Switzerland County Mini 4-H Handbook

What is 4-H? 

4-H is an out-of-school, volunteer-led, family-oriented program.
4-H is for boys and girls enrolled in grades K – 12 (inclusive) in any given year.
4-H is for ALL youth in Switzerland County: urban and rural, farm and non-farm, regardless of race, color, religion or creed.


4-H helps young people to develop life skills. A life skill is an ability that one can use in everyday life. There are five basic skills that 4-H teaches. These are:
1. Building self-confidence.
2. Developing an inquiring mind.
3. Setting goals and making decisions.
4. Relating to other people.
5. Developing a concern for the community.


How does 4-H do this? Through access to programs, development of projects, interaction with other 4-H and non 4-H youth, and adult volunteer leadership.


MOTTO: “To Make The Best Better”
EMBLEM: The 4-H Emblem is the four-leaf clover with the letter “H” on each leaf. The “H” stands for Head, Heart, Hands and Health.
COLORS: The 4-H Colors are green and white. Green symbolizes nature’s most common color and represents life, springtime, and youth. White symbolizes purity.
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.

 

Welcome to Mini 4-H

Switzerland County Mini 4-H is a fun and educational program designed to help build self-esteem by providing youth the opportunity to learn and be recognized through non-competitive experiential learning. It also helps develop an interest in continuing into the 4-H Program.

Who can join Mini 4-H?

It is open to any child currently in K, 1st or 2nd grades as of January of the enrollment year.

How do I enroll?

Each year a Switzerland County Mini 4-H Enrollment Form must submitted through the 4honline website. You can reach this website by following this link, v2.4honline.com/

How much does it cost?

The enrollment fee is $5. Depending on which projects you choose to take, you might incur other expenses to complete those projects. You will also be invited to attend Mini 4-H Day Camp and the fee for the day long camp is $5. Cost should never restrict your participation in 4-H. If you need financial assistance, please contact the Extension Office. All information will be kept confidential.

What do I do after I enroll?

You should work with your parents/guardians on what you would like to exhibit at the fair. You may exhibit up to 5 different projects. A suggested list of exhibit options is located in this handbook. You are encouraged to participate in one of the many 4-H Clubs Switzerland County offers. By participating in a 4-H Club you will meet new friends and learn many new skills. The club leaders can also offer you help on choosing an exhibit.

What do I do with my exhibits?

You will bring your project exhibit(s) to Mini 4-H Project Check-in and judging which is typically held on the first Saturday of the fair. You should check the 4-H Newsletter for specific date and time; however, project check-in and judging is typically held from 8 am-noon. Each exhibit will be checked-in and judged while you wait. The judge might ask you a couple questions about your project. These questions might be, “How did you make this project?”, “What was your favorite about the project?”, etc. All exhibits will receive a ribbon and will be on display during the fair.
You should return the last Saturday of the fair to pick up your projects. You should check the 4-H Newsletter for specific date and time; however project check-out is typically after the 4-H auction.

General Mini 4-H Rules

  1. Enrollment should be completed on v2.4honline.com/ by January 15.
  2. Mini 4-H members must be enrolled in K, 1st or 2nd grades by the enrollment deadline of the exhibit year.
  3. All Mini 4-H exhibits must have an exhibit tag on the project. These may be picked up at the extension office prior to the fair. They will also be available on check in day.
  4. Mini 4-H posters should be 18 X 22 (this is a standard poster board), with the exhibit tag placed in the lower right hand corner. They need to be covered with plastic and have a stiff backing. Poster board and sleeves are available to buy at the extension office.
  5. Mini 4-H exhibits that are not posters should be no larger than 24” X 24”.

Mini 4-H Non-Competitive Policy

Mini 4-H is a program designed to encourage positive development of children, in kindergarten, first, and 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:
1. 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.
2. Low adult/leader to child ratio that allows time for adults/leaders to provide individual, positive encouragement and assistance.
3. Simple, interesting activities that are fun.
4. Encouragement of children to participate in a group activity by sharing and/or displaying their activity projects.
5. Rewards that are identical and/or ribbons of the same color for everyone. Mini 4-H exhibits will not be judged projects, but instead judges will discuss the exhibit with the child.

Extension Office

Location: The Switzerland County Extension Office is located on the second floor of the TEC center which is located just outside the fairgrounds.


