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Is it too late to sign up for 4-H?
Indiana online 4-H enrollment for grades 3-12 opens for a new program year annually on Oct. 1 and remains open nearly year around until early the following September. It is to everyone’s advantage to enroll in 4-H by Jan. 15 so that one has the most opportunity and don’t miss out on any information.
While we are a couple weeks past, it is still perfectly fine to enroll. Though enrollment is really open more or less year around, it becomes more challenging to receive communications and be informed of the 4-H program with later enrollment.
The registration is done once again via typing v2.4honline.com in your internet browser, and the fee is again $25 for 4-H. This year, second-graders may also enroll in mini 4-H online using this website as well and the fee is $10. If financial limitations are barriers for either program, contact the office at 653-8411 to talk with Mark to arrange for payment assistance.
Moreover, for those previously enrolled, you will find the info already rolled over to quickly edit and accept personal information from last year’s enrollment. If you were previously enrolled, you will want to enroll using your pre-existing account.
4-H is a premier source of enjoyable, educational programs to help youth reach their full potential. There are many pathways to participate in 4-H. Too many limit 4-H to only existing as the fair or just exhibiting a project at the fair. Putnam County has nearly 75 activities one may participate in.
A project simply references a topic that one wants to study or complete associated activities, and ultimately show off publicly what was learned through accomplishment. This may be via an exhibit at the county fair or even another venue besides the fair. Every project can be associated with a life skill and/or a career.
A common misconception is that one must live on a farm or have animals to be in 4-H. That is certainly not true. One can actually experience 4-H without taking any projects by participating in 4-H career development events, camp, Junior Leaders and workshops.
Indiana 4-H is the state’s largest youth development program for grades 3-12, reaching more than 200,000 youth in all 92 counties. 4-H youth development educators in each Purdue Extension county office coordinate local activities.
In Putnam County, approved adult volunteers teach young people specific skills related to a wide variety of subjects through hands-on, experiential learning. Youth also develop leadership and citizenship skills by participating in one or more of Putnam County’s organized 4-H clubs. Subjects include science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), agriculture, citizenship, healthy living, art, consumer and family sciences and more.
In 2013, a Tufts University study showed that 4-H members also excel in positive youth development areas compared to peers, including:
• Four times more likely to contribute to their communities (grades 7-12);
• Two times more likely to make healthier choices (grade 7);
• Two times more likely to be civically active (grades 8-12); and
• Two times more likely to participate in extracurricular STEM programs (grades 10-12).
If you have questions about the 4-H program, the Purdue Extension Putnam County office, located at the street address of 152 E. Columbia St., is available to help.
Archery, dog and horse and pony projects do close early, so leaders may continue to progress through activities due to the building of content in the activities. You can contact the leader or the office to find out if closed. May 15 is the FIRM date for all livestock enrollment, which is completed using the same online platform after the 4-H’er is enrolled.
Extension staff have conducted school visits to all grade-three classrooms in the county and plan to visit grade-two classrooms soon with handouts sent home that parents and youth may review. The Purdue Extension homepage has links to enroll in 4-H as well.
Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local Purdue Extension office at 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.
Upcoming Events
Feb. 6 – Quality assurance program for 4-H livestock, 7 p.m., Putnam County Fairgrounds
Feb. 6 – Maple syrup production webinar, 7 p.m., http://tinyurl.com/PutCoMG24
Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28 – DIY lawncare program webinar series, 1-3 p.m., $10/person, https://cvent.me/92Gmdk
Feb. 10 – 4-H Grows volunteer and youth development workshop, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Center Point United Methodist Church, contact office to register
Feb. 22 – Ag Women Engage Conference, Fort Wayne, $100, register at https://purdue.link/AWE2024