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Find out what 4-H can offer you and your family!

About 4-H

4-H is a youth education program. It uses a learn-by-doing approach to help youth develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to become competent, caring, contributing citizens.

4-H staff work with adult volunteers to offer 4-H activities that help youth explore, learn, and grow. Youth can be club members and meet regularly with friends or enroll as independent based upon their interests.

New members are accepted into 4-H throughout the year. To enroll in 4-H, return the 4-H Member Enrollment Packet   along with the $5 enrollment fee.

4-H Club & Project Areas

Animal Science – Dairy/Beef Cattle, Sheep, Dairy/Meat Goats, Llamas, Rabbits, Poultry, Horses, Dogs, Cats. 
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) – Robotics, Model Rockets, Geocaching/ Geospatial Science.
Family & Consumer Science – Healthy Living, Food Science (Baking, Cooking, Canning), Textile Design (Sewing, Knitting, Crocheting, Spinning, Tie Dying), Crafts.
Environmental Science – Wildlife, Outdoors, Shooting Sports/Archery, Plant & Soil Science.

What do 4-Hers do?

4-H youth can give public presentations, grown in NY cooking demonstrations, enter projects at Holiday Faire in December and the County Fair in July, participate in Clothing Revue, exhibit in animal shows, go on trips like Cornell Career Exploration Days, and win awards. Youth ages 13+ can be Senior Council members and participate in leadership activities. 4-H offers opportunities for everyone!

4-H’s Core Values

Head, Heart, Hands, and Health are the four Hs in 4-H. These four values represent:
Head – Managing, Thinking
Heart – Relating, Caring
Hands – Giving, Working
Health – Being, Living

4-H Pledge

I pledge my head to clearer thinking,
my heart to greater loyalty,
my hands to larger service,
and my health to better living,
for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

How to Enroll

Enrolling is easy – just fill out a couple forms and submit them with $5/youth to the 4-H Office. Our 4-H staff will connect you with a 4-H Club that matches your interests.

4-H Ages and Stages*

Cloverbuds: 5 – 7 years old
Junior 4-Hers: 8 – 13 years old
Senior 4-Hers: 14 – 18 years old
*Age is as of January 1 of the current 4-H year, which is October 1 – September 30.

Contact

Robert Batt
Executive Director / Orleans County 4-H Fair
rpb23@cornell.edu
585-798-4265 ext. 130

Last updated December 23, 2021