LAKE COUNTY 4-H PROGRAM
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Learn new skills, make friends, and have fun in 4-H! 4-H prepares young people to be leaders in their community and around the world. Members complete hands-on, learn-by-doing projects in areas like health, science, agriculture, and civic engagement alongside their peers and caring adult mentors. 4-H began over 100 years ago, and has since grown into the largest youth development program in the nation. Kids and teens are invited to enroll at https://v2.4honline.com/ (enrollment begins October 1 each year).
Lake County 4-H welcomes young people in grades 3-12 in urban, suburban, and rural communities. We also have a Mini 4-H program for grades K-2.
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.
Interested in starting a new 4-H club in your community or helping lead an existing program? Contact the Extension Office at 219-755-3240 to learn how you can become a 4-H adult volunteer. All adult volunteers must complete an application and screening process before enrolling online and working with youth.
Contact Us
Julie Jones - Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
219 755-3240
jones298@purdue.edu
Jennifer Haynes - Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
219 755-3240
jhaynes7@purdue.edu
Kasey Wilhoit - Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
219 755-3240
kwilhoi@purdue.edu
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4-H Information
Tuesday July 14th – Building Setup
July 20th to July 23th
Project Drop-Off for all projects dropped off in the 4-H Building. Monday and Wednesday from 9:00am-12:00pm and Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30-7:00pm.
You will simply grab your tags and drop all your projects off at the table where it will be judged. If you are staying to talk to the judge you will highlight your entry number. All projects must be turned in prior to judging times except foods, garden, and construction/architectural replica
Friday July 24th
*Superintenendents welcome to come early to set up/organize projects
Judges 12:00-2:00 pm, Kids 2:00-3:00pm
Aerospace, Creative Writing, Computer Science, Electric, Floriculture, Sewing, Small Engine, Woodworking, Wearable Art, Soil and Water Science, Garden Education, Foods (schedule as follows)
3:00 - 4:00 pm Foods Project Drop Off Time
4:00 Foods: Baked - Levels A & C
4:00 Foods: Preserved - ALL
5:00 Foods: Baked - Levels B & D
Judges 4:00 - 6:00 pm, Kids 6:00-7:00pm
Photography, Basic Craft Other, Animal Education, Needle Craft/Other, Geology, Entomology, Sports, Music
Saturday, July 25th
Judges 9:00 - 11:00am, Kids 11:00-12:00pm
Exploring Through Books and Movies, Jewelry Making, Reclaimed Treasures, Table-setting, History For Fun, Leathercraft,, Giftwrapping, Wreaths, Collections, Ceramics, Cake Decorating
*12:00-1:00pm Construction and Architectural Replica Project Dropoff*
Judges 1:00- 3:00pm, Kids 3:00-4:00pm
Child Development, Forestry, Health, Sportfishing, Vet Science, Weather and Climate Science, Wildlife, Construction and Architectural Replica, Fine Arts
Monday July 27th 6:00 - 7:15pm
Mini Project Drop Off and Judging
Tuesday August 4th 9:00-10:00am
Garden Judging
Monday - August 10
7:30 – 10 a.m. Clean Stall & Check-in
9:00 a.m. Arena Open, once Stalls are cleaned
10:00 a.m. Meet the Judge, and Check Patterns
11:00 a.m. Showmanship Project Class
#1 Level 3(11th/12th- 9th/10th Grade), #2 Level 2(8th – 7th – 6th Grade), #3 Level 1(5th – 4th – 3rd Grade)
Project Classes:
5 Minute Warm up for Reinsmanship
#4 Reinsmanship Project Class
5 Minute Warm up for All Walk/Trot (WTP)
**Project classes will possibly have Rail Work**
#5 Senior Walk Trot Project Class (WTP) (Grades 8-12)
#6 Junior Walk Trot Project Class (WTP) (Grades 3-7)
5 Minute Warm up-(All Senior riders warm up)
5 Minute Warm up-(All Junior riders warm up)
**warm up excludes Walk/Trot Participants**
**Project classes will possibly have Rail Work**
#7 Senior Western Horsemanship Project Class(Grades 8-12) #8 Junior Western Horsemanship Project Class(Grades 3-7) #9 Senior English Equitation Project Class(Grades 8-12) #10 Junior English Equitation Project Class(Grades 3-7) #11 Senior Ranch Riding(Pattern Class)(Grades 8-12) #12 Junior Ranch Riding(Pattern Class)(Grades 3-7)
**********************************Dinner Break***********************************
5:00 p.m. Horse and Pony is invited to dinner by the Cattle Barn
5:45 p.m. Color Guard/Drill Team
6:15 p.m. - Mini Project Classes
#13 Mini 4-H Stick Horse (K-2)
#14 Mini Lead line Showmanship (K-2)
#15 Mini 4-H Lead line Walk (K-2)
**5 Minute Warm up for Gymkhana**
#16 Gymkhana Project Class
#17 Versatility (English, Western, Barrels)
Tuesday- August 11
8:00-8:45 AM - Arena Open
**Set up for Trail**
9:00 AM Project class
#18 In Hand Trail Project Class
COMPETITIVE DAY CLASSES:
These class times are subject to change. They will run if time and weather permits. Some of the pleasure classes may need to move to Wednesday, please pay close attention to announcements and have fun!
