Thank you to Lynn Wells for this great gallery of fair photos!
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2025 Ohio 4-H Conference Registration Now Available! Due January 31
Who: Teens and Volunteers
What: Ohio 4-H Conference
When: Saturday, March 8
Where: Greater Columbus Convention Center
Registration fees for the conference are $40. $20 scholarships are offered through the Muskingum County 4-H Endowment Fund for teens and adults.
The additional $20 will be covered for the following youth:
- Enrolled Junior Leaders
- First-Time Camp Counselors selecting the Conference as their required activity.
Final Cost:
- Teen/Adult: Not Camp Counselor/Junior Leaders – $20 fee
- Teen: First-Time Camp Counselor/Junior Leaders – NO COST
2025 Registration Booklet with Sessions
Deadline to submit registrations to the Extension Office is Friday, January 31 at 4:30 p.m.
OSU Extension must pay for all individuals who register for the conference. If someone registers and does not attend, he/she will be asked to pay the scholarship amount back to the office and may not be eligible for future scholarships.
2025 Junior Fair Rule Changes
As youth prepare to enroll in 4-H projects, they will want to be aware of the 2025 Junior Fair Rule Changes approved by Senior Fair Board.
The Winning 4-H Plan: Accommodations for Youth due April 15
The Winning 4-H Plan assists Extension professionals and volunteers by providing resources to aid them in developing accommodation plans to meet the needs of Ohio 4-H youth. Please see page 7 of the Muskingum County 4-H Owner’s Manual for more information.
New in 2025! Youth who need a scribe for written work should have a Winning 4-H Plan.
Members who have previously submitted a request form do not need to submit again. The Extension Office will contact enrolled youth with a Winning 4-H Plan from the previous year in April to ask for any requested changes. If no changes are requested, accommodations will be listed as they were the previous year. If the member was not in 4-H last year, please contact the office so the previous plan can be updated.
Access the form: go.osu.edu/muskw4hplan.
4-H Membership Across County Lines – Submit by March 1
Youth are expected to affiliate with the 4-H program in their county of residence or receive approval for membership outside their county of residence.
4-H Membership Across County Lines Request – The request form must be completed by any youth requesting 4-H membership in Muskingum County when their primary residence is located in another county. Once granted, the permission for membership across county lines shall be permanent and stable for the duration of the youth’s 4-H membership. This means the youth does not need to apply each year. It also means that once granted, they cannot change counties unless circumstances change. If the youth’s circumstances change (e.g., residence, school, or custody), the cross county lines membership can be reevaluated.
Be sure to review the policy, as there are specific reasons a request can be approved and specific reasons it cannot be: 4-H Membership Across County Lines Policy. Find the request form online: go.osu.edu/muskacl. It is strongly recommended this form is submitted by March 1.
Muskingum County Cattlemen’s Association Free Producers Day – January 18
Muskingum County 4-H Scholarship Application Now Available! Due January 31
New this year! Youth enrolled in a trade school, certificate/apprenticeship program or pursuing a career directly out of high school are eligible to apply.
Muskingum County 4-H Scholarships were established in 2015 by the Muskingum County 4-H Committee in order to help Muskingum County young people become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. Muskingum County 4-H recognizes and rewards individual excellence in project work, leadership, citizenship and community service. A minimum of two $500 scholarships will be awarded. Applicants may apply multiple times but will only be awarded the scholarship once. Complete application and essay must be submitted for consideration.
Criteria
Applicants must:
- be a Muskingum County 4-H member or alumni who graduated high school in 2024 or will graduate in 2025.
- be active in 4-H for the previous three (3) consecutive years;
- have a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale based on the most recently completed semester.
Two types of applicants will be considered:
- Youth enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution, trade school, or certificate/apprenticeship program. They will be required to describe how this scholarship will help them attain their educational goals in an essay. Selected youth must submit a tuition receipt as proof of enrollment before scholarship checks are issued.
- Youth who started a career directly out of high school who need tools, uniforms, or other supplies to support them in their career. They will be required to describe what the scholarship money will be used to purchase and how this scholarship will help them attain their career goals in an essay. Selected youth must submit a receipt for purchases to be reimbursed before scholarship checks are issued.
Each applicant will be scored as follows:
- 50% for 4-H involvement
- 20% for community & citizenship involvement
- 20% for essay
- 10% for academic achievement
Complete the application: go.osu.edu/musk4hscholarship.
Applications are due January 31.
Livestock Sale Committee Applications Now Available! Due January 31
Muskingum County Junior Fair Large Animal Sale Committee Scholarship
Due January 31
Eligible applicants will receive up to $500, based on available scholarship dollars and the number of applicants.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Open to 4-H/FFA members who graduated high school in 2024 and exhibited a market goat, hog, lamb or steer at the 2024 Muskingum County Junior Fair.
- Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution in Fall 2024. Fall 2024 grades must be submitted with the application.
- Applicants must have earned at least a 2.50 grade point average.
