Community discovers 4-H at event

JEFFERSON – A lot of families in the community have at least a curiosity as to what exactly 4-H might be.
With an enrollment deadline approaching, Ashtabula County 4-H invited families in to learn about 4-H and the projects that kids complete through the Discover Your Way in Ohio 4-H event at Jefferson United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 7.
“This, historically, has been our kickoff event that we’ve done during 4-H Week in the evening at the fairgrounds, and we decided to switch it this year to earlier in the day before families get really busy,” Jenna Hoyt, 4-H Youth Development educator for the Ashtabula County OSU Extension office, said. “They can come and learn more about 4-H and what the program has to offer. It’s one of our biggest events to encourage families to enroll and re-enroll in 4-H.”
The event was held just a week before 4-H members have to enroll in different programs.
“This gives them the information they might need,” Hoyt said. “They can pick a project, they can meet a club, talk to some of the 4-H members, and kind of decide what they want to enroll in for the year.”
“The enrollment deadline is March 15, which is important,” Hoyt continued. “They can call our office, 440-576-9008, or email me at hoyt.88@osu.edu, if they have any questions, need help enrolling or help finding a club. I’ll help them get signed up.”
The event allows families to interact with older 4-H members and volunteers.
“I think it’s really important (to speak with 4-H members and volunteers) because they get to connect names and faces and feel more comfortable with the program,” Hoyt said. “Rather than showing up to an event or showing up to a meeting and not knowing who their advisors are or who their club members are, it gives them the opportunity to connect and put faces and names together and just kind of start to meet and mingle with people.”
During the event, visitors were able to see exactly what a 4-H project looks like and how projects will be judged.
“Many of the displays that are here are projects that our kids have done in years prior,” Hoyt said. “It gives them a glimpse into what to expect, what project judging is going to look like, or what projects they need to complete in order to be successful for the year so there are no surprises.”
The event was also an opportunity for 4-H to enlist some new members.
Recruitment opportunity for 4-H
“A lot of the families that are here today are our youngest families, the Cloverbuds, and it’s a good opportunity for them to get their questions answered,” Hoyt said. “It definitely is more new families than returning families that come to today’s event.”
Hoyt enjoyed seeing the older 4-H members interact with the prospective members.
“They look up to these older members, these older kids,” Hoyt said. “For them to get a chance to make that connection and see that spark is really exciting. (The older 4-H kids) are great speakers, promoters of our program. They do a great job. We have our Junior Fair Board members and our camp counselors that are around. They’re our poster children for 4-H. They go above and beyond. They’re fabulous kids and volunteers, as well.”