State Opportunity

Ohio 4-H Virtual Horse Communication Contest

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Attention 4-H horse project members! Please consider participating in the Ohio 4-H Virtual Horse Communication Contest. Winners selected at this contest will represent Ohio 4-H at the national contest. For rules and registration, please visit the Ohio 4-H Horse page here. Deadline to register is March 1, 2021 and the contest will be held by Zoom on March 13, 2021.

Ohio 4-H Scholarship Application Due

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Ohio 4-H recognizes and rewards individual excellence, whether it is in project work, leadership, citizenship or community service. Ohio 4-H Scholarships were established in 1976 in order to help young people become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. There are currently 36 statewide 4-H scholarships being offered. The application is due by February 15, 2021. You can review criteria as well as complete the application here.

2021 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest

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The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees is once again sponsoring the 2021 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition.
The essay competition is open to active 4-H Club members only.
2021 Essay Topic: Immunity: Threats to Bee Colonies and Methods to Defend Against the Threats
Deadline for submission to the Ohio 4-H state office is March 29, 2021. Submit essays to Lisa Jinks, jinks.2@osu.edu by midnight. Each submitted essay will be reviewed by a panel of writing professionals and the top essay selected will be submitted for national competition. Be sure to see important requirements and guidelines on the Foundation’s website. Click here for rules and overview.

Ohio Youth Capital Challenge

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There’s still time for youth interested in government and public policy to apply to be part of the Ohio Youth Capital Challenge. High School students from 4-H, FFA and the Ohio Farm Bureau work in teams to research local issues, create a policy and learn more about state and local government. Find the details and apply by Feb. 1 at https://ohio4h.org/…/just…/ohio-youth-capital-challenge

2021 Virtual Ohio 4-H Conference

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The 2021 Virtual Ohio 4-H Conference will bring together 4-H volunteers and teens (age 13 and older) from across Ohio. You can participate in a variety of educational sessions that offer something for everyone! Join us as we learn from one another to make the best better for Ohio 4-H programs.

Virtual sessions will start at 9:00 am on February 20 and 7:00 pm on February 23 & 25.

Information on the conference as well as how to register can be found here.

Take the Leap Career Readiness Program

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On behalf of the Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council, we would like to introduce you to the 2021 Take the Leap Year Program. Thanks to the Ohio 4-H Foundation Board, Take the Leap Year is a teen-led, five-month free program available to Ohio 4-H Teens ages 13-18. The goal is to help teens from Ohio gain leadership skills, career development skills, and learn how to establish and maintain goals. They will learn these skills through programming, journaling, and working with their peers.

Registration is now open at go.osu.edu/taketheleap and due January 24, 2021.

More information about the program:

The program will be meeting virtually on the third Wednesday of each month February-May. There will be two meetings in June, with one on the second Wednesday of the month and on the fourth Wednesday. These workshops will be held in the evening. Each session will have different themes taught by teen leaders. Prior to beginning in February, registered participants will receive a package in the mail with supplies for the program.

Below are the following plans with the corresponding months:

  • February: This meeting will be an introduction to the program. Throughout the program, we are challenging teens to pick one word to apply to all aspects of their life. This word can help them reach their goals.
  • March: Working with teens to develop a 5-year plan to help them determine what they would like to accomplish in the near future.
  • April: Teens will learn professionalism skills that will benefit them in their later careers. They will learn about resume building, elevator pitches, business cards, and much more!
  • May: Participants will learn about state opportunities within the Ohio 4-H program.
  • June (2nd Wednesday): Q& A with 4-H alumni and the opportunity to learn about several career paths.
  • June (4th Wednesday): Closing Ceremony

If you or any of your teens have questions please contact TLC Officers Avalon Havan (ava.havan@gmail.com) or Nat Kresic (natkresic@gmail.com), or TLC Advisors Kayla Oberstadt (oberstadt.1@osu.edu), Frances Foos (foos.61@osu.edu), or Sarah Longo (longo.79@osu.edu).

 

January is Ohio 4-H Mental Health Month

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January is Mental Health Month and we encourage you to check out what Ohio 4-H is offering. The following activities are happening live (virtually) throughout the month. Registration is required to receive the link.

  • January 6th, 6:00pm: Volunteer Training: Mental Health 101
  • January 12th, 5:30pm: Mindful Wellness Activity
  • January 13th, 6:00pm: Volunteer Training: Typical Adolescence vs. Emerging Mental Health Problems
  • January 19th, 5:30pm: Youth Special Interest Club: Healthy Body Healthy Mind (#1 in series)
  • January 20th, 6:00pm: Volunteer Training: Trauma Informed Approaches
  • January 26th, 5:30pm: Youth Special Interest Club: Healthy Body Healthy Mind (#2 in series)
  • January 27th, 6:00pm: Volunteer Training: Suicide and Non-Suicidal Self Injury
  • February 2nd, 5:30pm: Youth Special Interest Club: Healthy Body Healthy Mind (#3 in series)
  • February 9th, 5:30pm: Youth Special Interest Club: Healthy Body Healthy Mind (#4 in series)
  • February 16th, 5:30pm: Youth Special Interest Club: Healthy Body Healthy Mind (#5 in series)
  • February 23rd, 5:30pm: Youth Special Interest Club: Healthy Body Healthy Mind (#6 in series)

You can also access Mental Health tip sheets, a review of the Your Thoughts Matter: Navigating Mental Health 4-H project book, and an activity card for you to complete during January.

All these dates, links, and resources can be found at go.osu.edu/MentalHealthMonth.