Application: Large Animal Livestock Sale Committee Scholarship Application
Muskingum County Junior Fair Small Animal Sale Committee Scholarship
Due January 31
One applicant will be selected from each species (poultry and rabbits) to receive a $250 scholarship.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Open to 4-H/FFA members who graduated high school in 2024 or will graduate in 2025 and exhibited a market poultry or rabbit project at the 2024 Muskingum County Junior Fair.
- Two types of applicants will be considered:
- Youth enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution, trade school, or certificate/apprenticeship program. They will be required to describe how this scholarship will help them attain their educational goals in an essay. Selected youth must submit a tuition receipt as proof of enrollment before scholarship checks are presented at the 2025 fair.
- Youth who started a career directly out of high school who need tools, uniforms, or other supplies to support them in their career. They will be required to describe what the scholarship money will be used to purchase and how this scholarship will help them attain their career goals in an essay. Selected youth must submit a receipt for purchases to be reimbursed before scholarship checks are presented at the 2025 fair.
Application: Small Animal Livestock Sale Committee Scholarship Application
2025 Calendar Highlights
This is not a complete 2025 Calendar.
The complete calendar will be released in January.
January
- Early January – 2024 4-H families will be mailed a 2025 Ohio 4-H Project Guide (formerly Family Guide) by the State 4-H Office
- The Extension Office will notify organizational volunteers when enrollment materials are available.
31 2024 Club Year End Paperwork Survey Due, sent directly to organizational volunteers in January. Submission is required to get 2025 enrollment materials.
31 New 4-H Volunteer Application Due
31 Muskingum County 4-H Scholarship Application Due; Sale Committee Scholarships Due
January 15 – February 15
Volunteers returning from 2024 must complete Mandatory Volunteer Training during this time frame. More details will be sent by January 15 directly to each volunteer. 2025 Mandatory Volunteer Training must be completed online.
February
15 4-H Online opens for enrollment
March
1 Deadline to Complete all parts of New Volunteer Application Process (Interview, Orientation, References Collected)
2-8 Ohio 4-H Week
15 Submit Cross County Lines Request Forms by Today!
27 Livestock Committees
April
1 4-H Enrollment Deadline
7 QA Test-Out Opportunity, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
7 Livestock Quality Assurance, 6-8 p.m.
15 Club Information Survey Due
15 Winning 4-H Plan Request Forms Due
15 Campership Applications Due
22 QA Test-Out Opportunity, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
22 Livestock Quality Assurance, 6-8 p.m.
21-23 Junior Camp Pre-Registration, begins 8 a.m. on April 21 – first come, first served, must reserve spot/add to wait list during this time frame!
30 Livestock Quality Assurance, 6-8 p.m.
May
8 Junior Camp Registration Deadline
19-21 Cloverbud Camp Pre-Registration, begins 8 a.m. on May 20 – first come, first served, must reserve spot/add to wait list during this time frame!
22 Livestock Committees
29 Cloverbud Camp Registration Deadline
June
2 Market Goat & Lamb Registration, 4-7 p.m.
2 Breeding Rabbit Registration & Rabbit Clinic, 6-8 p.m.
6 PAS Show, Horse Arena
9 Counselors/Staff Move into 4-H Camp
10-13 4-H Junior Camp, 4-H Camp Ohio
18 Early Still Project Judging by appointment
24 Early Judging by appointment
27 Cloverbud Camp @ KD Guest Ranch
July
2 Still Project Judging, Demonstrations & Illustrated Talks Contest
9 Livestock Skillathon
17 Market Rabbit Registration
23 Royalty & Ambassador Contests
24 Livestock Committees
August
10-16 Muskingum County Fair
September
25 Livestock Committees
November
15 Youth Opportunities Applications Due
December
4 New Camp Counselor Selection Night, 6-8 p.m.
8 Market Beef Weigh In, Muskingum Livestock, 6-8 p.m.
16 Youth Opportunities/Junior Fair Board Interviews, by appointment
New 4-H Volunteer Applications Now Available! Due January 31
Interested in serving as a club or committee volunteer starting in 2025? Adults who desire to volunteer their time, energy and talents to Ohio State University Extension and the Muskingum County 4-H program as a club or committee volunteer must successfully complete the volunteer selection process. Volunteer applicants must have approval from the club organizational volunteer or committee president to be considered. Upon completion of the application, the club organizational volunteer will receive an e-mail asking them to confirm the applicant as a potential volunteer for their club. Jamie will contact committee presidents directly if there is any question about volunteer applicants!
This year, the application can be completed and submitted entirely online! The required interview will take place via Zoom and the orientation session will be in person.
Find details and the application on our website: https://muskingum.osu.edu/join. Completed Volunteer Applications MUST be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on January 31, 2025 to begin the selection process in 2025. All steps of the volunteer selection process must be completed by March 1, 2025 to begin volunteer service in 2025.
Reminder to organizational volunteers: All 4-H clubs must have at least two approved volunteers by March 1, 2025. Clubs that do not have two approved volunteers on March 1 will not be considered active for the 2025 program year.
Interested in starting a 4-H Club in 2025? Contact Jamie (mcconnell.210@osu.edu) in January for more information!