Author: Adrienne Anderson

2026 Hartford Fair Youth Scholarship Application

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The 2026 Hartford Fair Scholarship is available and due to the Hartford Fair Office by March 31, 2026. Applicant must be a graduating senior, live within the Hartford Fair District and be a member of one of the following: 4-H, FFA, or FCCLA. Applicant must be pursuing an education in a 2 or 4-year program at an accredited and degree granting institution.

Hartford Fair Logo

2026 Enrollment Information

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It’s time to get enrolled for 2026! Enrollments are due April 1, 2026. Please review the information below before starting your enrollment.

Your login credentials are the same as last year. If you have forgotten your password, please use the Reset Password option to reset your password. If you no longer have access to the email account you used last year, please email Adrienne (anderson.1410@osu.edu) so she can update your family profile. DO NOT CREATE A NEW FAMILY PROFILE. This messes up the system and causes more work in the end. Please just reach out to Adrienne so that she can help you get access to your profile.

Instructions on how to log in and enroll can be found on the How to Join 4-H page here: https://licking.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/how-join-4-h.  Scroll down to the instructions for RETURNING Families. There are step-by-step instructions that you can view and print, a tip sheet, and a video.

Once you have reviewed the instructions, visit oh.4honline.com to login and enroll. Please note that the site works best in Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

A few things to note:

  • If anyone in your family has been enrolled in 4-H anywhere in Ohio since 2014, you will have a family profile. If you have trouble accessing your family profile, please DO NOT create a new one. Contact Adrienne (anderson.1410@osu.edu) and she will help you get access to your existing profile.
  • If you have a family member who has “skipped” a year or more of 4-H, their profile may have been archived. Please contact Adrienne and let her know to reactivate the profile. Please DO NOT create a new profile. We want to utilize the existing profile for each member as all of their 4-H history is attached to the original profile.
  • Please take the time to review each member’s profile as you enroll them to ensure ALL the information is there and correct. Please update any contact information that may have changed since last year. If your contact information isn’t correct in 4-HOnline, it won’t be correct in FairEntry as the data from 4-HOnline is imported into FairEntry in April.
  • Please be sure that all projects are included and correct BEFORE you submit an enrollment. You will NOT be able to make changes to club/project enrollment once you click the Submit button. If you are not able to complete the enrollment in one sitting or are trying to decide on projects, the system will save each page of progress. You can leave that enrollment and come back to it later. Once you have submitted your enrollment, any changes regarding club and project enrollment will need to be made through Adrienne.
  • Once you submit an enrollment, it will be listed as “awaiting review” until it is reviewed at the county level. It will either be approved or will be sent back to you if there is something that needs fixed.
  • If you select a livestock, horse, dog, or shooting sports project the system will ask you to electronically sign the consent for those projects.
  • Cloverbud members should select the project 710 Cloverbud Activities for their enrollment.
  • Those joining the Licking County 4-H Band should select COP-Arts 1900 Performing Arts – 4-H Band for their project. It will be listed towards the end of the project list with the other County Only Projects (COP).

Advisor Specific Information:

  • When selecting your role, please select Club Volunteer. You will then select the appropriate role for your advisor role within the club. Please see descriptions below before selecting your role. If you have a question on which role to select, please reach out to Adrienne.
    • Organizational Club Leader – Only the head advisor of the club should select this as their role.
    • Cloverbud Leader – Advisors whose main role is to work with Cloverbuds should select this role.
    • Club Project Leader – Any advisor who doesn’t fall into one of the previous two categories should select this role.
  • Please do NOT add any projects to your enrollment. While the option is there, we do not want you to add any projects you work with under the project section as it will include you in our project enrollment numbers and we don’t want that.
  • Please remember that until your submit your enrollment AND I’ve had the chance to approve it, you will not have access to your club profile. You must be an approved volunteer within the system before it will allow you access to your club.
  • If it is your year to have your background check renewed, please remember that I cannot approve your enrollment until the background check has been cleared by our data manager at the Ohio 4-H Center. Background checks have been taking anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months in the past few years, so please don’t delay in getting that completed.

REMINDER: State 4-H Junior Shooting Sports Camp Application

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The Licking County 4-H Committee, in partnership with the Licking County 4-H Shooting Sports Committee, will be choosing two 4-H members, who are currently completing Grades 3-6, to participate in State 4-H Junior Shooting Sports Camp. State 4-H Junior Shooting Sports Camp is a residential camp, and will be held at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp in Jackson, Ohio during June 12-14, 2026.

Please note that applicants do NOT need to be enrolled in a 4-H Shooting Sports project to apply.

Complete the APPLICATION and return to the Licking County Extension Office by Friday, January 17, 2026.

 

2026 Spark EXPO

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Ohio 4-H Spark EXPO is a hands-on career exploration experience connected to The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, designed to help youth build confidence, self-awareness, and readiness for what comes next.

Through immersive, action-based learning, participants explore interests, discover strengths, and connect what excites them to future college and career pathways—without pressure to decide. Spark EXPO is ideal for youth who are curious, motivated, and ready to learn by doing.

Participants will also spend time at Ohio State ATI, gaining exposure to college life, applied learning, and career-focused programs.

Get a glimpse of the Spark EXPO experience here.

WHEN: June 10–13, 2026

WHERE: Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Youth who:

  • Will complete 8th or 9th grade by the end of the 2025–2026 school year
  • Are interested in in-depth, hands-on learning within specific interest areas
  • Want to explore possibilities and feel more prepared for future choices

There is no pressure for participants to choose a career or college path. Spark EXPO is about exploration, growth, and helping youth begin to see what’s possible.

