lincoln, earning top honors across several contests, including a 4th-place team finish in the horticulture identification contest and a 3rd-place win for the Nebraska state display.
The NJHA Convention offers youth various ways to showcase their knowledge and passion for horticulture. The event featured competitive opportunities such as identification contests, floral arranging, speeches, demonstrations, photography exhibits, state displays, and more.
Representing Nebraska 4-H in the senior horticulture identification contest were Jayden Benson of Albion, Rebekah Ketelsen of St. Edward, and Kaitlyn Wesely and Catherine Polk of Lincoln. Individually, Kaitlyn placed 4th, Jayden 12th, Rebekah 15th, and Catherine 16th. The team earned 4th place overall in their division.
The NJHA Horticulture Identification competition featured an 80-question exam, eight groups of quality judging classes, and the identification of 100 horticultural specimens, including seeds, twigs, leaves, fruit, flowers, and underground structures.
Polk also competed in the floral arranging and horticulture art contests. The floral arranging contest required participants to design floral arrangements evaluated on criteria such as category interpretation, mechanics, focal emphasis, and balance. The horticulture art contest was judged on color and composition, originality, creativity, technical skills, and overall design.
Paige Wood of Fullerton represented Nebraska as president of the NJHA Youth Council for 2023-2024. The NJHA Officer Team is responsible for planning, coordinating, and communicating about the annual convention. Wood also served as vice president of the Youth Council in 2022-2023.
The Nebraska team submitted a state display aimed at promoting and increasing awareness of the state’s horticultural commodities and other resources. The display earned 3rd place at the convention.
Elizabeth Exstrom, Extension educator and team coach, received the Ted and Sue Beebe Friends of NJHA Award for her dedication to planning and producing the 2024 National NJHA Convention.
“I am so proud of all the Nebraska participants,” Exstrom said. “The team studied hard for the identification contest, and their hard work paid off. Although Paige didn’t participate in the contests, she worked tirelessly with the youth council to plan this convention in her home state. I cannot commend these ladies enough.”
