Mini 4-H

All meeting locations are on the Johnson County Fairgrounds at Scott Hall

Caution:  This page is undergoing updates of record sheets and manuals, some files may be temporarily unavailable during the process. Paper copies are available at the Extension Office.

MINI 4-H GUIDELINES:

1. Mini 4-H is open to any boy or girl who is enrolled in kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade on October 1 of current 4-H year. (October 1, 2025)
2. Kindergarten in Mini 4-H may exhibit one (1) project.
   1. 1st grade in Mini 4-H may exhibit one (1) or two (2) projects.
   2. 2nd grade in Mini 4-H may exhibit one (1) to four (4) projects.
3. Mini 4-H members are enrolled in the Johnson County Mini 4-H Clovers Club (attendance not required) but do the project(s) at home.
4. Mini 4-H projects are:  Arts & Crafts, Bugs, Cookie Decorating, Collections, Flowers, Foods, Forestry, Horse & Pony, Livestock, Models, Sewing, Small Animals and Wildlife.
5. Enrollment of Mini 4-H begins October 1.
6. Projects and Record Sheets are entered at Magill Hall Thursday evening (July 16, 2026), from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. the week before the fair.  They will be on display during Fair week and can be picked up Sunday (July 26, 2026), from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
7. Mini 4-H premiums will be paid to those members who complete an official Mini 4-H Enrollment and turn in a completed project Record Sheet with their project on the established and published date.  Premium vouchers may be picked up in Scott Hall during fair week ONLY between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday & Saturday. You must then take your premium voucher to the designated area during these times to receive your premium money.  Premium money must be picked up by the 4-H member or the 4-H member’s parent. All premium money not picked up by 3:00 p.m. on Saturday will be forfeited.

   ALL MINI 4-H POSTER EXHIBITS MUST:

1. Have a solid, stiff backing – that is 11" high by 14" wide (same as poster size) – such as 1/4" plywood, HEAVY cardboard, foamboard, or masonite. (Exception:  Wildlife poster is 11” x 22”.)
2. Be positioned HORIZONTALLY on a posterboard 11” high by 14” wide.  (Wildlife – 11” x 22”)
3. Have a total exhibit board no larger than 11” high by 14” wide.  (Wildlife – 11” x 22”)
4. Be completely COVERED by a solid sheet of clear plastic or in a sleeve.          

MINI DAY CAMP INFO

Mini 4-H Day Camp information is released in March for participation.  Mini 4-H Day Camp is two days at the Johnson County Fair Grounds with older 4-H Youth serving as the counselors.

PROJECT GUIDELINES
Printed Manuals and Record Sheets are available at the Johnson County Extension Office or you may click on the links provided below and print at home.

