Shelby County Junior Leaders
What is a Junior Leader
A 4-H Junior Leader is an experienced 4-H member, typically in grades 7–12, who takes on leadership roles within their club and county program. Junior Leaders help guide younger members, plan and lead activities, and assist with events such as 4-H camp, workshops, and community service projects. They serve as positive role models while developing important life skills in leadership, teamwork, communication, and responsibility. Through the Junior Leader program, members gain hands-on experience that prepares them to take initiative and make a difference in their clubs, schools, and communities.
AS A 4-H JUNIOR LEADER, YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO:
- Provide aid and leadership to the county Junior Leader organization as well as the Shelby County 4-H program.
- Be a good example and advocate within the 4-H Program.
- Be interested in helping and encouraging other 4-H members.
- Cooperatively work with your Extension Professional, adult leaders, 4-H Junior Leader Advisor, 4-H parents, and other 4-H members in carrying out the 4-H program.
- Plan your work and then work your plan.
- Stay with the job until it is finished.
- Be friendly, honest, and unselfish.
- Use good judgment, practice courtesy, and respect others’ opinions.
- Play fair, lose without complaining, and win without boasting.
Contact Us
Office Location
20 W Polk Street, Suite 201Shelbyville, IN 46176
(317) 392-6460
Office Hours
Monday - Friday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed on County Holidays
4-H Staff
Erin Padgett, 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator
Cindy Kuhn, 4-H Program Assistant
cmkuhn@purdue.edu
Natalie Werner, 4-H Secretary
russe238@purdue.edu
Junior Leader Project Manual
Please see the information below for the 2026-2027 Junior Leader Project Manual.
Leaders:
Tatem Hodge, tatemghodge@gmail.com
Erin Padgett, emenchho@purdue.edu
Communication:
The Shelby County 4-H Junior Leaders use the Spond app to communicate. Junior Leaders will sign up for the app FIRST and parents can then join as 'Guardians' to also see the information. It is very important that the members have the app so they can communicate their attendance and be up to date on all information, not just parents/guardians.
- Invite Link to join Spond:
President - Ella Weaver
Vice President - Abby Gwinnup
Secretary - Katelyn Morrow
Treasurer - Jessica Nieman
Songs/Recreation - Ella Tupper
Advisory Council Representatives - Rory Clark, Mariah Davidson, Katelyn Morrow
The Junior Leaders have two (2) committees that meet during scheduled events to suggest ideas and make decisions about upcoming work. Each Junior Leader will serve on a committee. The committees are: Public Relations and Community Service.
President – Calls the meeting to order and keeps everyone on task. It is important to work with the officers and leaders to plan events. Encourage club members to participate!
Vice President – Takes the President’s place when he/she is not there. Acts as chairman of the committees, making sure each group is achieving their objective(s) and working together.
Secretary – Keeps notes from the meeting and types up the official minutes for approval at the next meeting. Helps keep a record of those in attendance at meetings and events.
Treasurer – Works with the leaders to keep updated records concerning the club’s finances. Reports the money spent or earned between each meeting to the club.
Songs/Recreation – Helps plan team work or get to know you activities for each meeting so that members can have fun while learning. May also teach songs at the meetings to prepare members for assisting at Mini 4-H meetings.
Advisory Council Representatives – Attend Advisory Council meetings and report on what the Junior Leaders have been doing, contribute to discussions about new ideas for Shelby County 4-H, and participate as necessary.
Public Relations Committee – Create a plan for best ways to share information about Junior Leaders on social media. Other potential ideas: design a t-shirt for the club, write an article for the newsletter, etc.
Community Service Committee – Help select community service projects for the club to complete. Assist with promoting projects such as Hygiene Drive and Crunch for a Cause.
As a 4-H Junior Leader, you will be expected to:
- Provide aid and leadership to the county Junior Leader organization as well as the Shelby County 4-H program.
- Be a good example and advocate within the 4-H Program.
- Be interested in helping and encouraging other 4-H members.
- Cooperatively work with your Extension Professional, adult leaders, 4-H Junior Leader Advisor, 4-H parents, and other 4-H members in carrying out the 4-H program.
