No fooling, deadline for 4-H enrollment looms
- Laurie Sidle, OSU Extension Wayne Co.
- March 29, 2024
- 414
No fooling, April 1 is the last day to enroll in the Wayne County 4-H program for both members and adult volunteers, and you can do so online at https://v2.4honline.com.
That date also is the deadline for 4-H clubs to submit their organizational paperwork to our 4-H office. That includes club constitution, club bylaws, club charter and activity fee payment forms.
As the 4-H program shifts into full gear, members are choosing their projects, and volunteers are completing their training.
In order to be an active 4-H volunteer, adults must complete a background check every four years and complete an annual training conducted by our 4-H staff. As part of that training, volunteers learn how to recognize and report child abuse and neglect.
4-Hers must choose their projects by the enrollment deadline. They may select from more than 200 4-H projects covering such topics as animal sciences, creative and leisure arts, food and nutrition, clothing and textile science, workforce preparation, technology, engineering, and math, and that’s just to name a few. These projects allow members to explore their personal interests. If they can’t find one that meets their interests, they can create their own project in the self-determined category. A book guides them through the hands-on learning process, and adult volunteers provide assistance.
4-Hers will be able to display what they’ve learned through project judging events on July 9 and Aug. 6 at the Wayne County Event Center or in the show ring at the Wayne County Fair. Regardless of their achievements in any of these venues, they all walk away winners for completing their projects and challenging themselves to learn a new skill.
Many other opportunities are available to 4-Hers throughout the year including one for dairy enthusiasts in April.
The Wayne County Dairy Committee is paying the registration fee and providing transportation to and a meal on the way home from Dairy Palooza on April 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mahoning County Canfield Fairground. This educational event for youth and adults includes a state certified Quality Assurance and sessions on nutrition, animal welfare, showmanship, fitting and grooming, animal handling, and reproduction.
Registration forms can be downloaded through the Ohio 4-H Dairy Programs website and returned to Lisa Gress, Dairy Palooza Committee chair, at 9010 Critchfield Road, Shreve, or emailed to her at randroliver@gmail.com. No need to include registration fees. The deadline to register is April 5.
4-Hers who are graduating seniors or in college and even former 4-Hers may begin applying for 4-H program scholarships. They include the following:
—General 4-H Scholarship: Applicants must plan to continue their education.
—F. Doyle Findley Scholarship: Applicants must have taken a livestock project.
—Wayne County 4-H/FFA Beef Committee Scholarship: Applicants must have shown beef projects for five or more years.
—Wayne County 4-H/FFA Dairy Scholarship: Applicants must be enrolled in a two-year or four-year program of college study and have a strong dairy background.
—Wayne County 4-H Baking Contest Auction Scholarship: Applicants must have plans to continue their education.
—Pat Kanehl Memorial Scholarship: Applicants must have strong 4-H leadership and equine background.
—Dianne Hange Scholarship: Applicants must have strong leadership and community service.
For an application visit https://go.osu.edu/wayne4hscholarships. The application deadline is June 1.
The Wayne County Junior Fair Board, consisting of more than 65 members, has started planning for events related to the 175th Wayne County Fair Celebration and a community service project to collect food for area food banks during the fair. JFB committees also are working on a bus trip to visit other county fairs and an educational institution.
Junior fair board members also will assist with Skillathons on July 10 and Aug. 7 at the Wayne County Event Center and the following Quality Assurance events:
—April 11 at 6 p.m. at Fisher Auditorium (includes a parent session).
—May 7 at 6 p.m. at Fisher Auditorium.
—June 4 at 6 p.m. at Wayne County Fair Event Center.
—July 23 at Fisher Auditorium. A $25 fee will be charged for this session.
Skillathons and Quality Assurance are required for livestock project members.
4-H has so much to offer. Don’t miss out. Remember to enroll by April 1.
Laurie Sidle is an Ohio State University Extension family and consumer sciences and 4-H program assistant and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or sidle.31@osu.edu.