Author: Leslie Cooksey

Ohio BASS Nation Community Club

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If you have a passion for the great sport of bass fishing, but do not have a school or community sponsored team, the Ohio BASS Nation now has a way for you to compete at the state level, with the potential to earn scholarship funds, and a path to the national stage! All anglers who currently attend high school in the state of Ohio are invited to join a “Community Club.”

Visit the Ohio BASS Nation website or contact Tasha Burgess, Ohio BASS Nation Youth Director, at obnyouth@gmail.com for more information.

President’s Environmental Youth Award

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Encourage youth with an existing environmental stewardship project or an idea for a project to apply so that their achievements can be further recognized. The President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects developed by K-12 youth. The PEYA program promotes awareness of our nation’s natural resources and encourages positive community involvement.

Youth must have completed their project while they were in kindergarten through the 12th grade and the project must be sponsored by an adult who is 21 or older. Applicants from all 50 states as well as U.S. territories are eligible to compete for a national Presidential award.

Visit the President’s Environmental Youth Aware webpage for more information about eligibility requirements, judging criteria, and how to apply.

Explore Maine’s Aquaculture Industry with Virtual Field Trips from Maine 4-H

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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.

Ohio 4-H Stickers Available

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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.

Teen Opportunity: ODNR Now Accepting Applications for November Job Shadow Program

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Attention high school juniors and seniors: the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is excited to announce its upcoming Job Shadow Program this November! This unique opportunity allows students to explore career paths in wildlife, parks, conservation, and more getting an inside look at what a future in natural resources could be.

ODNR Director Mary Mertz emphasizes, “It’s so important that we host these job shadow days to allow future conservationists the opportunity to learn and get excited about what a career at ODNR can look like for them one day.”

ODNR’s Job Shadow Day will be held on Friday, Nov. 22, and applications are being accepted through Oct. 25. Don’t miss your chance to experience a day in the life of Ohio’s dedicated conservation professionals! Apply now on the ODNR Job Shadow webpage.

Coming October 30: Meet the Authors of Mentoring: Leadership in Action!

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Are you a 4-H member looking to lead, or do you know one who is? If so, register for National 4-H’s Meet the Authors Webinar on October 30! Authors Gwen Soule and Lisa Brenner will showcase the Ohio 4-H project, Mentoring: Leadership in Action. In this project, youth can refine their skills as a mentor and be the one a younger member looks up to for reassurance and guidance. This project is for youth 13 or older with at least two years of 4-H experience.

Register for the webinar and mark your calendar today!

Teen Opportunity: Virtual Workshop on Ohio 4-H Achievement Forms – October 20th

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Want to learn more about the Ohio 4-H Achievement Form, plan to connect virtually on October 20th. Please RSVP by October 17th to receive the Zoom link. Can’t attend virtually? Save the date for Fairfield County’s 4-H Achievement Workshop on Tuesday, December 3rd (details will be shared this fall).

The Ohio 4-H Achievement Record is a 4-H members’ path to national trips and opportunities! Join us virtually on October 20 to learn more about what the 4-H Achievement Record is and how to get started! RSVP today at go.osu.edu/AchForm2024 or find more information at https://ohio4h.org/awardsandscholarships.

Beef Exhibitors: Showing at the 2025 Ohio State Fair – DNA/EID Tag Info

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The Ohio State Fair requires all market beef entered in the 2025 Ohio State Fair to have individual DNA samples taken from each animal that may potentially be entered. These DNA samples must be in the possession of the Ohio State Fair by January 15.  Attached is a document containing sample collection instructions: DNA Sample Collection Instructions 2025. Please read the attached instructions that will be a part of each sample collection kit, and contact the Ohio State Fair, if you have any questions (Andi Hershey, A.Hershey@expo.ohio.gov ).

Continuing in 2025: Ohio State Fair will NOT be providing EID tags for market beef entries.

Exhibitors must get their own 840 tags for their entries. The EID 840 tag number MUST be listed on the envelope with the DNA sample.

DNA sample collection kits will be available at the Fairfield County Extension Office (first come first serve as we will have a limited supply) and can be picked up by the individual directly from the OSF fairgrounds. Prior to submission, the nomination envelope for each sample kit remitted must be signed by either the 4-H professional or FFA advisor, depending in which organization the youth is taking the market animal(s).

Also note that youth showing at any of the BEST sanctioned shows must have EID tags in their calves prior to the first show in which they exhibit. BEST shows occurring prior to the January 15 deadline to submit samples to OSF include: Mardi Gras Masquerade (November 22-24, Circleville), AGR Holiday Classic (December 6-8, Columbus), Northern Lights BEST Show (December 13-15, Wauseon), Saddle & Sirloin Spectacular (December 27-29, Circleville), and Scarlet & Gray Midwest Showdown (January 3-5, Columbus). DNA kits will be available at these BEST shows, but exhibitors are responsible for submitting the kits directly to OSF.

Please remember:

  • Beef DNA/EID kits will be due to state fair by the normal January 15th date.  Kits will be mailed back to State Fair.

Teen Opportunity: Ignite by 4-H National Summit

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Ignite by 4-H is a national summit designed to bring high school youth (between 13-18) together from across the country and give them the opportunity to explore the best 4-H has to offer in different tracks including STEM, Agriscience, and Healthy Living. A hallmark of Ignite is the Lead to Change campaign which empowers youth to be Agents of Change where you (as a delegation) will create and present a proposal to address issues within your community. The best proposals are then awarded funding for implementation. In 2025, Ignite by 4-H returns for youth to attend in-person in Washington D. C. during March 12-16, 2025.

Who: High School Aged Teens (13-18) interested in Agriscience, Healthy Living or STEM

Where: Washington, DC (Marriott Marquis – 901 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC)

When: Wednesday, March 12th – Sunday, March 16th

Application: Apply online at go.osu.edu/4Hignite by November 1 at 11:59pm

Cost: Selected delegates will have summit registration and travel expenses covered

2025 National Ignite by 4-H Summit

Ignite by 4-H National Summit

Wednesday, March 12th – Sunday, March 16th in Washington D.C

 

 

Teen Opportunity: Applications are now open for Ohio 4-H Delegates to the 2025 National 4-H Conference!

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Any 4-H member in Ohio ages *14-18 is able to apply by completing the Qualtrics survey linked below in this email.

Basic Information:

  • National 4-H Conference is specifically focused on civic engagement, civic education, and personal development. Delegates arrive ready to connect, learn, engage, lead, and impact their communities, their nation, and their world. In 2024, National 4-H Conference returns for youth delegates to attend in-person in Washington, D.C., April 10-16, 2025 (Ohio delegates arrive a day early on April 10. Conference begins April 11).
  • Interested Ohio 4-H members must complete an application via Qualtrics (linked at bottom) by December 1 at 11:59 p.m. *Applicants must be 15-18 as of January 1, 2025, and currently enrolled as an Ohio 4-H member in 2025.
  • After an application is received, the State 4-H Office will request a referral from county 4-H professional for the respective candidate.
  • A selection board of advisors, 4-H educators, and past attendees will review applications and conduct interviews, as needed.
  • Those selected will be expected to fully engage in all pre-conference and conference activities and adhere to all National 4-H guidelines, complete all required work as a result of conference participation, and share knowledge gained with Ohio 4-H upon their return.
  • More information about the opportunity can be found on the website: https://go.osu.edu/N4HC

See the attached document for the example application, and then be sure to have interested members submit an application via Qualtrics: https://go.osu.edu/N4HCapp

2025 National 4-H Conference Delegate Application Questions