Address: Purdue Extension – Switzerland County
P.O. Box 175; 708 W. Seminary Street
Vevay, IN 47043


Phone: (812) 427-3152


Fax: (812) 427-2818


Website: https://extension.purdue.edu/switzerland


Hours: Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Closed County Holidays


Staff: Hailey Dornbusch, 4-H Youth Development/HHS Extension Educator
Kyle Weaver, 4-H Youth Development/ANR Extension Educator
Tanya Pike, Office Manager

4-H Clubs

By participating in a 4-H Club you will meet new friends and learn many new skills. The club leaders can also offer you help on choosing an exhibit.
Some 4-H Clubs are specific to a project, while others are more general in nature. Switzerland County 4-H Clubs include:

  • 4-H Rockers
  • Center Square Champs
  • Kountry Kids
  • Moorefield Celebrities
  • Pleasant Outlaws 

If you do not wish to belong to a club you may be an Independent Study 4-H Member. (With this option you will work on your exhibits on your own at home)

Mini 4-H Day Camp

Each summer, usually in June, you will be invited to Mini 4-H Day Camp. You are encouraged to attend this day long camp (8:30 am – 2:30 pm) that will focus on you and Mini 4-H. The day is packed full of activities, recreation, snacks and projects. Mini 4-H Day Camp is held in the Community Building on the fairgrounds. Some of the focuses of Mini 4-H Day Camp is to experience different 4-H projects and help Mini 4-H’ers get acquainted with the fairgrounds.
You will complete different craft, STEM projects, and other activities. These projects may even be used as your exhibit project at the fair.
Watch the mail for an application. You are sure to have FUN!!!! There is a small fee to attend Mini 4-H Day Camp (typically $5), but again cost should not keep you from attending.

Mini 4-H Project Exhibit Options

Special Note To Parents: Remember that the purpose of Mini 4-H is to introduce your child to 4-H, the focus should remain on skills development, completion (not competition) and fun. Choose activities and exhibits that are appropriate to your child’s ability. Large, expensive exhibits are not appropriate, nor are ones that are so complex that you as the parent must complete. Use Mini 4-H as an opportunity to spend time with and share your talents with your child.


Since Mini 4-H is non-competitive, members are allowed to exhibit whatever they wish. Below is a list of Mini 4-H Projects suggested in Switzerland County and examples of exhibits. You are not limited to this list. Let your imagination run wild and prepare an exhibit that you want to make.


Don’t forget the size restrictions on Mini 4-H Projects:

Poster Exhibits: 18 X 22 (this is a standard poster board), with the exhibit tag placed in the lower right hand corner. They need to be covered with plastic and have a stiff backing.

Non – Poster Exhibits: Should be no larger than 24” X 24”.

  • Aerospace:
    • Rocket Paper
    • Airplane
    • Solar System
    • Mobile Pictures of Stars
    • Poster or scrapbook about Aerospace (examples: Constellations, Types
      of Rockets, Planes, Asteroids, Comets or Planets; etc.)
  • Crafts:
    • Painting or Drawings
    • Jewelry
    • Craft Kit
    • Ceramics
    • Seed Picture
    • Gift Bag
    • Needlepoint or counted cross stitch
    • Sculpture
    • Any craft you have made
  • Flowers:
    • Small House Plant you have cared for
    • Cut Blooms in a Vase
    • Poster or scrapbook about Flowers (examples: Flower Parts, Flower Types, How to Care for Flowers, Pictures of you taking care of your Flowers, etc. )
  • Foods:
    • Chocolate No Bake Cookies
    • Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
    • Trail Mix or Popcorn
    • Snack Poster or scrapbook about Foods (examples: Food Guide Pyramid, Good Foods vs. Bad Foods, Kitchen Safety, What you eat, Recipes, Pictures of you preparing food, etc.)
  • Forestry:
    • Drawings of Trees
    • Item you have made from Wood Poster or scrapbook about Forestry (examples: Leaf Collection, Leaf Rubbings, Parts of a Tree, Uses of Wood, Types of Trees, Trip to the Forest, etc.)
  • Models:
    • Snap Together Plastic Model
    • Model made from Clay or Popsicle Sticks
    • Model made from Legos, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, etc.
    • Models of Scenery (examples: farm scenes, houses, towns, etc.) Poster or scrapbook about Models (examples: Pictures of you building Models, Types of Models, etc.)
  • Pets:
    • Drawing of Your Pet
    • Story About Your Pet
    • Poster or scrapbook about Pets (examples: Pictures of You and Your Pet, Types of Pets, What to Feed a Pet, Type of Pet you would like to have, etc.)
  • Wildlife:
    • Bird, Fish or Mammal Mobile
    • Birdhouse
    • Collection of Insects
    • Chart of Your Observations of Wildlife
    • Poster or scrapbook about Wildlife (examples: Types of Birds, Fish or Mammals, Trip to the Zoo, Where Animals Live, Animal Characteristics, etc.)

Where to Turn For Help

The great thing about 4-H is that there is always someone willing to help. Before you get frustrated and not complete your exhibits, try one of the following places to get the answers you need:

  • 4-H Newsletter
  • 4-H Parents
  • Older 4-H Members
  • 4-H Volunteers – Club Leaders, Livestock Committee Members and Superintendents, 4-H Council Members
  • Stop by the Extension Office
  • Call the Extension Office at 812-427-3152
  • E-mail one of the 4-H Youth Development Extensions Educators, Kyle Weaver, at keweaver@purdue.edu , or Hailey Dornbusch, at hdornbus@purdue.edu.
  • Visit the Extension Office Website at https://extension.purdue.edu/switzerland
  • Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/purdueextensionswitzerlandcounty/
    These are in no order; you should choose the avenue you are most comfortable with. Do not be afraid to ask questions, many people before you have asked the same question.