The year isn’t quite over yet, but you can read the 2020 Ohio 4-H Impact Report online! Learn about the terrific things that 4-H members and professionals accomplished this year athttps://ohio4h.org/foundation/ohio-4-h-youth-development-impact-report?

To Our 4-H Families:

As you know, COVID-19 is on the rise in Ohio and because 4-H’ers pledge their health to better living, we must do our part to not contribute to its spread. Ohio 4-H is a part of a land-grant academic institution; we follow science and  model what the CDC, Ohio Department of Health and other experts stress is important in addressing this virus. As a result, in an effort to keep our 4-H families, volunteers, and communities safe, effective December 7, 2020, all 4-H meetings and events are to be canceled, postponed, or held virtually until January 15, 2021.

All 4-H volunteers are expected to follow these guidelines regarding 4-H meetings and events. Volunteers who are not in compliance and hold in-person 4-H events and activities will receive a first warning. A second incident disregarding our effort to protect the health, safety and well-being of members, families and communities will result in immediate termination of volunteer status.

The Ohio Public Health Advisory System indicates the status of counties based on a color-coded system. If a county is purple or approaching purple, OSU Extension offices will be closed and employees will be working virtually. If a county is red, OSU Extension offices will be staffed by appointment only. You will need to call in advance to schedule a time to go to the office. Please note there may be additional guidelines from county health departments.

We are incredibly proud of the efforts of our 4-H youth and volunteers who remain committed to making the best better and look forward to the time when we can safely meet together.

Yours in service to 4-H,

Kirk Bloir

State 4-H Leader

Assistant Director, OSU Extension

Join the Ohio 4-H Foundation for this year’s Celebration of Youth event on Thursday, November 5 at 7:00. This year, for the first time, the virtual event is open to everyone free of charge.  Participants will enjoy a program featuring many Ohio 4-H members and an online auction. Funds raised from Celebration of Youth support Ohio 4-H programming and operations to help engage youth across Ohio’s 88 counties. Please visit go.osu.edu/COY for event details, sponsorship information, and registration for the event.

Since the 2020 Ohio 4-H Conference was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio 4-H was not able to present our teen and adult award winners and tenured volunteers with their awards.  Instead of waiting for the 2021 Conference to make the presentations, Ohio 4-H has chosen to host a virtual award presentation on December 1. Be sure to check it out!

This fall, Teen Leadership Council will again be hosting two different Achievement Form Workshops for 4-H members statewide!

• October 7, 2020 (7:00-9:00 p.m. on Zoom): An informational session will be held, providing a basic overview of the Achievement Form, giving introductory tips for completion, and sharing about potential opportunities available to members who complete and submit their forms.
  • Must register at go.osu.edu/AchForm2020 by October 5 to receive Zoom information for the workshop.

• November 14, 2020 (5:30-7:30 p.m. on Zoom): A more in-depth session will be offered for those who have completed or made significant progress on their form; small group coaching will be available for members to receive personalized feedback.
  • Must register at go.osu.edu/AchForm2020 by November 12 to receive Zoom information for the workshop.

More information can also be found at go.osu.edu/TLC.

We’re excited to offer virtual STEM-focused programming during this year’s online Farm Science Review. Plan to join us on September 22, 23, and 24 to take virtual tours and field trips, learn about watershed and stream health, explore careers in agriculture, and more. The schedule for our virtual 4-H STEM Tent is below. More information, including how to register to participate in these free sessions, will be coming soon.

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020

9 AM-10 AM – Virtual Video Tour of Myers Hatchery and Dialog

10:15 AM – Explore Agriculture in Hawaii Using Google Expedition

11 AM-Noon – Egg Catcher STEM Challenge

12:15 PM – Virtual Video Tours of Young’s Jersey Dairy and/or Guiggsberg Cheese

1:15 PM-2:15 PM – From Moo to You Dairy Science Lab at GISA

2:30 PM – Career Explorer

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020

9 AM-10 AM – Soil Health Challenge

10:15 AM – Soil Broken Down

11:00 AM – Clean Water STEM Pathways Challenge

Noon – 1 PM – Water Quality Challenge

1:15 PM-2:15 PM – Watershed and Stream Health

2:30 PM – Finding the Right Career Path, Assessing Your Employable Skills

Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020

9 AM-10 AM – Virtual Video Tour of Robotics Dairy Systems

10:15 AM – Cookie Prospecting STEM Pathways Challenge

11:00 AM – A Boost Against Arthritis STEM Pathways Challenge

Noon to 1 PM – Agriculture Mechanization STEM Challenge

1:15 PM-2:15 PM – From Pasture to Plate Virtual Video Tour and Meat Science Lab

2:30 PM – Virtual Video Tour of John Deere Tractor Simulator and Ag STEM Career Discussion