‘Exploring 4-H’ for grade 2 kicks off in February

Friday, January 18, 2019

Eligibility in the regular 4-H program necessitates one must be in grades 3-12 as of Jan. 1 of the current year. However second-graders can get a taste of 4-H by signing up for the “Exploring 4-H” program.

Exploring 4-H is a program for children who are not yet old enough for 4-H. Any boy or girl in the second grade as of Jan. 1 of the current year is eligible.

There will be three meetings leading to a field day during the summer months for Exploring 4-H’ers and ultimately project exhibition during the Putnam County 4-H Fair during July 19-26. With help from the Junior Leaders, the meetings include an introduction to the 4-H program, individual project instruction, recreation, and refreshments. Additionally, the youth in this program typically have entered their own float in the fair parade which will likely occur again this year if the group so desires.

Project choices for Exploring 4-H youth include collections, crafts, drawing, farm animals, foods, photography and wildlife. Collections, photography and wildlife are poster projects while drawing is submitting a framed picture, foods involves entering no bake cookies, and crafts is hands-on construction creating a small standing or hanging exhibit. Information and registration forms were sent home with all second-grade school students during mid-January in connection with school visits.

Parents may sign up their second-graders now for one of seven projects. Enrollment is simple. The cost is $5 and forms are available at the office or online at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam to download. The first meeting will be between 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at the Putnam County Fairgrounds in the York Automotive Community Building.

Other meetings occur on March 20, April 25 and the field day will be on June 18. The meetings are typically 6-7 p.m., the field day is during the afternoon starting at 1 p.m., and all events are at the fairgrounds. Project check-in at the fair will be July 17 anytime between 4-7 p.m. and the “Fun at the Fair” scavenger hunt will be at 5:30 p.m. on July 24.

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee.

Upcoming events

Jan. 22 – 2019 Bi-State Gardening Conference, Covington, 6-8 p.m., $20. Register at https://go.illinois.edu/bistate.

Jan. 23 – Conservation Planning for Your Farm webinar, noon. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y83ma4k4.

Jan. 24 – Joint Annual Dinner between Purdue Extension and Putnam County SWCD, Fairgrounds, 6 p.m. Cost is $5.

Jan. 29 – Youth Quality Care Animals program, Fairgrounds, 6 p.m. Signup https://yqca.learngrow.io/Account/Login.

Jan. 31 – Putnam 4-H Leader volunteer meeting, 6 p.m., Extension Office.

Feb. 12 – Cultivating Your Farmers Market Knowledge – Night 2, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Feb. 13 – Youth Quality Care Animals program, Fairgrounds, 6 p.m. Signup https://yqca.learngrow.io/Account/Login.

Feb. 20 – Exploring 4-H (Mini 4-H grade 2) Kickoff, Fairgrounds, 6-7 p.m.

Feb. 20 – Junior Leader Meeting, Fairgrounds, 7 p.m.

Feb. 23 – 4-H Grows Knowledge Workshop Cloverdale High School, 9 a.m.

March 12 – Cultivating Your Farmers Market Knowledge – Night 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

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