Learn more and register:  http://go.osu.edu/4hsparkexpo

Questions? Margo Overholt-Seckel, program manager, Workforce Development & Pathways, overholt-seckel.1@osu.edu

4‑H Youth in Action Program

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The 4-H Youth in Action program amplifies the stories and leadership of 4-H youth who are making a difference in their communities every day. It is a premiere community of 4-H’ers who are preparing for their future while showcasing how 4-H changed their lives and equipped them to be Beyond Ready for whatever comes next.

Each year, program participants receive an exciting year of media training and national opportunities to share their 4-H story and leadership.

Four Award Winners will receive:

  • A $5,000 scholarship for higher education, to be paid directly to their institution, including two-year and four-year colleges, trade schools, or other advanced learning opportunities.
  • A year of personal professional and media development, training, and networking opportunities, and national opportunities to serve as a spokesperson and key thought leader in their program area.
  • All-expenses paid trips for each award winner & a chaperone to travel as the national youth spokesperson.
  •  An official reference letter from a National 4H Council leader for educational or career purposes.

All Youth in Action Program applicants will receive:

  • Media, interview, and storytelling training from National 4H professionals.
  • Admission into our national 4H story database, providing potential national multi-media and spokesperson opportunities.

Learn more about the program and how to apply HERE.

2026 Licking County 4-H Advisor Training Dates

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The 2026 Licking County 4-H Advisor Training Dates are now available. If you are a current Licking County 4-H Advisor or if you have applied to become an advisor in 2026, please make note of the information below and plan to attend one of the training dates listed.

WHY: All 4-H Club Advisors within the state of Ohio are required to attend an annual training. This training will include an introduction to anything that’s new, review of any issues that have been encountered over the past year, reminder about the important dates and deadline, emphasis on new tasks that may be needed, etc. Training is intended to support you and provide you with information and resources that will make your work as an advisor more enjoyable, more manageable, and more rewarding!

WHEN / WHERE: We encourage you to mark your calendar for Saturday, January 24th (9-11:00 a.m.) at Ohio State Newark – Reese Center – no registration necessary, as we hope that all of you can attend! But…if you’re NOT available for that session, please email Lisa (mccutcheon.46@osu.edu) to let us know if you need to attend one of the alternative dates (January 29th, February 11th or 26th / 6-8:00 p.m.), which will be held at the Licking County Extension Office. Because those three dates are considered back-up, and have a much smaller capacity than that January 24th date, YOU MUST REGISTER if you plan to attend January 29th, February 11th or 26th trainings – simply email Lisa and she will add you to the list (as long as space is available).

LOCATION: We’ll be in the Auditorium at the Reese Center, where we also hold the Style Revue and Recognition Event each July. There will be plenty of seating, as well as parking, for all… We will also have Resource Fair tables set up outside of the Auditorium for Advisors to visit following the update.

WHAT: If you’re planning to attend the January 24th training (and we really hope you will), you’ll participate in a training update from 9-11:00 a.m., and then have time from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to enjoy the RESOURCE FAIR! We will have a trade show area set up for you to ask questions, look at new materials, interact with key resource leaders, etc. – or you can just take a few minutes to sit and speak with other advisors about what’s working for them! That time is for YOU! We want to support you, and the Resource Fair can serve that purpose! Note: If you must attend the January 29th, February 11th or 26th dates, please know that only training will be provided due to space and time limitations.

2026 Ohio State Fair Market Steer/Heifer DNA Kits

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2026 Market Steer / Market Heifer Identification Process

IDENTIFICATION: In order for a Market Steer / Market Heifer to be eligible for entry to the 2026 Ohio Sate Fair, the appropriate DNA Sample and Identification Envelope must be submitted by no later than January 15, 2026.

OFFICIAL ENTRY: Submitting DNA sample materials by the stated deadline makes those animals eligible for official entry to the Ohio State Fair, entry forms must be submitted prior to June 20, 2026.

(www.ohiostatefair.com > Competitions > Jr. Livestock > Junior Beef)

DNA PACKETS:     DNA packets can be obtained at your local Extension Office.

  • Delaware County Extension Office 833.2030
  • Knox County Extension Office 397.0401
  • Licking County Extension Office 670.5315

The Ohio State Fair is no longer providing EID tags. Only DNA packets are provided for exhibitors. Exhibitors are expected to provide EID tag number when submitting DNA packet (by the stated deadline).

SIGNATURE: Please be aware that your county 4-H Youth Development Educator or FFA Instructor will need to sign each DNA envelope prior to submission as notification that you plan to enroll in the 4-H / FFA Market Beef project for 2026.

In order to be eligible for entry in to the Market Steer / Market Heifer classes during the Ohio State Fair, you must officially enroll in the Market Beef project through your 4-H or FFA program. Neglecting to do so will forfeit the ability to make entry to these classes. (Same rule applies to entry in county / independent fair market classes)

Feel free to contact Lisa McCutcheon (mccutcheon.46@osu.edu / 740.670.5315) with questions!

2026 Equine Event Opportunities… Sign Up Now!

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Licking County 4-H Horse Project Members are encouraged to get involved in a variety of equine teams and events. If you are interested in being a part of one (or more) of the following events, please reach out to Tessa at 4hequineeducation@gmail.com by January 9, 2026 to ensure that you are included on all communications going forward.

  • Equine Communications Contest
  • Horse Bowl
  • Hippology
  • Horse Judging
  • Skill-a-thon
  • Groom & Clean Contest
  • State Trail Ride

2026 Licking County 4-H Calendar

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The 2026 Licking County 4-H Calendar is now available! While we do have many events already listed on the calendar, additional events will be added as they are scheduled. Please be sure to check out our 4-H Calendar page periodically as that calendar will be updated there and on our What’s New page. The date that the calendar is updated on will always be listed next to the link so that you can ensure you have the most up-to-date calendar.