4-H Alumni

Outstanding 4-H Alumni Award – Nominations Open!

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The Fairfield County Junior Leaders are honored to recognize two former 4-H’ers who have been selected as outstanding 4-H Alumni. This award annually recognizes one male and one female former 4-H member (any county or state) for their outstanding contribution(s) to the 4-H program as adult volunteers. In addition to their own individual plaques, the outstanding 4-H Alumni will also have their names added to our 4-H Alumni Award Plaque which is on display in the lobby of the Fairfield County Extension Office.

Please submit this form: 2025 Outstanding Alumni Nomination Form by December 15th to nominate a former 4-H member for this award along with a short reason why he or she should be recognized.

Anyone is welcome to nominate Outstanding 4-H Alumni! Please nominate one man and one woman who are 4-H Alumni. They can be from any state or county 4-H program. This award is not limited to just current advisors! This award annually recognizes one male and one female former 4-H member (any county or state) for their outstanding contribution(s) to the 4-H program as adult volunteers. Please submit a nomination form for a former 4-H member for this award and include a short description on why they should be recognized.

The 4-H Endowment Board is looking for new members to start the year!

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The Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Board is committed to supporting the County’s 4-H program in a variety of ways that includes fundraising for needs that are beyond traditional funding resources. Many thanks for the time and effort of our Board members past and present. The Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Board includes up to 25 members who may be 4-H volunteers, 4-H alumni, 4-H members, representatives from business and organizations, and the general public. The Board also includes the Fairfield County 4-H Educators and the County 4-H Advisory Committee President (or their designee).

The 4-H Endowment Board is always looking for new members from the community who wish to get more involved in our long term fundraising efforts of the Fairfield County 4-H Program. Persons interested in volunteering for the Board may complete an application at any time. Upon selection to the Board, the 4-H Endowment President will reach out to you with more information.

4-H Endowment Board Member Application

Board Mission: The purpose of the Board shall be to solicit contributions, gifts, grants, and bequests to be invested through The Ohio State University Endowment and the Fairfield County Foundation, the annual income from which shall be used to provide a sound source of program funding for the 4-H youth and volunteers of the Fairfield County 4-H Youth Development Program. This support may include, but is not limited to, the funding of trips and awards for 4-H members, volunteer leaders, and friends of 4-H; sponsoring seminars and programs; purchasing material and services that will supplement 4-H programming or increase visibility and public support of 4-H in Fairfield County; fundraising activities of the Board or other organizations conducting fundraising to benefit 4-H in Fairfield County; the partial or full funding of professional and administrative staff positions to administer the Fairfield County 4-H Youth Development Program; and other funding for the 4-H youth and volunteers of the Fairfield County 4-H Youth Development Program. For more details please read the 4-H Endowment Brochure.

Expectations: Support the mission of the board, attend meetings, assist with event preparation, work board events. There is no obligation to donate financially to the board’s mission. However, you may incur expenses while volunteering, such as your time and travel, that cannot be reimbursed. If selected to the 4-H Endowment Board, your attendance at board meetings, the annual Legacy Dinner, and awareness breakfast are expectations of all members.

Ohio 4-H Recognition Awards – Due December 1st

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The deadline to submit nominations for the 2026 Ohio 4-H Recognition Awards which are presented at the Ohio 4-H Conference in March is DECEMBER 1, 2025!! Nominations can be made by anyone (4-H Professionals, 4-H Volunteers, etc.) but the application must be filled out completely including references (if required) to be accepted.