- Plan your work and then work your plan.
- Stay with the job until it is finished.
- Be friendly, honest, and unselfish.
- Use good judgment, practice courtesy, and respect others’ opinions.
- Play fair, lose without complaining, and win without boasting.
Fundraising
As part of the Junior Leader project, members must participate in fundraising efforts. Junior Leaders are encouraged to participate in the group's fundraiser efforts. Fundraising pays for club member shirts, community service projects and more!
The Junior Leaders Fall Fundraiser is here! Get ready to stock up on all your favorite sweet treats, jams, and holiday goodies—just in time for gifting or enjoying yourself. The Shelby County 4-H Junior Leaders are selling The Mill Fudge Factory’s famous fudge along with Christian Kropf’s delicious jellies, jams, fruit butters, and holiday snack boxes. Orders for both fundraiser's are due to the Extension Office by 4:00 PM on November 19, 2026. Checks can be made payable to Shelby County 4-H Junior Leaders. Support our Junior Leaders while treating yourself to something delicious this season—it’s a win-win!
Junior Leader meetingS
9/9/26 - Call-Out Party, 6:30pm, Urban Air in Franklin (registration required)
10/14/26 - October Meeting, 6:30pm, Extension Office
11/11/26 - November Meeting, 6:30pm, Extension Office
12/9/26 - December Meeting & Holiday Party, 6:30pm, Extension Office
1/13/27 - January Meeting, 6:30pm, Extension Office
2/10/27 - February Meeting, 6:30pm, Extension Office
3/10/27 - Hygiene Drive Shopping, 6:30pm, Walmart
4/14/27 - April Meeting, 6:30pm, Extension Office
5/12/27 - May Meeting, 6:30pm, Extension Office
4-H Ambassadors
The Shelby County 4-H Ambassador program is a leadership opportunity for Junior Leader members who are passionate about 4-H, their animal projects and helping other 4-H members succeed.
Ambassadors serve as positive representatives of the Shelby County 4-H animal program. They use their knowledge, experience and leadership skills to encourage younger members, promote good sportsmanship, support educational opportunities and help create a welcoming and positive experience for all exhibitors.
Ambassadors may represent a specific animal species and will work alongside 4-H adult volunteers, animal superintendents and 4-H staff as opportunities arise.
The program is designed to give Junior Leaders a hands-on leadership experience while recognizing that Ambassadors are still 4-H members who are learning and developing their own skills.
JUNIOR LEADERS Partners with FAIRs Care Program to give back to the community
This year Shelby County 4-H and Shelby County 4-H Junior Leaders are working with the FAIRs Care program to raise awareness of local hunger needs and help feed Hoosiers impacted by hunger needs.
The Shelby County 4-H Junior Leaders are partnering with S.A.S.S. (Shelby Accessing Social Supports) to collect cereal in order to provide breakfast for the first week back to school for all children receiving school supplies from the 6th Annual S.A.S.S. Back to School distribution. The first 250 people who bring 2 boxes of breakfast cereal to the office in the 4-H Building during the Shelby County Fair will receive one (1) FREE Indiana State Fair admission ticket. The State Fair tickets are valued at $16 each, so for less than the price of 1 ticket, you can help us give back to those in need here in Shelby County! There will be a limit of 250 Indiana State Fair tickets to be passed out, so get your donations dropped off at the beginning of the county fair to ensure you get your free ticket. We are so thankful to the Indiana State Fair, the Indiana Association of Fairs, and Feeding Indiana’s Hungry for this unique partnership that allows us to help our community while enjoying some summer fun.
Stay tuned for more details in Spring 2027 for our 3rd Crunch for a Cause drive!
Where to donate
Collection Dates: June 7 through June 19, 2027
Drop-off Location: 4-H Building, Shelby County Fairgrounds, 500 Frank Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176
Thank you
We are so thankful to the Indiana State Fair, the Indiana Association of Fairs, and Feeding Indiana’s Hungry for this unique partnership that allows us to help our community while enjoying some summer fun.