4-H Information

4-H IN BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY

WHAT IS 4-H?

In 4-H, we believe in the power of young people. We see that every child has valuable strengths and real influence to improve the world around us. 4-H empowers young people with the skills to lead for a lifetime. It’s a research-based experience that includes a mentor, a hands-on project, and a meaningful leadership opportunity.

4-H programs are grounded in the belief that kids learn best by doing. Kids and teens complete hands-on projects in areas like science, health, agriculture and civic engagement, in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles. Kids can concentrate on one focus area or they can try a variety of programs throughout their 4-H experience.

Regardless of the project area, all 4-H programs include mentoring and career readiness as core elements.

Through life-changing 4-H programs, nearly six million kids and teens have taken on critical societal issues, such as addressing community health inequities, engaging in civil discourse and advocating for equity and inclusion for all. For more than 100 years, 4-H has welcomed young people of all beliefs and backgrounds, giving kids a voice to express who they are and how they make their lives and communities better.

OUR VALUES

4-H MISSION: To empower youth to reach their full potential working and learning in partnership with caring adults while also creating sustainable community change

4-H VISION: A world in which youth and adults learn, grow, and work together as catalysts for positive change

HOW: Through the power of youth; eeffective organizational systems; access, equity, and opportunity; extraordinary opportunities to learn; exceptional people; and innovative practices

OUR TEAM & CONTACT US

OUR 4-H TEAM

CONTACT US
  • Call us at 812-379-1665
  • Or visit our office Monday-Friday between 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

ENROLLMENT

4-H (GRADES 3-12)

4-H VOLUNTEERS 
  • Instructions for Returning Adult Volunteer
  • Instructions for New Adult Volunteer

MINI 4-H (KINDERGARTEN-2ND GRADE)

MINI 4-H

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Mini 4-H'ers: Kindergarten-2nd grade

PROJECTS

  • Bugs
  • Crafts
  • Collections
  • Farm Animals
  • Foods
  • Forestry
  • More Bugs 
  • Sewing
  • Space
  • Trees

PROJECT MANUALS 

  • Project manuals are available at our office, 783 S Marr Rd., Columbus, IN 47201

CLUBS

COLUMBUS CLUBS

  • Columbus ShamROCKS
  • Happy-Go-Luckies
  • Happy H’ers
  • Lucky Suns
  • Totally Awesome

ELIZABETHTOWN/ROCKCREEK CLUBS

  • Happy Faces
  • SRC Farmers Jr. & Sr. 
  • Sandcreek Starz

HOPE CLUBS

  • Clover Kids

PETERSVILLE CLUBS

  • I.S.S.K.

WHITECREEK CLUBS

  • Whitecreek Needlers

PROJECT-BASED CLUBS

  • Bartholomew County Bunny Bunch
  • Blacksmithing
  • Circle C Horse & Pony Club
  • Feathered Friends Poultry Club
  • Hoosier Hounds Dog Obedience
  • Junior Leaders
  • Kiddin’ Around Goat Club
  • Livestock Judging Team
  • Shooting Sports

4-H PROJECTS

The asterisk* indicates a county-only project. 

  • Achievement*
  • Aerospace
  • Animal Education
  • Arts & Crafts: Any Other Craft
  • Arts & Crafts: Construction & Architectural Replica
  • Arts & Crafts: Fine Arts
  • Arts & Crafts: Model Craft
  • Arts & Crafts: Needlecraft
  • ATV Safety & Operator Skills
  • Barbeque*
  • Beef - Dairy Beef - Starter Calf
  • Beekeeping
  • Bicycle
  • Blacksmithing
  • Caged Critters*
  • Cake Decorating
  • Cat
  • Child Development
  • Collections*
  • Communications
  • Computer Science
  • Consumer Clothing
  • Consumer Meats*
  • Corn*
  • Cupcake Decorating*
  • Dairy
  • Dog Obedience
  • Dry Hay & Forages*
  • Electric
  • Entomology
  • Fashion Revue
  • Floriculture
  • Foods - Baked & Preserved 
  • Forestry
  • Garden
  • Genealogy
  • Geology
  • Gift Wrapping*
  • Goat
  • Health
  • Home Environment
  • Horse & Pony
  • Indiana Heritage*
  • Junior Leaders*
  • Lawn & Garden Tractor Safety & Operator Skills
  • Leadership
  • Performing Arts*
  • Photography
  • Plant Science*
  • Poultry
  • Rabbit
  • Reading*
  • Recycling*
  • Scrapbook*
  • Sewing - Wearable & Non-Wearable
  • Sheep
  • Shooting Sports
  • Small Engine
  • Soil & Water Science
  • Soybeans*
  • Sportfishing
  • Sports*
  • Swine
  • Tractor Safety & Operator Skills (Large Ag Tractors)
  • Veterinary Science
  • Weather & Climate Science
  • Welding*
  • Wildlife
  • Woodworking
  • Zero-Turn Mower Safety & Operator Skills 

