Welcome to the NEW blog for Hamilton County 4-H! Here you will find all the 4-H updates and current information. Make sure to subscribe to the blog to receive all the latest from Hamilton County 4-H right in your inbox.
In Ohio 4-H, we empower youth with the skills they need to lead for a lifetime! 4-H inspires curiosity, builds lifelong skills, fuels adventure, and grows leaders through fun, hands-on activities, that include clubs, projects, service, and camps.
Don’t forget to send in your senior pictures and questionnaire to Claire by tomorrow, May 16!! Email to Linepensel.2@osu.edu
Link to the Questionnaire: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:44442036-c2e6-4863-9349-b2179a1ed051
We’re excited to announce that 2025 4-H Camp registration is now OPEN! Camp will take place June 9–12, 2025 at beautiful 4-H Camp Graham in Clarksville, Ohio.
Camp is a fantastic opportunity for youth to build friendships, develop leadership skills, enjoy nature, and make lifelong memories—all in a fun, supportive environment led by trained staff and counselors.
📅 Camp Dates: June 9–12, 2025
📍 Location: 4-H Camp Graham, 164 Spring Hill Rd, Clarksville, OH 45113
🧒 Open to: [Insert age range or eligibility criteria here]
💻 Register today: https://go.osu.edu/clerhamcamp25
Registration Deadline is May 23, 2025.
Spots fill up fast, so don’t delay! Join us for four days of adventure, learning, and fun at one of the best weeks of the summer.
If you have any questions about camp or the registration process, feel free to contact Claire Linepensel at Linepensel.2@osu.edu or 513-824-3277.
We can’t wait to see you at Camp Graham!
The youth taking the project and their parents are responsible for knowing project requirements, all form requirements, and deadlines.
This post contains important HCCFair and 4-H related information, please be sure to read this email in entirety.
Volunteers Needed 2 Events
Flower Planting at Stricker’s
This coming Saturday, May 3, from 8:00 am to 10:00 am, we need volunteers to plant flowers at Stricker’s Grove in the bed in front of the hall. If you are available to help, please use the link below to sign up. The flowers, dirt, and mulch will all be at Stricker’s. Please bring small gardening/planting shovels, rakes, and gloves with you.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054FA5A628A7FE3-56582276-flower
Camp Graham Clean Up
Did you know that Hamilton County 4-H is the owner of a 4-H Camp? Since 1948, 4-H’ers from Hamilton County have camped at 4-H Camp Graham in Clarksville, OH. There will be a camp clean up day on May 10th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. This is a great opportunity for clubs to complete their required service project for the year as well as a chance for members and parents to check out the camp. You can schedule a time to help out by emailing our camp manager at campgraham4@gmail.com. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Hamilton County Community Fair Association Purpose, Membership Fee & Benefits
The deadline to join the Hamilton County Community Fair Association and receive the benefits of being a member is Sunday, June 1.
No late membership registrations will be accepted.
The purpose of the Hamilton County Community Fair Association is to conduct a community fair and other events that foster youth development, support 4-H club work in Hamilton County, Ohio, and render such other services as may be practicable to improve 4-H work.
Membership in the Hamilton County Community Fair Association is open to anyone interested in promoting 4-H in Hamilton County, including 4-H members and their families.
There is a $15 non-refundable annual membership fee for all members. For this fee, each member will receive a week-long pass to the Hamilton County Community Fair and other member-only benefits and events throughout the year. Members 13 years and older will receive voting rights in the association.
There are two options for becoming an Association member: print and submit the Membership form (Rulebook Appendix A attached to this email) along with payment or complete the online form and submit payment via credit card. There is a convenience fee for online payments. Please use the following link to access the online form.
https://www.cognitoforms.com/HamiltonCountyCommunityFair/HamiltonCountyCommunityFairAssociationMembership
**Those who do not pay the Association membership fee by June 1, will be required to pay daily admission upon entering the fairgrounds during the fair.
HCCFair Association Meeting
The Association meeting will be a meeting on Thursday, June 5 at 6:00 pm and will last no more than 45 minutes. The meeting will be held at the Extension office location, 2055 Reading Rd. Suite 500 Cincinnati, 45202. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
HCCFair Rulebook
It is the responsibility of all members and parents to read and follow the Hamilton County Community Fair guidelines in the rulebook to participate in the fair. The rulebook was emailed out on March 11 and can also be accessed on the fair website, hccfair.com, in the Jr. Fair Exhibitor section.
**Anything that is new in the Rulebook from previous years will be highlighted in yellow.
Project Commitment Forms
Project Commitment Forms are required for both all General Projects and all Livestock Projects.
All Project Commitment Forms will be completed and submitted online only. These forms will declare what projects each youth is bringing to project judging and to the fair. The forms will be used to hire judges, prepare for project judging, and prepare for the fair, their accuracy is important. Please note: Under “Hamilton County Community Fair Registration” in the rulebook there are clear instructions about the requirements to be eligible to compete at the Hamilton County Community Fair.
