Applications & Awards

4-H Awards Due Oct 9

Please consider helping your 4-H members apply for a 2025 Pin Awards and/or 2026 Trip Award. There is one application that does it all and you can choose the application that works best for you.

  • There are 55 Project Pin awards
  • 14 Special Pin awards
  • 8 Trip Awards
  • $150 cash awards for youth 16-19 years old
  • Sheep Breeding and Rabbit Breeding Cash Awards to expand your breeding stock

2026 Trip Details

  • Buckeye Leadership Workshop – Recreation Unlimited, Ashley, OH. March. Age 16 or high school sophomore.
  • State 4-H Leadership Camp – 4-H Camp Ohio, early June. Must be age 15 as of Jan 1st.
  • Ohio 4-H STEM Camp – Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp, Jackson, OH. June/July. Youth that have completed 5th, 6th, or 7th grades
  • 4-H Forestry Wildlife Camp – Forestry & wildlife education, fishing, hiking, tree climbing. Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp. Weekend in April. Ages 12-18
  • 4-H Sea Camp – Kelley’s Island, July, Must be ages 15-17
  • Ohio 4-H Sr. Shooting Education Camp – Canters Cave 4-H Camp, Jackson, OH. July. Must be ages 12 – 18.
  • Ohio 4-H Jr. Shooting Education Camp – Canters Cave 4-H Camp, Jackson, OH. July. Must be age 9 – 12
  • Space Adventure Camp – Marietta College. June. Youth ages 11-13 and/or grades 5 – 7.

Award Application for Members to Complete. Choose the format that works best for you!

The OSU Extension Office also has paper copies of the application available for pick up.

4-H College & Career Scholarships – App due March 3

Applications are now being accepted through March 3 for Washington County 4-H college and personal development scholarships.

Applicants for the College Scholarship program must have been enrolled and in good standing in Washington County 4-H Program at least three years. Applicants must be a high school senior or college freshman at the time of application with plans to attend any accredited associates or bachelors program. The program will award three $500 college scholarships.

Applicants for the Personal Development Scholarship program must be at least a high school senior, high school graduate, Washington County 4-H Alumni OR current Washington County 4-H Volunteer. Applicants must have been involved in the Washington County 4-H Program a minimum of three years as a member or volunteer. The purpose of this scholarship is to reimburse applicants for expenses incurred for further training or technical education. Reimbursable expenses include: books, tools, supplies, tuition, school fees, continuing education fees, room & board, etc. The program will award four $250 scholarships.

Application: 2025 Scholarship Application

Farm Credit Mid-America Scholarships

This information is for 4-H and FFA member about exciting scholarship opportunities from Farm Credit Mid-America.

Farm Credit Mid-America Scholars Program
We are thrilled to announce the FARM CREDIT MID-AMERICA SCHOLARS program for 2025 (our 9th year!). This program provides $5,000 in scholarship support over a two-year period and includes leadership development workshops and experiential travel. We are seeking the next generation of leaders who are passionate about making a difference in agriculture. Ideal candidates are current freshmen or sophomores in college, pursuing a degree in agriculture from universities in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee or Arkansas, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. For more details, please visit our website featuring last year’s Scholars: Meet the FCMA Scholars.

Customer Scholarship Program
We also offer $1,500 scholarships to students attending accredited two- or four-year colleges, universities or vocational/trade schools. Recipients of the CUSTOMER SCHOLARSHIP must be children or grandchildren of Farm Credit Mid-America customers pursuing a career in the agricultural industry. Current high school seniors, as well as college freshmen, sophomores and juniors, are welcome to apply.

If you know someone majoring in agriculture who would be a good candidate for either of these scholarships, please feel free to share this information with them. Applications can be found on our website. The deadline to apply for the Farm Credit Mid-America Scholars program is December 15, 2024, and the deadline for the Customer Scholarship program is January 15, 2025.

Over the past decade, Farm Credit Mid-America has awarded more than $2 million in financial and educational support to deserving students pursuing careers in agriculture. We greatly appreciate your support in helping us expand the impact of these scholarships on the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Any questions about the scholarship programs can be directed to: randy.barbee@fcma.com or 502-494-5713.

Youth Loan Program

USDA, Farm Service Agency has loan programs available for individuals’ ages 10 to 21, beginner farmers and socially disadvantage applicants. This is a great opportunity for 4-H & FFA members to expand or build a project base. Loan funds can be used to buy livestock, seed, equipment and supplies; buy, rent, repair needed tools and equipment; and pay operating expenses for the project.

Contact Tina Mellinger, Farm Loan Manager at tine.mellinger@usda.gov. Her office is located in Zanesville, OH

Youth Loans Flier: FSA Youth Loans factsheet

Washington County and Barlow Junior Fair Boards Looking for Teens

All youth interested in serving on the 2025 Washington County and/or Barlow Junior Fair Boards need to apply now. Applications now available through the OSU Extension Office, and https://go.osu.edu/wcforms and attached to this email.

Youth must be at least 13 years old and have an interest in helping to plan and conduct Jr Fair shows and events at local fairs. Youth will receive training to build their leadership skills and learn about board expectations.

The deadline for applications is December 2 to the OSU Extension. First and second year applicants must be interviewed to serve on a Junior Fair Board. Interviews are December 9 the OSU Extension Office. Contact OSU Extension at 740-376-7431 for details.

