4-H is Starting Up!

By: Avery Jackson 4/29/24

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to enter into the state fair? If so, then 4-H is for you! 4-H is a great way for anyone to enter the County fair, and many people across the Nation do it every year! There are many things you can do, and doing 4-H is a great way to get involved in your community!

4-H is a great program for any kid who loves to do art, be active, or love animals. Anyone can join, and there are clubs inside of 4-H that you can join. Some examples of these clubs are the Cake Decorating Club, Cupcake Decorating Club, Cat Club, ATV Club, and Photography Club. If you are still wondering what 4-H is, it is how you enter into the County Fair! If you win Grand Champion, you will go to the State Fair. At state, there are bigger rides, bigger buildings, and bigger prizes. You could win up to $150,000 in scholarships if you get Grand Champion at State!

The Monroe County 4-H logo.

A.B. Graham, the founder of 4-H

The founder of 4-H is A.B. Graham, who “enjoyed bringing joy to young people,” says author Suzanne Steel. In 1902, he founded 4-H, wanting children to explore the world and learn things they would've never otherwise. Though it was mainly for children, there were some clubs that parents wanted to join, too. Jesse Field Shambaugh was the original creator of the 4-H clover logo, With four leaves and 4 h’s to represent 4-H.

A girl says goodbye to her pig before it is auctioned off to the highest bidder.

In 4-H, there are many, many clubs you can join. These clubs are broken into four sections: Agriculture, STEM, Civic Engagement, and Healthy Living. Many popular clubs include: Clothing, botany, animal science, gardening, photography, and creative arts. Sometimes, people will host these clubs at certain locations, but others, you just do the project on your own. After finishing, you turn in your project at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. On fair days, they judge them, and determine whether you are good enough to go to the state fair.

Every year, 4-H hosts a 3-day summer camp in Indiana. “I think that it’s a fun experience, and if you ever have the chance you should definitely try it out,” says Madeline Jackson, a student at our school and a 4-H member. 4-H camp is hosted at Timber Ridge camp, with fun games, dancing, archery, horseback riding, crafts, and more! It is also a great way to meet new people and discover new hobbies. It runs from June 9-12, and you can sign up via the 4-H website.

A group of boys at 4-H camp.

In a nutshell, 4-H is guaranteed to be a fun experience for anyone that joins. It’s full of learning experiences that help children like you thrive in growing their knowledge of the world. It has a great reputation for helping kids learn, and will continue to do that. Enrollment can be completed on the Purdue website.