Looking for new ideas and programming tools for your 4-H Cloverbuds? Check out this blog! You can subscribe to the site and receive an email when new posts are added. The site is searchable by key words and topic to help readers find content. The blog provides a unique blend of education, activities, and fun to build and challenge 4-H Cloverbud Volunteers teaching kindergarten through second grade youth. u.osu.edu/cloverbudconnections/
Below include general reminders and updates related to the 2025 Ohio State Fair:
2025 Fairfield County 4-H Calendar is available online. Please remember to check back for updates periodically as the calendar is subject to change!
Last summer twenty-nine youth were recognized at the 4-H Achievement Awards banquet for their success in specific project areas, as well as their leadership, community service experience, and overall contributions to their county and state 4-H programs.
Just a few short months ago, these same youth had the opportunity to celebrate their hard work as they traveled to Atlanta to participate in National 4-H Congress. 
Ohio youth trading pins with their fellow delegates during an opening session.
This five-day event gave teen 4-H members the opportunity to connect with their fellow youth around the country as they exchanged ideas, attended workshops, gave back through community service work, and grew as young leaders.
Teens kicked off the event by getting to know each other through educational workshops on team building, public speaking, self-care, and more. They also heard from motivational speaker Dr. Laymon Hicks as he shared his strategies for overcoming obstacles, finding motivation from within, and pursuing dreams.
As one of the larger state delegations at National 4-H Congress, the Ohio youth were excited to make new friends and meet fellow 4-H’ers from across the country. During one of the welcome sessions, they participated in a pin exchange with other delegates and met youth who had traveled from Hawaii and Puerto Rico to attend.
Throughout National 4-H Congress, 4-H members also had the opportunity to learn more about the history of Atlanta. In addition to exploring some of Atlanta’s most popular attractions like the Georgia Aquarium, youth participants engaged in an “evening of culture” at the Atlanta History Center.
Another highlight of the experience was the morning of service that all youth delegates participated in. 4-H members were assigned to a variety of community service projects in the Atlanta metro area, with options ranging from landscaping projects at the Piedmont Park Conservancy to reading to youth and assisting with holiday preparations at inner city elementary schools.
Kaleigh Williams, the Ohio 4-H Companion Animals Achievement Award winner, posing for a photo with Brutus during a community service project at Piedmont Park.
Ohio delegates posing for a photo at the Congress Gala.
The Congress Gala served as a culminating celebration for all the youth participants. They dressed to impress as they enjoyed a delicious meal before hitting the dance floor for a final party with their fellow delegates.
“I will always remember this experience and the awesome people I met at Congress,” said Cayden Jones, Ohio delegate and winner of the Shooting Sports Achievement Award. “I have enjoyed everything I have done here, even if it put me outside of my comfort zone. I can’t express how thankful I am to everyone who helped put on this once in a lifetime event.”
Breaking News!!! The Ohio State Fair Livestock Judging Contest will move to Sunday, July 20th this year. This decision resulted after lots of discussion from the committee surrounding schedule conflicts of the fair and accessibility to the areas that we need on the fairgrounds. The contest layout and timeline will remain the same. Please reach out with any questions.
Exciting news for all show pig families! Join us for the 2025 Junior Swine Day on Saturday, March 29, at Marysville High School. This one-day event by the Ohio Pork Council and OH-Pigs Program is perfect for youth ages 5+ and their parents looking to level up in the show ring.
Get your tickets today to attend sessions on animal nutrition, showmanship, biosecurity, and more. Plus, receive your Quality Assurance Training for the year and make valuable connections with other show pig families.
Your $5 admission gives you the opportunity to learn from show pig experts on a variety of topics, a warm and tasty lunch, and a special gift for youth attendees.
If you have any questions, reach out to Education Director, Kayli Mitchell, at kmitchell@ohiopork.org. We hope to see you there! Click here for tickets.
Stop out and plan to eat dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings on Monday, March 10 in Lancaster (1283 N. Memorial Drive, Lancaster) from 5:00pm – 9:00pm. 10% of sales that bring the flyer will be donated to the Fairfield County 4-H Junior Leaders.
Please do not pass out flyers at the location as this can impact our fundraiser. Only dine in orders will count towards this fundraiser. A printable flyer can be found here: 2025.03.10 BW3
The Junior Leaders are a countywide teen leadership that focuses on 4-H community service, leadership, and more! Their big events include planning the Fairfield County 4-H Advisor’s Recognition, donating a county 4-H Scholarship, and the Bottle Cap Project!
Thank you for the support!
Applications for the 2025 Ohio Urban Immersion Project – Washington DC are available! Please pass this information on to teens who would benefit from this experience. This year, the planning committee will be selecting 15-17 youth. The application is through Qualtrics and those interested can apply directly. All applicants will have a Zoom interview with Steve Brady who coordinates the trip before final selection. The deadline to apply is July 15.
More information about this and all Ohio Immersion experiences can be found at https://ohio4h.org/families/just-teens/cultural-immersion-projects
Ohio 4-H Urban Immersion Project
Thursday, September 18th – Sunday, September 21st, 2025 – Washington D.C.
The 4-H Urban Immersion Project (UIP) is an Ohio 4-H initiative that combines cross-cultural learning, teamwork, and service learning in the urban environment of Washington, DC. This year marks the 12th anniversary of the UIP Experience!
4-H teens ages 15-18 and still in High School are eligible for this 4-day service-learning experience that will build skills and abilities to prepare youth for success in a diverse workplace and build cultural understanding of those who are different. This experience will not be about shopping or sightseeing; we will visit some monuments and historic sites. The cost of the experience is $250. All teen applicants will be contacted to complete an additional Zoom video/phone interview before selection.
Program Components
Who: Teens ages 15-18 (by the trip date – still in High School) – Space is limited.
Where: Washington, DC (Washington Seminar Center – 201 4th St. SE, Washington, DC)
When: Thursday (6am), September 18th – Sunday, September 21st, 2025
Application link: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6QX2SYim38bKTHM
Cost: $250 (check payable to Warren County Extension or by Credit Card) (Includes most meals, program fees, overnight lodging, and transportation)
Want to learn what Tractor Maintenance has been up to this winter? Check out their article below!
Thank you to Jonathan Robberts, New Reporter, for sharing club information! Have club news you want to share, contact our office (740-653-5419) to learn how.
Senior Individual Presentation
2nd place – Hallie Nicodemus
7th place – Brianna Downey
8th place – Riley Cain
Junior Individual Presentation
1st place – Gracie Weber
2nd place- Brenna Neff
Junior Team Presentation
3rd place- Bella Champlin and Ruby Offenberger