I know it’s cold and snowy out this week, but it’s so exciting to see 4-H Club Meeting invites starting to pop up for the new year! With that, I know there are lots of things our 4-H volunteers, families, and even us as staff are trying to keep up with to make sure our families are informed the best we can! Here is our January newsletter with some reminders and some new information!
2025 4-H Online Enrollment
Don’t wait until the last minute to get enrolled. Enrollment is due March 15th, with changes accepted until March 31st. But, enrollment is open now! Enroll now at oh.4honline.com
Cross County Lines Policy Change
Many times we have members who go to school in Lawrence County but live in a neighboring county or have other reasons for wanting to join Lawrence County 4-H. Please note, the Ohio 4-H policy to accept members across county lines has been updated. All requests for Cross County Lines membership must be submitted at least 30 days prior to enrollment deadline. Therefore, February 15th will be the last day for Lawrence County 4-H Cross County Lines requests. Please be sure to check and make sure it also falls within 30 days of the county of residence, so you aren’t too late, if not approved.
If you or a youth seeking membership in your club lives across county lines, please see the policy and form for more details: Across County Lines 11.2024 fillable.pdf
If you are a current cross county lines member, there is NO change to your current membership and you are NOT required to complete the form, as your membership has already been accepted
2025 Lawrence County 4-H Volunteer Training
The Lawrence County 4-H In-Person Volunteer Training is set for Saturday, February 8th. We will begin with breakfast at 9:30am and training at 10:00am. It will be held at Chesapeake Elementary School and we do ask everyone pre-register to help us plan for breakfast by February 1: Volunteer Training Registration
During this training we will complete all Ohio 4-H required training materials for 2025, go over new policies, learn from each other, and finish with 4-H Club Quality Assurance Assistant Instructor Training. If you wish to offer QA in your club, one volunteer from your club must attend that portion of the training.
Club packets will also be available then with lots of supporting documents and information to help our 4-H clubs be successful this year! It is highly encouraged that at least 1 volunteer from each club be present at this February 8th training.
The online volunteer training option will be available for those that can not attend, March 1 – 15th, again this year.
New Lawrence County 4-H Volunteers
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a new volunteer, please check out resources found here to complete the process: Become a Lawrence County 4-H Volunteer | Lawrence
Returning Volunteers Needing BCI Check Renewal
Volunteers needing BCI rescreening should have received an email from 4-HOnline awhile back, we will be sending reminder emails this week but please note this needs to be complete by February 15th. Upon completion, please be sure to log in and enroll for the 2024-2025 4-H year to make it easier for OSU HR to find you when the BCI check has cleared, at oh.4holine.com.
You may also turn in your receipt to our office for Ohio 4-H reimbursement.
2025 Quality Assurance Livestock Training
Its that time of year to begin thinking about Quality Assurance! We have set some Lawrence County dates for trainings at the Extension Office, 4-H Club Volunteers who wish to be trained to offer it in their club may be trained on February 8th, and youth have options to complete YQCA online or test-out! All youth taking a livestock animal must complete Quality Assurance by May 1st.
Trainings at the Extension Office will be held March 25th and March 31st, time options for each date will be 5:00pm, 6:15pm, or 7:30pm.
Each time slot will be open to 20 people, you must pre-register here: https://go.osu.edu/lawcoQAreg
More information and a printable of QA options can be found here: Lawrence County Fair | Lawrence
2025 Lawrence County Fair News
The 2025 Lawrence County Junior Fair Livestock Rules have been approved and are ready to help you prepare for the 2025 Fair Season! The Lawrence County Fair is going to be July 7th – 12th this year, with Junior Fair Livestock moving in on Sunday, along with a few other Junior Fair (4-H & FFA) events that day. Other things to note, is the addition of the Market Turkey project addition and a market chicken weight requirement for 2025. All rule changes are highlighted in yellow.
I would like to thank the Lawrence County 4-H Livestock Committee, the sub-committee scheduling team, and the Lawrence County Senior Fairboard Barn Committee for their work on the rules and schedules the last few months. They truly take into consideration all members and families, as well any recommendations brought to them throughout the year, as they carefully consider making adjustments to these rules; all while making sure we are complying and following the Ohio Department of Agricultures rules. If you have questions about these, please reach out to me, fraley.171@osu.edu or a 4-H Livestock Committee member for further information!
We will be providing education and more information around these rules at the Quality Assurance Trainings this Spring!
Also, to provide some clarity to questions around some of the ODA rules, please check out this FAQ sent from their team; specifically the article on the 5 Frequently Asked Questions: ODA Fairs and Exhibitions FAQ and Hot Topics Edition
2025 Market Turkey Orders
Reminder: NEW for 2025! Market Turkey exhibition is open! Members may show and sale market turkeys. To order Market Turkeys, members planning to exhibit must order by February 15th. Turkeys should arrive March 19 – 21st. To order visit: Market Turkey Order Form
Canter’s Cave 75th Anniversary Banquet
Canter’s Cave is celebrating its 75th Anniversary on January 25th and you are invited to attend! Cost is $40 per person or $350 for a table of 10, so gather your friends and enjoy an evening at camp together. For more information and the RSVP form, please visit: Celebrating 75 Years! | Canter’s Cave
RSVP’s are due January 17th!
2025 4-H Camp Counselor Applications
The Lawrence County 4-H Camp Counselor Applications for Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp are now open! Any 14 year old, as of January 1, 2025, interested in serving as a camp counselor is encouraged to apply. The program description, requirements, and application can be found here: https://go.osu.edu/alpcounselorapp Deadline to apply is February 1, 2025.
2025 4-H Scholarship Applications
Lawrence County 4-H Seniors, there are scholarship opportunities available for you! Please check them out and apply here: Lawrence County 4-H Program | Lawrence