*SR Rider is 8,9,10,11,12
*JR Rider is 3,4,5,6,7
**Member may only compete in ONE competitive day Trail Class
#1 **In Hand Trail Class
#2 **Walk Trot Trail Class (WTP)
#3 **Trail Class
#4 Reining
#5 Walk/Trot Pleasure (WTP) - Any discipline
#6 Walk Trot – SR Rider - Any discipline
#7 Walk Trot – JR Rider - Any discipline
***********************************Break***********************************
#8 Western Pleasure SR Rider #9 Western Pleasure Jr Rider #10 Pony Pleasure (under 54”) #11 English Pleasure SR Rider #12 English Pleasure JR Rider #13 Pleasure Driving #14 Bareback (WTP) #15 Bareback #16 Double bareback
***********************************Dinner Break***********************************
Tuesday Evening - August 11
5:00 PM - Color Guard/Drill Team
Tenure Awards
***Members may only compete in ONE competitive day Costume Class ***
#17 Costume Class – Individual
#18 Costume class - Group (Mini’s may work with a horse group) 5 Minute Warm up
#19 Open Ground Poles (WTP can enter this class with option of having a lead line)
*If you enter ground poles you CANNOT enter into classes 20, 21, 22)
#20 Hunter Hack
#21 Cross rail equitation
#22 Hunter Equitation Over Fence Cross rails (Pattern)
#23 Pairs Pleasure
#24 Ranch Pleasure (no pattern)
#25 FreeStyle Performance - UNDER SADDLE ONLY (See Handbook for details)
- Members can only show one time
- (WTP is permitted to show in this class, they can only do Walk/trot)
- No more than 1 song with a maximum of 4 and theme
#26 Team Tournament - To be held in the main arena
Wednesday August 12
8:00 AM - Stall Cleaning - OUT OF BARN by NOON
8:30 - 9:00 AM - Arena Open
9:00 AM - Start time
#27 Apple under chin (WTP) #28 Apple under chin #29 Egg & Spoon (WTP) #30 Egg & Spoon SR #31 Egg & Spoon JR #32 Pass the Egg
**************11:00-11:30 AM Break to set up Poles and finish cleaning out stalls**************
****Members will not be allowed to show after 11:30 break until stalls are cleaned and checked by the Superintendent or an appointee.****
#33 Pole Bending (WTP) #34 SR Pole Bending #35 JR Pole Bending #36 Barrels (WTP) #37 SR Barrels #38 JR Barrels #39 Kart Barrels #40 Flag Race #41 Catalog Race #42 Water-Bucket Race #43 Dizzy stick (no horse) Possibly more…
Members have the opportunity to learn more about a subject matter that they choose to study through completing hands on activities. We refer to these as projects. In order to enroll in a project, members must sign up for them at the time of enrolling in 4-H. Each project has a beginner, intermediate, and advanced level-this allows youth to build on their knowledge each year and continue to challenge their skills. Projects are meant to be worked on over time, providing an educational opportunity for youth outside of the classroom setting. Often times, youth will exhibit and display their project at the Lake County Fair in order to show the community what they have learned.
Resources for State 4-H projects are available at: https://extension.purdue.edu/4-H/projects/index.html
The 2026 Lake County 4-H Handbooks are here at the Extension Office and available for pick-up. If you are a current 4-H club member, please get the handbook from your club leader. One book per family please. If you have any questions, please call the Extension Office at 755-3240.
