Gibson County 4-H
Welcome to 4-H in Gibson County!
Gibson County 4-H offers projects for children in grades 3-12 and supports Mini 4-H for children in grades K-2.
4-H prepares young people to be leaders in their community and around the world through hands-on experiences alongside their peers and caring adults. Community clubs, after school programs, school enrichment, camps/workshops, and special interest programs are all ways youth across Indiana can be involved with the 4-H program.
Club membership is not required to participate in some 4-H programs offered throughout the year.
Contact Us
Jessie Hope
4-H Youth Development Educator
Purdue Extension - Gibson County
jtitzer@purdue.edu
812-385-3491 ext. 102
Jane Lowry
4-H Program Assistant
Purdue Extension- Gibson County
jlowry@purdue.edu
812-385-3491 ext. 101
Melissa Heichelbech
Office Manager
Purdue Extension- Gibson County
mheichel@purdue.edu
812-385-3491 ext. 100
4-H Information
As soon as we receive registration for all below, we will send that out to your email. BE WATCHING!
- 4-H Round UP: June 24-26 @ Purdue University (completed grades 7-9)
- 4-H Academy: June 12-14 @ Purdue University (completed grades 9-12)
- 4-H Mini Day Camp: June 11, 4-H Activities Building (completed grades K-2)
- 2024 Barnyard Olympics: 4-H Pavilion (completed grades 3-5)
- 2024 4-H Fair Photo Scavenger Hunt: (completed grades 6-12) July 8-11
Gibson County 4-H
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, 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 one hundred 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 ccreating 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; effective organizational systems; aaccess, equity, and opportunity; extraordinary opportunities to learn; exceptional people; and innovative practices
- Construction & Architectural Replica - this is included in the crafts section. Your legos, farm scenes, town models, etc. included in this and 1 state fair entry will be selected.
- Creative Writing - explanation in handbook. 3 state fair entries from each grade level will be selected.
Enrollment
4-H (Grades 3-12):
- Enroll online at v2.4honline.com
- 4-H’ers that are currently in grades 3-12 can enroll in 4-H and the enrollment fee is $20.
4-H Mini (Kindergarten - 2nd Grade):
- Enroll online at v2.4honline.com
- 4-H’ers that are currently in kindergarten through second grade are eligible to enroll as 4-H Mini members. The enrollment fee for mini members is $5.00.
Enrollment Instructions:
- Returning 4-H Member:
Enrolling in 4-H Online as a Returning Youth Member
- New 4-H Enrollment:
Attached is the 2024 Gibson County 4-H Handbook:
Be sure to save this for review as you begin to prepare your 4-H projects / exhibits. All 4-H club leaders will have a few hard copies at their meetings. If anything changes that we have printed in this handbook, we will send an email message update.
Please do not assume that all project guidelines / exhibit requirements have remained the same from last year. The State 4-H Office made several changes to SOME projects, so be sure to check out the guidelines for your projects before you begin preparing your exhibit for the fair.
Please review the guide and see what projects pertain to 4-H Mini. They can only exhibit two projects at the fair.
Elected (11):
- Greg Ault
- Holly Dunkel
- Laura Heidenreich
- Rachel Johnson
- Gordon Lowry
- Charlene McConnell
- Bryanne Parker
- Megan Paul
- Andrew Schmitt
- Andrea Schwiersch
- Bernie Spindler
Appointed (3):
- John Spindler - South Gibson Representative
- Leafy White - North Gibson Representative
- Sheryl Strickland - East Gibson Representative
Ex-Officio/Fairboard Representative:
- Kiersten Rexing
4-H Junior Leader Representative
- Jared Dunkel - Jr. Leader President
- Bristol Powers - North Gibson Representative
- Presley Heichelbech - East Gibson Representative
- Audrey Spindler - South Gibson Representative
Upcoming 4-H Events
4-H Club Resources:
- Checklist for 4‐H Clubs - Includes a list of things for each club to do to operate effectively.
- 4-H Club Meeting Checklist - Allows 4-H members and volunteers to review the success of the 4-H Club’s meetings.
- Review of a Successful 4-H Club - Allows 4-H members and volunteers to review the success of the overall 4-H Club.
- Unit Activity Report Form - Report the planned activities of the 4-H Club on this form and submit the form to the County 4-H Extension Educator, prior to the time the activities are held.
- Club Leader Change Form - Helpful steps to allow for a smooth transition between volunteer leaders
- Club Leader Change Form - Helpful steps to allow for a smooth transition between volunteer leaders
- 4-H Club/Unit Financial Checklist
- Annual 4-H Club/Unit Financial Report - Form to complete and return to the 4-H Educator summarizing the 4-H Club’s financial activity for the year.
- 4-H Club/Unit Financial Review/Audit Form - Form to complete and submit during the year that the 4-H Club/Unit has been selected to submit to a more extensive financial review/audit.
This page includes resources that can be provided to the 4-H members who have been selected to serve in a 4-H Club Officer role for the 4-H Club year.
Giving back to the community has long been a strength of the 4-H program. This page provides some examples and suggestions of service opportunities. These ideas can be used and adapted to serve your local communities with your club members.
VOLUNTEER RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
This page includes links to a number of resources that have been developed to support volunteers as they work with the youth in the 4-H Program. These have been developed by Purdue Extension Staff, or borrowed with permission from other 4-H programs around the country.
Resources and Development