Shelby County Mini 4-H
What is Mini 4-H?
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.
The NON-COMPETITIVE learning environment for Mini 4-H includes:
- Planned learning activities in which children are invited to be active and explore materials and ideas without the pressure of completing a specific product or exhibit.
- Low adult/leader to child ratio that allows time for adults/leaders to provide individual, positive encouragement and assistance.
- Simple, interesting activities that are fun.
- Encouragement of children to participate in a group activity by sharing and or displaying their activity projects.
- Rewards that are identical and/or ribbons of the same color for everyone.
Mini 4-H Projects
All projects should have a name tag attached, including name, age, and school attended. Posters should be 14" x 22" and be mounted on stiff cardboard or poster board and covered with plastic. If size of project is not specified, projects cannot exceed 3' x 3'. For special consideration of larger projects, please contact the Extension Office by June 1. Poster boards can be purchased at the Extension Office year round.
Mini 4-H Animal Projects
Mini 4-Hers enrolled in (goats, rabbits, sheep, swine, and cats) MUST have turned in the completed Mini 4-H Liability Release Form. Cats will be shown in conjunction with the 4-H Cat show (Sunday of Fair). Goats, Sheep, and Swine will be shown on Monday of Fair beginning at PM in the Livestock Arena. Rabbits will be shown in conjunction with the 4-H Rabbit show (Thursday of Fair). Due to space limitations and health requirements, we cannot allow a Mini 4-Her to bring an animal that they may own to the fair to show. Mini 4-Her will be able to pair up with a current 4-H member and show their animal.
Contact Us
Office Location
20 W Polk Street, Suite 201
Shelbyville, IN 46176
(317) 392-6460
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM to 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
Shelby County, IN 4-H
Enroll in Mini 4-H
4-H enrollment for the 2025-2026 program year opened October 1, 2025. We encourage families to register for 4-H by January 15th, enrollments made after January may limit participation options. If your child is a Mini 4-H member (grades K–2) and doesn't already belong to a club, consider joining the Mini Clovers 4-H Club. Led by Tiffany Hamblin and Abigail Bridges, this club offers fun, hands-on activities designed especially for our youngest 4-H’ers. Members are welcome to belong to more than one club, so the Mini Clovers is a great way to get started and make new friends while exploring all that 4-H has to offer.
4-H OnlineMini 4-H Meetings 2026
- February 5, 2026
- March 5, 2026
- April 2, 2026
All Mini 4-H Meetings will be led by the Mini Clovers 4-H club leaders and held from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Family Arts Building on the Shelby County Fairgrounds unless noted otherwise.
Workshop Opportunities
The Rabbit Superintendents will host a workshop in the spring. This workshop is a great opportunity for 4-H members to gain hands-on experience with handling, picking, and grooming rabbits.
- Wednesday, March 18, 2026 beginning at 6:00 PM in the Brinson Building on the Shelby County Fairgrounds
The Poultry Superintendents will host three workshops for new and current poultry exhibitors. These workshops are a great opportunity for all 4-H members to gain knowledge on all things poultry.
- Monday, November 3, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM held in the Brinson Building on the Shelby County Fairgrounds
- Thursday, April 2, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM held in the Brinson Building on the Shelby County Fairgrounds
- Thursday, May 28, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM held in the Brinson Building on the Shelby County Fairgrounds
If the rabbit or decorated egg projects interests you or you’d like to learn more, we encourage you to attend this fun and educational event!
Mini 4-H Opportunities at the Shelby County Fair
Shelby County offers Mini 4-H’ers to have hands on experience showing, working with and caring for the following animals: cat, goats, sheep, swine, and rabbits. All Mini 4-H members are welcome to participate in the non-competitive Mini Livestock Show, Rabbit Show, and Cat Show. Due to space limitations and health requirements, we cannot allow Mini 4-H’ers to bring an animal that they may own to the Fair to show.
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Project Judging: Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 9:00 AM to Noon at the Free Stage (behind the Brinson Building) on the Shelby County Fairgrounds
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Decorated Egg Contest: drop off on Sunday, June 14, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Poultry Barn on the Shelby County Fairgrounds
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Mini Livestock Show: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 beginning at 6:00 PM in the Livestock Arena on the Shelby County Fairgrounds
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Mini 4-H Frog Jumping Contest: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 immediately following the Mini Livestock Show
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Mini Rabbit Show: Thursday, June 18, 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM in the Livestock Arena at the Shelby County Fairgrounds (will follow regular 4-H show)
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Mini Cat Show: Thursday, June 18, 2026 beginning at 11:00 AM in the Brinson Building on the Shelby County Fairgrounds
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Mini Project Pickup: Monday, June 22, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the 4-H Building/Brinson Building on the Shelby County Fairgrounds
Registration for these events will take place at the time of the event.
*To participate in Mini 4-H events, youth must be Shelby County Mini 4-H member for the current year.
Mini 4-H Camp
Our Mini 4-H Camp will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026. This is a day camp open to Mini 4-H members in Shelby County. Campers must have completed application, youth health form, and Mini 4-H liability release form on file with the Shelby County Purdue Extension Office prior to Mini Camp.
Interested in Mini 4-H Camp? Review this letter for info camp specifics.
During camp, youth have the opportunity to learn about many different topics all related to 4-H. Camp classes and activities from past camps have included science experiments, outdoor games, cookie decorating, character education, wildlife, magic of nature, care of small animals, group recreation, and much more!
Applications must be turned into the Purdue Extension-Shelby County Office by June 27th to be guaranteed a camp t-shirt. Campers must have been signed up for Shelby County Mini 4-H for the 2024-2025 year.
Mini 4-H Camp Counselors are Shelby County youth in grades 7-12th. As a Mini 4-H Camp Counselor, you will assist with crafts, serve refreshments, assist with recreational activities, have the possibility to serve as a group leader, and much more! To apply, complete the application and return it to the Extension Office by June 27, 2025!
MINI 4-H PROJECTS
Shelby County Mini 4-H Member should choose at least one project to complete and display at the Shelby County Fair! See the Mini 4-H Handbook for project requirements for each project. Contact the Extension Office with any questions.
Mini 4-H manuals available for all projects in the Extension Office.
- Cake Decorating
- Cats
- Ceramics
- Collections
- Construction Sets
- Crafts
- Entomology (1,2,3)
- Equine
- Fashion Revue
- Flowers
- Foods
- Goats
- Livestock (poster)
- Model Kits
- My Pet and Me
- Rabbit
- Recycling
- Scrapbooking
- Sewing
- Sheep
- Space
- Swine
- Trees
- Veggie Art
- Wildlife
- Woodcraft