PROJECT MANUALS

  • Project manuals are available at our office, 783 S Marr Rd., Columbus, IN 47201
  • Project manuals begin at $2

ANIMALS & LIVESTOCK

PREMISE ID

  • All 4-H livestock youth are required to obtain a premises ID from the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH).
  • Visit BOAH's FAQ page for more details.
  • Obtain a premises ID from BOAH by visiting their website here.

ANIMAL ID: 4-H ONLINE

  • All Animal ID information will be posted shortly. All Animal ID information will need to be completed via 4-H Online by May 15th.
  • In order for your animal to be eligible to show at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair and/or the Indiana State Fair, your animal needs to be identified on the 4-H Online database.

Indiana 4-H Quality Livestock Care

  • All 4-H members enrolled in  the following livestock projects will need to participate in the Indiana 4-H Quality Livestock Care program OR the online Youth for the Quality Care of Animals program in order to be able to show at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair and/or the Indiana State Fair: Beef, Dairy, Dairy Starter Calves, Meat Goats, Dairy Goats, Rabbit, Poultry, Sheep, and Swine.  To register for the Indiana 4-H Quality Livestock Care program, please use https://v2.4honline.com.  Those planning to be certified through the YQCA program, will register at www.yqcaprogram.org and will present their completion certificate to the 4-H Educator.  The completion deadline for these programs is June 1st.

VACCINATION FORMS

LEASE FORMS

WEEKLY 4-H HAPPENINGS

Stay up-to-date on all the weekly 4-H happenings by visiting our Bartholomew County 4-H Family Forum. Our 4-H happenings are also emailed out to all 4-H'ers every Monday. 

If you are not receiving our emails or if you have any questions, call our office at 812-379-1665. 

CALENDAR & IMPORTANT DATES

CALENDAR

Visit our 4-H Events Calendar to learn more about what events are coming up. 

IMPORTANT DATES

  • 2025 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair June 20th - 28th, 2025 

4-H VOLUNTEERS 

ENROLLMENT

  • Instructions for Returning Adult Volunteer
  • Instructions for New Adult Volunteer

TRAINING

  • Please complete the 4-H volunteer training as soon as possible

QUESTIONS

  • To learn more about becoming a 4-H volunteer, contact Elisabeth Eaton at 812-379-1665 or eleaton@purdue.edu

SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS

SCHOLARSHIPS

  • Bartholomew County 4-H Scholarship
  • Deppe Scholarship
  • Vicki L. Schwartzkopf Memorial Scholarship
  • Daniel Burbrink Memorial Scholarship
  • Bartholomew County Service & Leadership Scholarship 
  • Supreme Showman Scholarship
  • Mark Case Scholarship

AWARDS

  • Outstanding 4-H Member
  • Tenure Award

QUESTIONS

  • To learn more about any scholarships or awards, contact Elisabeth Eaton at 812-379-1665 or eleaton@purdue.edu

4-H OPPORTUNITIES

Come back to learn more about exciting 4-H opportunities!

TRIPS

CONTESTS

EXTENSION BOARD

JUNIOR LEADERS

JUNIOR FAIR BOARD

SCHOOL ENRICHMENT 

WHAT IS IT?

Our office has the amazing opportunity of providing any private or public school in Bartholomew County with FREE 4-H Enrichment programming. Our 4-H Enrichment Program Assistant offers two different programs for each grade level between kindergarten-6th grade. Each program is designed to fit within 4-H's focus areas (civic engagement, S.T.E.M., and healthy living) while also meeting at least three Indiana academic learning standards.  

SCHEDULE

Kindergarten
1st grade
2nd grade
3rd grade
4th grade
5th grade
6th grade

 

EMBRYOLOGY SCHEDULE

Fall Session I
Fall Session II
Spring Session I
Spring Session II

 

PROGRAMS OFFERED

Kindergarten Al the Can Man Happy Hands
1st grade Down on the Farm Don't Throw That Away
2nd grade Good Apples The Web of Life
3rd grade My Plate Mindful Meditation
4th grade Little Hands on the Farm Character Education
5th grade Self Care Aware Whodunit?
6th grade Think Like a Shark Egg Drop

 

SIGN UP

Please contact the office to be informed of future programming offerings.