These forms can be accessed on the fair website, hccfair.com, in the Jr. Fair Exhibitor section or by using the following links to complete the appropriate forms for the projects you will be competing with for the 2025 year.
Beef Breeding https://www.cognitoforms.com/HamiltonCountyCommunityFair/_2025BeefBreedingProjectCommitmentForm
Breeding Goat https://www.cognitoforms.com/HamiltonCountyCommunityFair/_2025BreedingGoatProjectCommitmentForm
Dogs https://www.cognitoforms.com/HamiltonCountyCommunityFair/_2025DogProjectForm
Feeder Calf https://www.cognitoforms.com/HamiltonCountyCommunityFair/_2025FeederCalfProjectForms
General Projects https://www.cognitoforms.com/HamiltonCountyCommunityFair/_2025GeneralProjectsCommitmentForm
Horse https://www.cognitoforms.com/HamiltonCountyCommunityFair/_2025HorseProjectForm
Llama/Alpaca https://www.cognitoforms.com/HamiltonCountyCommunityFair/_2025LlamaAlpacaProjectCommitmentForm
Poultry https://www.cognitoforms.com/HamiltonCountyCommunityFair/_2025PoultryProjectCommitmentForm
Rabbit https://www.cognitoforms.com/HamiltonCountyCommunityFair/_2025RabbitProjectCommitmentForm
Sheep Breeding https://www.cognitoforms.com/HamiltonCountyCommunityFair/_2025SheepBreedingProjectCommitmentForm
Market Beef, Market Goat, Market Hog, & Market Lamb Project Commitment Forms can now be accessed from the link that participants received after completing their possession section of the form.
It’s Your Responsibility
The youth taking the project and their parents are responsible for knowing project requirements, all form requirements, and deadlines.
Late or missing paperwork will make the participant ineligible to compete in the current year at the Hamilton County Community Fair.
Pre-Fair Project Judging
Project judging allows the 4-H participant to show what they have learned during their project. In an effort to effectively evaluate the individual participant’s knowledge and understanding of his/her project, each participant will have the opportunity to participate in a one-on-one interview with an adult “judge” concerning his/her project. The judge will ask questions and give the participant a chance to tell what he/she learned. Participation in Project Judging is not mandatory; it is an optional activity. Only youth participating in Project Judging will be eligible for State Fair and other awards. For more information, refer to the rulebook.
General Project Judging Interviews – Monday, June 30, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pmat Stricker’s Grove
Livestock Project Judging Interviews – Tuesday, July 1, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pmat Stricker’s Grove
Skill-a-thons (Both Livestock and non-livestock) – Tuesday, July 8, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm at Stricker’s Grove
Camping at Fair
Families of enrolled Jr. Fair participants can stay overnight during the Hamilton County Community Fair in the designated camping area. Everyone camping is expected to know and follow the camping guidelines outlined in the form. Pre-registration and payment are required to camp. A limited number of electric spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Camping Fees for Fair: Camper $150.00 Tents $50.00
The camping registration deadline is July 1, 2025
There are two options for registering for a camping spot:
The link to the online form can also be found on the fair website, hccfair.com, at the bottom of the Jr. Fair Exhibitors page.
HCCFair Royalty Contest
Any member between the ages of 15 and 18 as of January 1 who has not been a previous King or Queen is welcome and encouraged to apply for the Royalty Contest. For complete requirements and expectations of responsibilities, please see the attached application. The applications are due by May 31.
Cincinnati Reds Game Fundraiser
Support the home team and Hamilton County 4-H by attending the Ohio 4-H Youth Development Night at the Ballpark on May 16, 2025, 6:40 PM at Great American Ball Park!
On Friday, May 16th as the Cincinnati Reds take on the Cleveland Guardians, the Cincinnati Reds will donate a portion of the proceeds from each ticket sold through this link back to Hamilton County 4-H! On this City Connect Friday, be sure to stick around for the Fireworks Friday Show! We hope to see you at the game in support of Hamilton County 4-H!
Get tickets here: www.gofevo.com/event/Ohio4H25
Upcoming Important Dates/Deadlines
May 1 Possession Date for Breeding Animals (Beef, Goats, Rabbits, Sheep)
Possession Date for Feeder Calves
Possession Date for Cats, Pocket Pets, Pet Rabbits, Exhibition Poultry & Waterfowl
May 5 Earliest Possession Date for Market Ducks and Market Geese
May 6 Hamilton County Community Fair Association & Kelhoffer Memorial Scholarship Application Submission Deadline
May 7 Project Commitment Forms Submission Deadline
Horse Registration Form Submission Deadline
Additional Dog Paperwork Submission Deadline
May 8 Market Animal Registration Form Submission Deadline for Feeder Calves
May 19 Possession Date for Chicken Meat Pens
Latest Possession Date for Market Ducks and Market Geese
May 31 Royalty Contest Applications Due
Did you know that Hamilton County 4-H is the owner of a 4-H Camp? Since 1948, 4-H’ers from Hamilton County have camped at 4-H Camp Graham in Clarksville, OH. This year, we will be camping on June 9-12 and the camper registration will be out soon!