• ARTS & CRAFTS: Learn how to do one of the different crafts.
  • Grade K:  Exhibit one simple potato print painting and the Record Sheet.
  • Grade 1: Exhibit is one simple craft and the Record Sheet.
  • Grade 2: Exhibit is a craft item different than what was exhibited in Grade 1 and the Record Sheet.
  • Mini 4-H Arts & Crafts Manual
  • MINI 4-H ARTS & CRAFTS RECORD SHEET - PDF
  • Mini 4-H Arts & Crafts Record Sheet - Word Document
• BUGS: Learn about bugs and what makes them different from each other.
  • Grade K:  Exhibit an 11" x 14" poster of the "Make a Butterfly" and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 1: Exhibit an 11” x 14” poster of an insect or a spider and label the body parts and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 2: Exhibit an 11” x 14” poster showing some of the ways that bugs protect themselves and the project Record Sheet.
  • Mini 4-H Bugs Manual
  • Mini 4-H Bugs Record Sheet - PDF
  • Mini 4-H Bugs Record Sheet - Word Document
• COLLECTIONS: Learn to collect and attractively exhibit articles such as stamps, leaves, insects, etc.
  • The exhibit is a sample of your collection and should be no larger than 11" x 14". If exhibit is in a notebook, only one notebook should be displayed.
  • Grade K:  Exhibit a collection of 3 articles or pairs of articles and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 1: Exhibit a collection of 3 articles or pairs of articles different from previous year and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 2: Exhibit is a collection of 3 articles or pairs of articles different from previous year and the project Record Sheet.
  • Mini 4-H Collections Manual
  • Mini 4-H Collections Record Sheet -PDF
  • Mini 4-H Collections Record Sheet - Word Document
• COOKIE DECORATING: Learn about cookie decorating.
  • Grade K:  Exhibit 3 cookies with frosting and sprinkles and/or candy on each one, no design needed and project record sheet.
  • Grade 1: Exhibit 3 cookies with frosting and sprinkles and/or candy on each one to make a design and project record sheet.
  • Grade 2: Exhibit 3 cookies with frosting, smooth on top. Must have border, design and project record sheet.
  • Mini 4-H Cookie Decorating Manual
  • Mini 4-H Cookie Decorating Record Sheet - PDF
  • Mini 4-H Cookie Decorating Record Sheet - Word Document
• FLOWERS: Learn how to grow flowers from seeds or grow a house plant.
  • Grade K:  Exhibit one house plant you have cared for and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 1: Exhibit is one flower you have grown or a house plant and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 2: Exhibit an arrangement of flowers you have grown and the project Record Sheet.
  • Mini 4-H Flowers Manual
  • Mini 4-H Flowers Record Sheet - PDF
  • Mini 4-H Flowers Record Sheet - Word Document
• FOODS: Learn basic kitchen rules and how to prepare simple foods you and your family will enjoy.
  • Grade K:  Exhibit a snack size bag of a favorite trail mix/snack mix, a recipe card and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 1: Exhibit is 3 no-bake bar cookies/treats, a recipe card and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 2: Exhibit 3 no-bake drop cookies/treats and the project Record Sheet.
  • Mini 4-H Foods Manual
  • Mini 4-H Foods Record Sheet - Word Document
  • Mini 4-H Foods Record Sheet - PDF
• FORESTRY: Learn about different kinds of trees, seeds, leaves and ways that trees help us.
  • Grade K:  Exhibit an 11" x 14" poster about leaves that come from trees and Record Sheet.
  • Grade 1: Exhibit an 11” x 14” poster about seeds or leaves that come from trees and Record Sheet.
  • Grade 2: Exhibit an 11” x 14” poster showing things that people can do to help trees or showing things that people use that come from trees and Record Sheet.
  • Mini 4-H Forestry Manual
  • Mini 4-H Forestry Record Sheet - Word Document
  • Mini 4-H Forestry Record Sheet - PDF
• HORSE & PONY: Learn about horses and ponies.
  • Grade K:  Exhibit is an 11" x 14" poster about horses and ponies and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 1: Exhibit is an 11” x 14" poster about horses and ponies and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 2: Exhibit is an 11” x 14” poster about horses and ponies different than what was done in previous year and the project Record Sheet.
  • Mini 4-H Horse & Pony Manual
  • Mini 4-H Horse & Pony Record Sheet - Word Document
  • Mini 4-H Horse & Pony Record Sheet - PDF
• LIVESTOCK: Learn about animals such as Beef, Goats, Sheep and Swine.
  • Grade K:  Exhibit an 11" x 14" poster about one of the types of livestock and the project Record Sheet. 
  • Grade 1: Exhibit an 11” x 14" poster or a scrapbook about one of the types of livestock and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 2: Exhibit an 11” x 14" poster or a scrapbook about one of the types of animals different than what was done in Grade 1 and the project Record Sheet.
  • Mini 4-H Livestock Manual
  • Mini 4-H Livestock Record Sheet - Word Document
  • Mini 4-H Livestock Record Sheet - PDF
• MODELS: Learn how to put together a "Snap-together" and simple glued model kits. Models must be no larger than 12".  Dioramas cannot be exhibited.
  • Grade K:  Exhibit a model using only Legos and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 1: Exhibit is a "Snap-together" model or Legos and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 2: Exhibit is a "Snap-together" model or simple glue together model from a kit and the project Record Sheet.
  • Mini 4-H Models Manual
  • Mini 4-H Models Record Sheet - PDF
  • Mini 4-H Models Record Sheet - Word Document
• SEWING: Learn basic sewing tools, basic hand stitches, parts of sewing machine and how to sew a straight line. *Sewing participants can participate in the 4-H Fashion revue.
  • Grade K: Exhibit a Kool Cat or Honey Bear from the manual and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 1: Exhibit a stuffed pillow and the project Record Sheet.
  • Grade 2:  Exhibit a basic wearable piece, such as a tie belt or scarf and the project Record Sheet.
  • Mini 4-H Sewing Manual
  • Mini 4-H Sewing Record Sheet - PDF
  • Mini 4-H Sewing Record Sheet - Word Document
  • Mini 4-H Fashion Revue Narration Sheet - PDF
  • Mini 4-H Fashion Revue Narration Sheet - Word Document
• SMALL ANIMALS:  Learn about small animals like Chickens, Rabbits, Dogs, Cats, Gerbils and Hamsters, etc.
  • Grade K:  Exhibit an 11" x 14" poster about one of the types of small animals and the project record sheet.
  • Grade 1: Exhibit an 11” x 14" poster or scrapbook about one of the types of small animals and the project record sheet.
  • Grade 2: Exhibit an 11” x 14" poster or scrapbook about one of the types of small animals different from what was done in previous year and the project record sheet.
  • Mini 4-H Small Animals Manual
  • Mini 4-H Small Animals Record Sheet - PDF
  • Mini 4-H Small Animals Record Sheet - Word Document
• WILDLIFE: Learn about different animals and how they are important to nature.
  • Grade K:  Exhibit is an 11" x 22" poster with pictures of 5 animals you took at a park visit and the project record sheet.
  • Grade 1: Exhibit is an 11” x 22" poster with the animals found in the book and the project record sheet.
  • Grade 2: Exhibit is an 11” x 22" poster with the animals found in the book and the project record sheet.
  • Mini 4-H Wildlife Manual
  • Mini 4-H Wildlife Record Sheet - PDF
  • Mini 4-H Wildlife Record Sheet - Word Document

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Your completed project will be displayed at the Johnson County 4-H Fair (Franklin, IN) during fair week in July (July 19-25, 2026). All participants will receive $1.00 premium money and a blue ribbon! 

FAIR INFO:
Mini 4-H exhibits will be entered at Magill Hall, Thursday evening of "judging week" (the week BEFORE the Fair) between 6 pm and 7:30 pm.  Check-in will be divided alphabetically by your last name.  Look for signs showing you what line to be in.  Don’t forget to bring your completed record sheets with your project!!

 EXHIBIT TAGS - pdf

EXHIBIT TAGS - Word Document