Martin County 4-H

4-H happens year-round, sign up now to get started

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. We are America’s largest youth development organization—empowering nearly six million young people across the U.S. with the skills to lead for a lifetime.

2025 LIVESTOCK AUCTION BOOKLET

Contact Us

Purdue Extension Martin County
martinces@purdue.edu
2666 US Highway 50
Loogootee, IN 47553
Call: (812) 295-2412

Text: (812) 653-2089

Martin County 4-H

Martin County, Indiana
2025 National 4-H Week Proclamation
Celebrating "Beyond Ready"

WHEREAS, the Martin County Commissioners are pleased to reflect upon and share the impact of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Youth Development Program, which , provides experience-based education to young people throughout the Hoosier State, This year's National 4-H Week theme, "Beyond Ready," reminds us that 4-H is building a ready generation in a world of change, equipping young people with skills for the future while meeting them where they are today; and

WHEREAS, 4-H is America's largest youth development organization, supporting six million youth across the country, including more than 200 county 4-H club youth in Martin County; and

WHEREAS, 4-H programs are delivered by the Cooperative Extension System - a community of more than 100 public land-grant colleges and universities across the nation - that provides experiences for young people to learn by doing; and

WHEREAS, 4-H is present in every city and county in the United States and helps youth become engaged, successful, and independent; and

WHEREAS, 4-H connects young people and adults to their communities, preparing them for work and life through experiential and inquiry-based learning while providing emerging research for positive youth development; and

WHEREAS, this program could not have achieved the success it has today without the service of its more than 60 Martin County volunteers, who have given generously of their time, talents, energies, and resources to local youth, as well as significant financial contributions from stakeholders; and

WHEREAS, expanding from its strong agricultural roots, 4-H helps young people explore the world around them and grow into productive adults, with a locally driven initiative focused on Hypersonics skills; and

WHEREAS, supporting future leaders m science, agriculture, and community leadership 1s imperative; and

WHEREAS, we commend the 4-H Youth Development Program of the Purdue Extension Cooperative Extension Service, part of the US, Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, supported by the State of Indiana, all 92 Indiana counties, and the many individuals and additional systems whose contributions have made the program a success.

NOW, THEREFORE, we, Paul George, Aaron Summers, and Retha Warner, Commissioners of Martin County, Indiana, do hereby:

PROCLAIM October 5-11, 2025 as 4-H WEEK throughout Martin County, Indiana, designating Monday; October 6th as Go Green Wear Green Day, and encourage all our citizens to recognize 4-H for the significant impact it has made and continues to make by empowering youth with the skills they need to lead for a lifetime.

This guide will answer all of your questions about 4-H!

Contents include:

What is 4-H
How to Join
Online Registration
4-H Learning Experiences
Club Information
Projects
Awards
4-H Parents
4-H Opportunities
4-H Vocabulary
FAQ
Important Dates
Contact Information
My Own Workspace

Martin County 4-H 101 Guide

Simple Trip Form

ONLINE ENROLLMENT

The quickest and easiest way to enroll in 4-H is by completing the enrollment online HERE.
The enrollment guides below contain step-by-step instructions of how to enroll online.

Guide - New 4-H Youth Member
Guide - Returning 4-H Youth Member
Guide - New Adult Volunteer
Guide - Returning Adult Volunteer

PAPER ENROLLMENT

To enroll in 4-H using a paper form, print the following form, complete and return to the Purdue Extension Martin County office via the afterhours dropbox or in person during normal business hours. You mail also mail in the enrollment form.