Looking for a 4-H Club to join? Our clubs are open to all young people in grades K-12. Contact the Extension Office at 219-755-3240 for more information about these clubs or to learn how you can start a new club in your community!
Brunswick Beavers Thursday, 7:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Zion United Church of Christ, Dyer
Club Leaders: Rose Kleine(kfarmrose@airbaud.net) 219-755-7370 and Janet Neitzel (the2lefty2@yahoo.com) 219-775-4001
Eagle Creek Up + At’em Sunday, 4:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Rangeline Presbyterian Church, Hebron Club Leader: Tracy Bult(tracybult31@yahoo.com) 219-742-9740
Griffith Grinners Sunday, 3:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Griffith First Christian Church, Griffith
Club Leader: Lisa Bubala(lisa6000@yahoo.com) 219-718-2181
Happy Wranglers Tuesday, 6:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Stone Ridge Training Center, Hebron Club Leader: Barb DeWell(bdewell.bd@gmail.com) 219-789-0255
Hammond Explorers Saturday,time(TBA) Meetings: Hammond Public Library, Hammond Club Leader: Barbara Hinton 219-801-1201
Hobart Hurricanes Monday, 6:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Joan Martin Elementary School, Hobart
Club Leader: Laura Clemons(laurazato@gmail.com) 219-669-5692
Juntos 4-H Meeting time(TBA) Meetings: River Forest High School, Hobart
Club Leaders: Noemi Lozano and Allison Gnezda
Lake Co. 4-H Color Guard & Drill Team Meeting time(TBA) Meetings: Lowell
Club Leader: Jennifer Bisig 219-942-0804
Prairie Pioneers,Sunday, 4:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Lowell VFW 6841, Lowell
Cub Leader: Lynette DuBord(lynette.dubord01@gmail.com) 219-746-3105
Prime Beefmakers,Sunday, 2:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Schneider Community Center, Schneider
Club Leader: Heidi Laub(heidi.laub@yahoo.com) 219-776-9786
Robinson Prairie Fantasy Farmers (RPFF) Sunday, 5:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Bulldog Park, Crown Point
Club Leaders : Elaine Hein(echein@yahoo.com) 219-742-2687 and Sandi Gleason(srsg96@att.net)
Rockin’ Clovers Friday, 6:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Community Baptist Church, St. John
Club Leader: Steven Shareef(rockinclovers@gmail.com) 219-351-0412
Saddle + Spurs Wednesday, 6:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Crown Point Public Library, Crown Point
Club Leaders: Kristen Donaldson 219-306-1851 and Jill Bruhn 219-384-8641
Shelby Ag Tuesday, 6:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Buckley Homestead, Lowell
Club Leader: Amber Miller(rarlpmiller06@gmail.com) 219-671-8695
St. John Spitfires Friday, 6:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Crown Point
Club Leader: Stephanie Neal(tsneal2002@gmail.com) 219-308-5897
Tails and Trails Tuesday, 6:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Lowell Public Library, Lowell
Club Leader: Anastasia Szostek 219-798-0723
The Lone Rangers Monday, 7:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Four Seasons Equestrian Center, Crown Point
Club Leader: Kristina Shupryt(kristina.shupryt@gmail.com) 219-718-9776
The Seekers Friday,4:00pm(monthly) Meetings: Faith Church, Cedar Lake
Club Leader: Angie Davids(adavids1121@gmail.com) 219-775-0835
4-H CLUB DEFINITION:
A 4-H Club is an organized group of at least five youth from three different families who meet regularly with adult volunteers or staff for a long-term, progressive series of educational experiences.
4-H CLUB PURPOSE:
The purpose of a 4-H club is to provide positive youth development opportunities to meet the needs of young people to experience belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity—the Essential Elements—and to foster educational opportunities tied to the Land Grant University knowledge base.
A 4-H volunteer is anyone that wants to be involved in our 4-H program. We have a variety of involvement opportunities available. The time commitment and area of interest vary for each individual. All volunteers must pass a background check and participate in training through Purdue Extension. For more information on becoming a volunteer, contact the Extension Office to speak with Jennifer Haynes at 219-755-3240 or jhaynes7@purdue.edu
Policies & Procedures are available: https://extension.purdue.edu/4-H/about/policies-and-procedures/index.html