Event Reservations Due: May 25, 2023 – RSVP deadline extended through May 31st.

LANCASTER, Ohio – The Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Board is hosting the annual Legacy Dinner where 4-H supporters can enjoy a night out on June 8, as well as raise funds for the 4-H program. The event will be hosted at Home of Joy Farm in Lancaster, Ohio, starting with a social hour and silent auction at 5 p.m., followed by dinner catered by Cheers Chalet at 6 p.m. The program and live auction will commence at 7 p.m.

Event tickets are $75 per person, and table sponsorships that seat eight people are available for $750.

“Being a 4-H alumna of Fairfield County, I want to see the program continue to grow and support our youth,” said Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Board President Heather Wilson. “Our board members are dedicated to this mission, and it’s been great to see local businesses, community members and 4-H families generously support the endowment since 2006. We’re excited to bring the community together again to support this cause and enjoy a night of fun and socialization.”

Although planning for the endowment was started in 2000, it became fully endowed in 2006. The first Legacy Dinner was held in 2010 and has grown to more than 350 attendees supporting the youth in the Fairfield County 4-H program. The goal of the board is to generate funds sufficient to endow a 4-H position in Fairfield County and support the 4-H youth development program, allowing the 4-H tradition to continue for generations to come.

“Our county’s 4-H program serves over 3,000 youth each year through traditional club and school enrichment programming,” said Fairfield County 4-H Extension Educator Leslie Cooksey. “The endowment board works hard to ensure 4-H remains funded in the county for generations to come.”

Business owners and employees, 4-H families, community members and all 4-H supporters are invited to attend the event to support the future of the 4-H program in Fairfield County.

Sponsorships are available:

• Platinum: $3,000 (receive 2 dinner tickets)
• Gold: $1,000 (receive 2 dinner tickets)
• Silver: $500 (receive 2 dinner tickets)
• Bronze: $250

For more information on what’s included in sponsorship levels, contact:
Heather Wilson, Board President at Heather.wilson.2011@gmail.com or 614-905-6866.

Click here to view 2023 Legacy Dinner Invite and 2023 Response Card.

Checks can be made payable to one of two funds:

• 4-H Fairfield County Foundation Fund (Money stays in Fairfield County. No Ohio State University gift credit given)
• Fairfield County 4-H Endowment. On the check memo line designate: Fund #642082** (Earn Ohio State University gift credit and receive a giving receipt from The Ohio State University)

“4-H camps and trips are great learning experiences for youth and teens,” said Fairfield County 4-H Extension Educator Aubry Fowler. “The endowment board helps to fund many of those life-changing trips for 4-H members each year from interest money alone.”

The 2023 event is to be held at Home of Joy Farm located at 3315 Lake Rd NE, Lancaster, OH 43130. Reservations and payment should be mailed to: Fairfield County 4-H Endowment, c/o Ron Ruff, 2700 Kull Road, Lancaster, OH 43130.

To subscribe to updates, visit the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment blog at u.osu.edu/4hlegacy

About the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment
The endowment was created in 2006 to raise funds to support the future of the 4-H program in Fairfield County and endow a position of a 4-H Educator if other funding sources dwindle. The 4-H Endowment consists of two permanent funds made possible through individual donations, business contributions and fundraising events. The 4-H Fairfield County Foundation Fund allows the money to be housed in Fairfield County. (No OSU gift credit given) and the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment is operated by the Ohio State University (Fund #642082). Visit fairfield.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/endowment to learn more.

About the Fairfield County 4-H Program
4-H is a non-formal educational, youth development program offered to individuals age 5 and in kindergarten to age 19. The Fairfield County 4-H program was founded in 1920. The program currently reaches more than 3,000 youth each year through traditional club and school enrichment programming – helping kids “learn by doing” through hands-on activities. For more information, visit fairfield.osu.edu.

The holidays will be here soon and we know many may be preparing for #GivingTuesday. We are fortunate to work with the Fairfield County Foundation during their 33 hour give once again this year. This is a time where the community is invited to support the organizations they choose. We are gracious for any support our 4-H family and friends contribute to the long-term fundraising efforts and sustainability of the Fairfield County 4-H Program.

If you’d like to make a #GivingTuesday donation to support Fairfield County 4-H, we invite you to drop off your donation at the Fairfield Foundation beginning at 8:00 a.m. on November 29th through 5:00 p.m. on November 30th or you can make donations online.

A few things to note:

• Support the Fairfield County 4-H Program by donating to this fund: 4-H Fairfield County Foundation Fund
• Donations must be made online at www.fairfieldcountyfoundation.org through the Donate Now link or in person at the Fairfield County Foundation office, during the specified date and time.
• Donations received through the mail will not count toward the match.  
• At least $33,000 in matching gifts will be awarded. All donations received during the 33-Hour Give will be eligible for matching funds on a pro rata basis, which gives everyone who participates the opportunity to have their donations increased.

Matching gifts will be distributed based on the percentage each fund receives of the total contributions made during the 33-Hour Give. No single gift, by an individual, to a single organization, can receive more than 20% of the total match amount. For example, a fund with donations that account for 5% of the total 33-Hour Give contributions would receive 5% of the $33,000 in matching funds, or $1,650.

Questions? Contact 4-H Educator, Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu or 740-653-5419.

Thank you for supporting the Fairfield County 4-H Program!

On behalf of the 4-H Endowment Board, thank you to all 4-H alumni, parents, and donors who helped make the 2022 4-H Legacy Dinner possible! With over 175 individuals in attendance, we enjoyed fellowship and shared continue support of one of Ohio’s largest 4-H programs in the state. Over $9200 was raised that evening of the even to support the Fairfield County 4-H Endowments.

Were you unable to attend but wish to support the 4-H Endowment Funds? Contact Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu to discuss options. We recognize that this year’s dinner looked a bit different compared to our last dinner in 2019 – feel free to send any feedback for future 4-H fundraising events to Leslie as well and she will share this with the 4-H Endowment Board as they make future decisions.

Thanks again to our live auction donors:

• Buckeye Ready Mix donated ten yards of concrete.
• Four (4) 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Tickets, being held on Monday, December 5 in the Thomas and Mack Arena on the campus of UNLV in Las Vegas. These tickets are the generous donation of the Michael Family.
• Again this year Auman Landscape donated TWO 6-7 foot trees.
• Back, yet again, by popular demand . . . Lancaster’s oldest independent grocery – Bay Food Market along with Bay Packing donated half a processed hog, times 2 of them!
• McGuire’s Distinctive Truck and Ruff & Associates donated a Husqvarna leaf blower and pressure washer.
• OSU football tickets with parking pass has been donated by Buckeye Ready Mix.

Additionally, we were excited to feature a few of our 4-H members who have taken 4-H projects where they have mastered various talents and creativity. Items donated by Fairfield County 4-H members:

• 4-H member, Kendall Wild, donated two homemade pies with cinnamon minis!
• 4-H’er Destiny McCray painted two beautiful art pieces representing 4-H including a bald eagle and a peacock.

Pictures from the event have been shared on the Ohio State-Fairfield County 4-H Facebook Page