Form - Youth
Form - New Adult Volunteer
Form - Returning Adult Volunteer

4-H Club Leaders

Dream Team (Community Club)
Jacqueline Esch (812-295-4595) jacqueline_esch@hotmail.com

Krista Sims (812-296-0457) ixray298@aol.com

Karla Eckerle (812-295-6832) keckerle@frontier.com

Horse & Pony 4-H Club of Martin County

Candance Clark (812-709-2633) candi112208@gmail.com

Jill Phillips (765-418-3825) dannynjill@gmail.com

Jolly Jug Rox (Community Club)
Audra Deckard (812-247-3391) audradeckard@hotmail.com

Melanie Hawkins Melanie.hawkins@shoals.k12.in.us

Mimi Hawkins hawkinsm@shoals.k12.in.us

Jolly Juniors (Community Club)
Kathy Lingenfelter (812-709-1424) rklingenfelter@frontier.com

Teresa Mauder (812-486-6962) tmauder@outlook.com

Martin County 4-H Junior Leaders

Megan Hawkins megan.hawkins@shoals.k12.in.us
Dena Held Heldd@purdue.edu

4-H Shooting Sports / Martin County Marksmen
Mark Sims (812-296-0458) hicountry3@aol.com

Jason Tinkle (812-296-7284) jtinkle@frontier.com

Martin County 4-H K-9 Elites

Looking for Leaders! Call 812-295-2412

4-H STEAM / Robotics Club
Looking for Leaders! Call 812-295-2412

Martin County 4-H Tractor Club
Tyler Dages (812-296-0348) tdages22@hotmail.com

Become A Volunteer

The Indiana 4-H Youth Development Program has a variety of involvement opportunities available. We rely heavily on adults who care about the development of youth across the state in order to deliver positive youth development experiences to our youth. All volunteers must complete a volunteer application and screening process and participate in training provided by your County 4-H Educator. Individuals annually reaffirm their commitment to serving as 4-H Volunteers.

To become a Martin County 4-H Volunteer, email Dena Held heldd@purdue.edu or call 812-295-2412.

For more information on becoming a volunteer, click the button below.

VOLUNTEER RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

10 Ways to Volunteer with 4-H

4-H Projects

WHAT ARE 4-H PROJECTS?

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 manual that guides the youth through the learning process as well as a set of guidelines that helps them meet the project requirements. We provide adult volunteers and staff who are knowledgeable on that particular subject who will often times provide workshops to allow the youth to learn about that topic in a social environment. 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 a local county fair in order to show the community what they have learned.

Follow the links below for information on each 4-H Project including project guidelines, record sheets, score cards, and more

4-H Projects
(Grades: 3-12)

Aerospace
Animal Education (Posters: Cat, Dog, Llama, Poultry, Rabbit)
Arts and Crafts, General
ATV Safety and Operator Skills
Beef
Beekeeping

Bicycle
Cake Decorating
Cat
Child Development
Communications (Creative Writing, Demonstration, Presentation)
Computer Science (Graphic Design, Programming, Robotics)
Construction & Architectural Replica (Farm Scene, Legos)
Consumer Clothing
Dairy Beef
Dairy Goats
Dog
Electric
Entomology
Fashion Revue
Fine Arts
Floriculture
Foods
Forestry
Garden
Genealogy
Geology
Health
Home Environment
Horse & Pony
Jr Leaders
Lawn and Garden Tractor Safety and Operator Skills
Leadership
Llamas and Alpacas
Llama and Alpaca Craft
Meat Goats
Mini 4-H (see section below)
Model Craft
Needle Craft
Photography
Poultry
Pygmy Goats
Rabbits
Sewing
Sheep
Shooting Sports
Small Engines
Soil and Water Science
Sport Fishing
Swine
Tractor Safety and Operator Skills
Veterinary Science
Weather and Climate Science
Wildlife
Woodworking
Zero-Turn Mower Safety and Operator Skills

MINI 4-H Projects
(Grades: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd)

Mini 4-H is a program designed to encourage positive development of children, Kindergarten through second grade. The goal of Mini 4-H is to help young children explore friendships outside the family; explore the way in which things work; practice both small and large muscle control; and think about the ways people work together on projects.

Mini 4-H Projects 2025-2026 Martin County