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.

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.

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.

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.

The Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors is accepting applications for the position of Urban Agriculture Resource Specialist. MSWCD is seeking someone who can be proactive and collaborate with the whole conservation team, including our
local, state and federal partners.

The main responsibility of the position is to administer the Urban Greens Program. This position will oversee community gardens, provide technical guidance, develop and oversee educational programming on gardening, conservation, food preparation, preservation, and beekeeping.

www.muskingumswcd.org/About-Us/Join-Our-Team/

• Planning for the Future of Your Farm Workshop
• Farm Accounting With Quicken Workshop – Muskingum County
• 2026 Agronomy School – January 29

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.

Muskingum County Junior Fair Large Animal Sale Committee Scholarship

• Open to 4-H/FFA members who graduated high school in 2025 and exhibited a market goat, hog, lamb or steer at the 2025 Muskingum County Junior Fair.
• Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution in Fall 2025. Fall 2025 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

• Open to 4-H/FFA members who graduated high school in 2025 or will graduate in 2026 and exhibited a market poultry or rabbit project at the 2025 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 2026 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 2026 fair.

Application: Small Animal Livestock Sale Committee Scholarship Application

I wanted to call attention to one particular change that was approved by the Senior Fair Board at their November meeting. Other changes can be found here: 2026 Junior Fair Rule Changes

• New Market Hog Registration Event: Market Hogs must be tagged at Market Hog Registration on June 13. Hogs will be tagged during two time frames on that date, 7-11 a.m. and 7-9 p.m., at the fairgrounds. During this event, existing 840 tags will be recorded, and 840 tags will be applied to any hogs that are not yet tagged. Exhibitors will be provided with one tag but must pay for any additional for back up animals. Hogs will remain on the trailer—no unloading or weighing will be required.

More information will be shared as available, but we wanted to get this out ASAP. 

As youth prepare to enroll in 4-H projects, they will want to be aware of the 2026 Junior Fair Rule Changes approved by Senior Fair Board.