The application is also attached – 2025 Junior Fair Board Application

National 4-H Conference Teen Delegates – December 1 Deadline

National 4-H Conference Delegates – December 1 Deadline

  • National 4-H Conference is specifically focused on civic engagement, civic education, and personal development. Delegates arrive ready to connect, learn, engage, lead, and impact their communities, their nation, and their world.
  • Date of Conference: April 10-16, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Ohio delegates arrive a day early on April 10. Conference begins April 11).
  • Application Deadline: December 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (applicants must be 15-18 as of 1/1/25 and currently enrolled as an Ohio 4-H member). See the attached document for the example application, and then be sure to apply via Qualtrics: https://go.osu.edu/N4HCapp
  • For more information, visit https://go.osu.edu/N4HC

Timeline for County 4-H Awards & Trips – Due Oct 10

Members can apply for 2024 Pin Awards and 2025 Trip Awards.

There is one application that does it all and you can choose the application that works best for you. See the options below.

Why Awards?

  • To recognize outstanding work by a 4‐H member at the end of a successful
  • To recognize a history, or an accumulation of successes throughout a 4‐H
  • To provide a career training opportunity for members to learn to complete an
  • To provide a basis for Ohio 4‐H Achievement Awards & College Scholarships

2025 Trip Details

  • Buckeye Leadership Workshop – Recreation Unlimited, Ashley, OH. March. Age 16 or high school sophomore.
  • State 4‐H Leadership Camp – 4‐H Camp Ohio, early Must be age 15 as of Jan 1st.
  • 4‐H Citizenship‐ Washington Focus – National 4‐H Center, Washington June/July. Must be age 14 as of Jan 1
  • 4‐H Forestry Wildlife Camp – Forestry & wildlife education, fishing, hiking, tree climbing. Canter’s Cave 4‐H Camp. Weekend in April. Ages 12‐18
  • 4‐H Sea Camp – Kelley’s Island, July, Must be ages 15‐17
  • Ohio 4‐H Sr. Shooting Education Camp – Canters Cave 4‐H Camp, Jackson, OH. July. Must be ages 12 – 18.
  • Ohio 4‐H Jr. Shooting Education Camp – Canters Cave 4‐H Camp, Jackson, OH. July. Must be age 9 – 12
  • Space Adventure Camp – Marietta College. June. Youth ages 11‐13 and/or grades 5 – 7.

Award Application for Members to Complete. Choose the format that works best for you!

Club Award Forms & Year End Recognition

  • Charlotte Wagner 4-H Club Community Service Award – due October 10, 2024 – Cash Prizes!
  • 2024 Honor Club Application (completed by club) – Cash Prizes!
  • 2024 Scrapbook Application/Score Sheet (completed by club)
  • October 10                   Member’s application due to Extension Office.  Extension Office removes names and adds numbers to applications to provide an anonymous packet for the Awards Selection Committee to review.
  • October 28                      Awards Selection Committee reviews applications and selects Project Pin and Special Pin Award Winners. Trip Committee interviews applicants and selects winners for 4-H Trips and Margaret Meredith award.
  • Early November          Award winners invited to attend the 4-H Year Celebration.
  • November 21                 4-H Year Celebration – Ice Cream Bar at 6:30 PM and program at 7:00 PM. at the Washington County Junior Fair Building. Award Applications are returned to applicants.

Teens: Want to Help with the Ohio State Fair?

Applications are available at go.osu.edu/4HEYAapp and are due by May 15, 2023.

OVERVIEW: The Ohio 4-H Event Youth Assistants (4HEYA) are a statewide group of 4-H teens that assist with Ohio State Fair events. In this process, members have an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and be involved in the State 4-H program. They develop knowledge, skills, attitudes, and aspirations needed for future success. 4HEYAs work in partnership with the Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council, but the experiences as a whole are different.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?: 4-H members who are 13-18 years old as of January 1, 2023 and have previously completed at least one year of 4-H

COMMITMENT: 

  • Term: June 1 -August 31(Applicants are still eligible to apply to be a member of TLC for the next term. Find more information about TLC here.)
  • Working Events: Members are required to work at least 3 events at the Ohio State Fair. They will have the opportunity to sign up for their particular events in June.
  • Number of Meetings/Events: In addition to working events, members are required to attend one of the training options (either July 11 or 17, 2023), both are held at the Ohio State Fairgrounds.
    • Please note, individuals MUST attend one of the training options. This is not negotiable. If you know you are unable to attend a training option before applying, it is best to wait another year before applying to serve in this capacity.

LOCATION: All meetings and events are held at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Columbus, Ohio. There are some Ohio State Fair events that are “off-site,” but members will be notified of the location prior to signing up for an event.

APPLICATION: Interested Ohio 4-H members are asked to submit by May 15:

  • completed application (go.osu.edu/4HEYAapp),
  • program fee ($25 submitted at go.osu.edu/4HEYA25 for new applicants, $15 submitted at go.osu.edu/4HEYA15 for returning applicants),
  • two references (one must be from a non-related Extension professional and one can be from non-related 4-H club advisor, coach, teacher, etc.)
  • DEADLINE: May 15 (no late applications will be accepted!)

YOUTH SELECTED RECEIVE: 

  • 4HEYA Polo
  • 4HEYA Nametag
  • State Fair admission and parking ticket(s) for the day(s) events are worked.
  • State Fair meal ticket(s) for the day(s) events are worked.
  • Optional state fair housing in the Rhodes Center Dormitory.
    • NOTE: This is not required, but is an option for youth to stay overnight, if they desire to do so due to event work schedules.While youth are not chaperoned after the event(s) worked, there are adults present in the dormitory on the fairgrounds who monitor curfew and security of the dormitory. Housing is in a gender-specific shared living space, with several bunk beds in one room. 4-H representatives will be housed with other youth participants (4-H members and non-members) of the Ohio State Fair.
  • Experience of working events at the Ohio State Fair.
  • An opportunity to enhance leadership skills and be involved in the state 4-H program.