Awards include:

    • 4-H Hall of Fame: https://go.osu.edu/halloffameaward 
      • Recognizes individuals who have made significant lifetime contributions to the Ohio 4-H program and who have also made an important positive impact upon clubs, communities, and the state 4-H program. Must have at least 15 years of service.
    • Meritorious Service: https://go.osu.edu/meritoriousaward
      • Recognizes adult 4-H volunteers who have made a positive influence in the lives of Ohio 4-H members. Volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional service at the club or county level. Must have at least 10 years of service.
    • Community Service: https://go.osu.edu/4hcommunityserviceaward
      • Recognizes adults and youth 4-H volunteers who have collaborated with community groups or undertaken them with their own 4-H club or unit, community service projects or activities.
    • Innovator: https://go.osu.edu/innovatoraward
      • Recognizes adult and/or youth volunteers who have developed and implemented new programs, county projects, or activities.
    • Friend of 4-H: https://go.osu.edu/friendof4haward
      • An individual, family, business, or corporation that supports the Ohio 4-H Program in a charitable manner at the county, state, or national level.
    • 4-H Alumni: https://go.osu.edu/4halumniaward
      • Young Alumni Award (21-34)
      • Experienced Alumni Award (35+)
      • Recognizes Ohio 4-H Alumnus who has demonstrated distinctive achievement in career or service and can attribute part of their success to participating in 4-H.

For more information on the awards and applications go to: https://ohio4h.org/about/ohio-4-h-conference  The Qualtrics applications and the paper applications can be found on this site. Applications can be submitted in the Qualtrics or by completing the fillable “paper” or PDF application and sending it by email to smith.11958@osu.edu but we must receive them by December 1st.

***Reminder, if you submitted an applicant last year for an award and they were not chosen, please feel free to resubmit that application this year. We had many qualified applicants that were not chosen last year because of the amount of applications we received.

REMEMBER….Award applications must be received by Sunday, December 1, 2025

Join the 4 H For Good Challenge

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Help us recognize all the 4‑H’ers making a positive impact in their communities — and challenge others to do the same!

Starting October 9, through November 21, join the 4‑H For Good Challenge with the new film, Wicked: For Good, and put your hands and heart together to do good. Here’s how to join:

  1. Do Something Good, big or small, every act counts!
  2. Share a post on social with your heart hands  💚 💗 using #4HForGood and tag @4H.

Tag four friends and invite them to do something good too! Together, we’ll create positive change across the country.

DO SOMETHING WICKEDLY GOOD

Teen/Young Alumni Opportunity: Join the Ohio 4-H Foundation Board (apply by November 3rd)

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The Ohio 4-H Foundation is led by a volunteer board made up of business leaders, Extension staff, community members, and youth representatives from across the state. The board supports 4-H by reviewing funding proposals, awarding scholarships, and guiding investments that benefit youth development programs. It also serves as a key advisory and outreach group for OSU Extension.

We’re currently seeking applicants for two open positions:

  • Early Career Professional: Ohio 4-H alumni ages 21–30. Term: Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2028
  • Teen Member: Current 4-H members ages 14–18 as of Jan. 1, 2025. Term: Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2028

Learn more and apply at: ohio4h.org/foundation/about-ohio-4-h-foundation/foundation-board

Current HS Seniors – please complete the Ohio 4-H Pathways to the Future Survey by October 31st

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A reminder email will be sent to families with current 4-H members who are seniors in high school later today encouraging participation. The survey closes on October 31, and your input is vital to helping us support their post-secondary goals and strengthen our collaboration with the Ohio State CFAES Admissions Team.

Survey Link: https://go.osu.edu/postsecondaryplans

Thank you again for your continued support in helping our 4-H youth prepare for their futures!

Help us Stock the Trailer & Fill the Pantries!!

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The Fairfield County 4-H Junior Leaders are looking for Financial Donors to support the Stock the Trailer Campaign. The Junior Leaders have a goal of collecting 10,000 pounds of food for this year’s drive. Financial donors can help us reach that goal by making a monetary donation to the campaign so that we can buy canned goods that are most needed at the pantries across Fairfield County. If enough funds are raised, the Junior Leaders will purchase hogs that will be processed, and the meat will be donated to local pantries to help our neighbors in need!

