Nebraska 4-H presents many opportunities for youth to gain skills in the area of Communication and Expressive Arts.
Photography is a popular project area for the youth in Nebraska, and at the 2025 Nebraska State Fair, there were hundreds of entries. Forty-eight of these photographs were chosen to be featured in a collection of photography in the Nebraska East Campus Visitors Center and the Animal Science Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In this collection, there are photographs that were captured from 4-H members across the state of Nebraska, which will be on display now through August of 2026.
One certain photograph being represented is of a vintage dump rake located in western Cherry County by Mahaya Jones, who is a 4-H participant in Cherry County. In an interview on 1011 News, Jones says, “I have met endless amounts of people and made some incredible industry connections through 4-H.” This photograph, as well as the others being featured, demonstrates the various aspects of creativity and master of the medium, including solid technical execution, bold composition, and vivid color. These young minds involved in the 4-H photography project show they have learned all these skills through their photos.
The purpose of the 4-H photography project is to help these young people demonstrate and establish basic to advanced knowledge of using photographic equipment, lighting, and composition to capture images. These images often express their feelings, heritage, traditions, and communicate ideas. The participants work through three project levels, which progress from basic to advanced photography skills and techniques.
UNL Animal Science Complex
(Gallery located in C203 Animal Science Complex)
- Kiley Ayres, Adams County
- Brooke Day, Buffalo County
- Emmaline Gillespie, Buffalo County
- Taylor Grubham, Cherry County
- Emily Brhel, Clay County
- Ruby Slocum, Custer County
- Karsen Stokeley, Dawes County
- Sofie Farr, Frontier County
- Hailee Thelander, Garden County
- Jayden Dickman, Gosper County
- Eric Dose, Hamilton County
- Holt Shane, Holt County
- Katelyn Usasz, Howard County
- Emma Dux, Jefferson County
- Taylor Whitney, Kimball County
- Gracie Mittan-Debuhr, Lancaster County
- Elizabeth Lundvall, Perkins County
- Katelyn Weekley, Phelps County
- Alyssa Lewis, Richardson County
- Korbin Kunc, Saline County
- Addilyn Horstman, Stanton County
- Brock Deutschman, Washington County
- Zane Anderson, Webster County
- Calvin Schlonger, Wheeler County
UNL East Campus Visitor Center
(Gallery located in Food Industry Complex near Dairy Store)
- Anya Phillips, Adams County
- Terryn Heupel, Box Butte County
- Lauren Johnson, Buffalo County
- Elizabeth McElmuray, Burt County
- Mahaya Jones, Cherry County
- Alaiha Meiergard, Cuming County
- Campbell Snodgrass, Cuming County
- Ashlyn Schauda, Custer County
- Kylie Fischer, Dodge County
- Amelia Nun, Douglas/Sarpy County
- Kody Carpenter, Grant County
- Brinley Foster, Greeley County
- Adelaide Bernt, Howard County
- Colten Johnson, Kearney County
- Kenahdie Ketelsen, Kearney County
- Austry Adams, Nance County
- Madison Stubbendick, Otoe County
- Madyson Weekley, Phelps County
- Rylie Barger, Red Willow County
- Isabelle Nussbaum, Richardson County
- Natalie Cantrall, Saunders County
- Payton Scott, Sheridan County
- Trysten Hornickel, Valley County
- Kaelee Minnick, Webster County
Learn more about Communication and Expressive Arts 4-H Projects and Photography Fair Exhibits.