If clubs are looking for an opportunity to check out the camp and do a service project , here’s your chance!
Join us on May 10th from 11am to 5pm. You can schedule a time to help out by emailing our camp manager at campgraham4@gmail.com.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
As a reminder, April 1 is the possession deadline for the following animals for HCCFair participation.
– Dogs
– Market & Dairy Goats
– Market Hogs
– Market Lambs
– Horses
– Llamas & Alpacas
Jr. Fair Exhibitors with Market Goats, Market Hogs, and Market Lambs will need to complete a Possession form, information and instructions to complete the forms will be emailed out by April 1.
Camps/Conferences:
Registration for Ohio 4-H Junior Shooting Sports Camp is open now!
Ohio 4-H Shooting Sports has opened Junior Camp registration. Youth in grades 3-6 are invited to Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp from June 13 to 15 for education sessions on basic shooting and archery disciplines. Additional information about the camp can be found on the Ohio 4-H Shooting Sports website. Registration is open through May 16 and can be completed online. Camp counselors are also encouraged to apply and should do so before May 1.
Reg. link is https://go.osu.edu/jrcampreg25
Events:
Ohio 4-H Spark EXPO
Ohio 4-H Spark EXPO is back! From June 11-14, 2025, students who have completed 8th or 9th grade by the end of the 2024-2025 school year are invited to explore exciting career pathways, engage in hands-on learning experiences, and discover new passions at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. This immersive experience connects youth with industry professionals, faculty, and peers to spark their interests and inspire future career goals.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and explore!
Learn more: go.osu.edu/4hsparkexpo
Other:
Share Your Opinion on 4-H Project Books
Ohio 4-H wants to hear from you! Please let us know which format you prefer for project books by April 15. Take our 2025 survey today at go.osu.edu/printvsdigital2025.
Meet the Authors of READY, SET, … MOW! and ATV SAFETY
Would a small engine or machine safety project pique the interest of a 4-H member you know? If so, plan to join National 4-H’s next Meet the Authors Webinar! Authors Dee Jepson, Forrest Lang, Randall Reeder, and Becky Cropper will showcase the Ohio 4-H projects, Ready, Set, Mow! and ATV Safety in back-to-back sessions.
Register for the webinar today at go.osu.edu/4hmta and mark your calendar for March 26, 2025, at 3:30 pm!
Future 4-H Projects
Attention 4-H members, families, and volunteers! Ohio 4-H would like to know what project topics you would like to see that are not currently offered. Please take the very short survey at go.osu.edu/oh4hprojects and share your project ideas today.
Purchase a Box of C. Krueger’s Cookies and Support Ohio 4-H!
C. Krueger’s is generously supporting Ohio 4-H this year with a custom cookie box! 15% of the proceeds from every cookie box purchased from the Ohio 4-H Foundation Gift Collection will come back to support Ohio 4-H programming. Visit https://ckruegers.com/pages/ohio-4h to purchase your cookies today!
Ohio 4-H Stickers
Put smiles on the faces of your favorite 4-H and family members, helpers, and volunteers!
Pick up a pack of 4-H Sticker Sheets. Each 3.5-inch × 8.75-inch sheet includes include one Ohio 4-H sticker, plenty of 4-H logos, and inspirational reminders about leadership, resilience, perseverance, and innovation. Sold in sets of 25, these sticker sheets are great for rewards, personalizing belongings, scrapbooking, and sharing and trading, too.
America’s Field Trip
America’s Field Trip is designed to engage America’s youth in commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. The contest invites 3rd–12th grade students to reflect on what America means to them through artwork, poems, and 
essays for a chance to explore the historic places that have shaped our nation’s rich history. The 2024-2025 contest is now live and will accept submissions through April 16, 2025.
Student awardees will be able to:
America250 has also worked with Discovery Education to develop lesson plans and other resources to help educators bring the America’s Field Trip contest to their classrooms.
Explore Maine’s Aquaculture Industry with Virtual Field Trips from Maine 4-H
Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) are an innovative way for youth to explore and learn about places and people that would otherwise be infeasible! These immersive, online experiences bring Maine’s thriving aquaculture industry to life—no travel required.
Accessible at no cost, the Virtual Field Trips are designed to break down geographical and financial barriers, making high-quality, hands-on learning available to all. Register online to receive a link to the VFTs. Each field trip also comes with complimentary 4-H activity guides and lesson plans to help facilitate meaningful engagement with youth.
The first VFT currently available features the University of Maine’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR), a large-scale, land-based aquaculture facility in Franklin, Maine. Additional virtual field trips are in development and will be rolled out throughout 2025 and 2026. These experiences offer insight into seafood production, workforce development, career exploration, and STEM concepts related to aquaculture technologies.
To register for a virtual field trip, visit extension.umaine.edu/hancock/aquaculture/vft.
For more information: contact Carla Scocchi, 4-H Youth Development Professional at carla.scocchi@maine.edu.