Help us cover the wall! All donors who financially contribute to the campaign will have their logo on display above the trailer in the 4-H Display Barn for the entire Fairfield County Fair Week.

Donations can be made to Fairfield County 4-H Junior Leaders, and dropped off to the Fairfield County Extension Office (831 College Ave, Suite D, Lancaster, OH 43130).

 

Last Call for Fair Bench Sponsors

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Purchase a 175th Anniversary Fairfield County Fair Bench

We are down to our Final 2 Benches that need a sponsor!

Join the Fairfield County 4-H Junior Leaders & the Fairfield County Senior Fair Board as they celebrate the 175th Fairfield County Fair by purchasing an anniversary bench! Community members can purchase an 8-foot bench with custom plaque for $580 to be displayed on the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. Benches are made from recycled plastic bottle caps that 4-H clubs and community members collected. The cost of the bench includes the bench, shipping, assembly and a custom plaque. All benches purchased through this partnership would become the property of the Fairfield County Ag Society unless prior arrangements are made.

Orders can be placed online at: go.osu.edu/175bench! Hurry and order yours today as there are a limited number available! Questions? Contact OSU Extension at 740-653-5419.

 

Club Contest – Stock the Trailer during the Fairfield County Fair!

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The Fairfield County Junior Leaders are asking for your help with a Fairfield County Fair canned food drive!! Farm Credit Mid-America is challenging County Fairs all across the State to help fill local food pantries with their STOCK THE TRAILER, FILL THE PANTRY food drive.  By participating in this event you will allow youth to compete for monetary prizes awarded by Farm Credit for those fairs bringing in the most pounds of canned food donated.  Our goal is to collect 10,000 pounds of canned goods during the Fairfield County Fair. Clubs can drop off their items in the 4-H Display Barn and label with their club name. Junior Leaders will weigh food throughout the week to see which clubs, chapters or scout troops have the most. The top 5 groups by weight will receive a cash prize.

Items of Most Need Right Now: Canned Meat, Pasta Dishes, Fruit, Vegetables, and Soups. All food collected will be donated to Food Pantries across Fairfield County via the Fairfield County Hunger Collation. The collation includes 30-50 pantries from Pickerington to Sugar Grove and Lithopolis to Bremen.

 

Community Members can donate too: The Junior Leaders will be collecting your donations every day during the fair, there will be containers by the General Parking Area, Ed Sands Building, and the 4-H Display Barn. The contest ends on the last day of the Fairfield County Fair, October 11! Don’t want to shop?… send a monetary donation to the attention of the Fairfield County Junior Leaders 4-H Club c/o OSU Extension 831 College Avenue, Suite D, Lancaster, OH 43130.  We will send our Junior Leaders out to shop for you.   Your support helps our YOUTH  give back!!

Lancaster Greenhouse Fundraiser – May 2-4, 2025

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Come support the Fairfield County 4-H Advisory Committee by shopping at the Lancaster Greenhouse and Nursery, May 2-4, 2025! Hours for this sale are Friday, May 2nd from 9am-7pm, Saturday, May 3 from 9am-6pm, and Sunday, May 4 from 11am-5pm.

Read on for More Details….

  • In Store Sales:
    • Distribute the coupon above to all family and friends. A whole page of coupons can be found here: Lancaster Greenhouse 05.2025
    • Group supporters will shop as a “normal customer” on the above dates listed.  If we happen to have any current in-store sales and promotions taking place, they will be able to take advantage of those just like a typical customer.
    • At time of checkout, customers will give a copy of the attached coupon to our cashier so we know they are associated with your group and 15% of their transaction will be donated back to your group (not the customer).
    • Absolutely no coupons can be distributed at the store location

 

This is a fundraising event for the 4-H Advisory Committee. The 4-H Advisory Committee supports county 4-H programming for all youth members and adult volunteers including, but not limited to: Awards and banquets, Trips and scholarships, Printing costs, Special programming costs, and more! Please share this post with family members and friends!