Preparing Youth for Success

In Ohio 4-H, we empower youth with the skills they need to lead for a lifetime! 4-H inspires curiosity, builds lifelong skills, fuels adventure, and grows leaders through fun, hands-on activities, that include clubs, projects, service, and camps. Kids can be a 4-H project member when they are 8 and in the third grade, and they can participate in competitive events like projects and judging at county fairs. 4-H project members select from 200+ projects based on their interest—what we call sparks in 4-H. 

Younger children age 5 and in kindergarten are Cloverbuds who enjoy group-centered, non-competitive activities until they are eligible to be a project member. All 4-H members engage in hands-on learning in clubs, camps, and other settings with approved adult volunteers. 4-H volunteers are critical to the success of the 4-H program and undergo a thorough selection process. 

If you are interested in enrolling your child in the 4-H program and/or would like to talk more about becoming a 4-H volunteer, contact us today! 

You also can learn more about all OSU Extension 4-H youth development programs at ohio4h.org

Hardin County 4-H provides young people with the opportunities to gain specific subject matter knowledge and build their leadership, citizenship, and other life skills. Locally there are 32 clubs that involve 870 traditional 4-H youth.  The 4-H program goes beyond just having projects at the fair.  We partner with community stakeholders on collaborative county based programs that meet the needs and interests of young people in our county and prepares them for the future.

Extensive effort has been given to expand the 4-H in-school and after-school programming in Hardin County. Since 2012, 245, students in 4th through 7th grade have participated in 4-H STEM programs. Three 4-H Tech Wizard after-school sites reach 46 youth in Hardin County using robotics, circuits,  film making, art, GIS, and 3-D printing as a part of the National 4-H Mentoring grant.  

Hardin County 4-H has 20 Netbooks, 10 iPads, 12 NXT & 5 EV3 Lego Robotics Kits, 20 Arduino Circuit Boards, 3 windmill kits, 8 Livestock learning Labs, 10 GPS units, water testing kits, 2 bottle rocket launchers, 1 ESTES rocket launcher, 1 roller coaster and one 3-D printer available for programming from our SPARK LAB.

Special Needs Accommodations

Accommodations can be made for youth with disabilities through our Winning 4-H Plan. Visit ohio4h.org/about/join-4-h#winning-plan for more information and to download the request form.


Extension has been helping all Ohioans build better lives, better businesses and better communities since 1914.