Applications are now open for Ohio 4-H Delegates to the 2025 National 4-H Conference!

Any 4-H member in Ohio ages *14-18 is able to apply by completing the Qualtrics survey linked below

Sample Application: 2025 National 4-H Conference Delegate Application Questions

Basic Information:

• 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. In 2024, National 4-H Conference returns for youth delegates to attend in-person in Washington, D.C., April 10-16, 2025 (Ohio delegates arrive a day early on April 10. Conference begins April 11).
• Interested Ohio 4-H members must complete an application via Qualtrics (linked at bottom) by December 1 at 11:59 p.m. *Applicants must be 15-18 as of January 1, 2025, and currently enrolled as an Ohio 4-H member in 2025.
• After an application is received, the State 4-H Office will request a referral from county 4-H professional for the respective candidate.
• A selection board of advisors, 4-H educators, and past attendees will review applications and conduct interviews, as needed.
• Those selected will be expected to fully engage in all pre-conference and conference activities and adhere to all National 4-H guidelines, complete all required work as a result of conference participation, and share knowledge gained with Ohio 4-H upon their return.
• More information about the opportunity can be found on the website: https://go.osu.edu/N4HC

See the attached document for the example application, and then be sure to have interested members submit an application via Qualtrics: https://go.osu.edu/N4HCapp

If you have a passion for the great sport of bass fishing, but do not have a school or community sponsored team, the Ohio B.A.S.S. Nation now has a way for you to compete at the State Level, with the potential to earn scholarship funds, and a path to the National Stage!

Ohio B.A.S.S. has created a “Community Club” for all High School anglers who currently attend a High School in the State of Ohio!

Click here for the flyer: Ohio B.A.S.S. Nation High School Flyer

Ohio 4-H Global Immersion Project – Greece | March 12-23, 2025

Who:                  Ohio 4-H Teens 15-18 (Teens are nominated by Ohio 4-H Professionals)

Where:              American Farm School (https://www.afs.edu.gr/) – Thessaloniki, Greece.  It was established in 1904, is renowned for its innovative approach to agricultural education. https://www.afs.edu.gr/afs-at-a-glance/

What:                Participants will engage in a variety of educational classroom and field activities, including sensory analysis workshops with products such as feta cheese, honey, and olive oil.   They will tour the school’s state-of-the-art facilities, including its experimental farms and research centers. Teens will be part of a “Work Internship” with AFS high school students working in cohorts focused on different program units that include:  Animal and Plant Production, Food Science & Technology, and more.  Youth will also participate in a cross-cultural and agricultural career field exploration program designed to help youth learn about careers in agriculture, cross-cultural interactions, workforce preparation and leadership skills.

In addition, youth will help facilitate teambuilding and problem-solving activities through a Leadership Workshop with Greek high school and Jr. high students.  By engaging with these students, the teen leaders will expand their leadership skill development and gain insights into teaching an international audience.

Two off-site cultural experiences include hiking in the Enipea Canyon near Mount Olympus and a visit to UNESCO World Heritage site Meteora, which features monasteries built in the 11th century atop of limestone pillars.  A Greek cooking class, city history tour, and local farmers market activity are included.

Cost:                  To be determined – based on Grants received (Estimate- $2,000 – $3,000 –  includes airfare, all lodging, most meals, ground transportation, translation services, park entrance and program fees.)

Participant Selection:  Ohio 4-H Professionals can nominate youth from their county to complete the short video application.  Final selection will be based on geographic characteristics and the below criteria:

• Have an interest in pursuing a career in agriculture.
• Can embrace unique and different cultures beyond their local communities.
• Willing to share their experiences through presentations, newsletters, etc. at the local and state level.
• A good representation of the local 4-H program.

Contact Bruce Zimmer before October 1 if interested in being nominated. zimmer.2@osu.edu

Each year, Collegiate 4-H at The Ohio State University organizes a weekend workshop called Carving New Ideas (CNI). It is held at 4-H Camp Ohio November 22-24 and is open to all teen 4-H members across the state. Please consider sharing this opportunity in your newsletters and on social media. It’s a fun weekend for teens to get to interact with college students who serve as the organizers, camp counselors, and session facilitators. (Franklin County staff and volunteers provide the administrative details, risk management, nursing services, and food preparation for the weekend.)

Families can register their teens themselves with the online registration and pay by credit card. If your county would like to send youth to the camp and pay by check or fund transfer, that is an option also. Youth just need to check the box that the county is providing a scholarship for them when they register themselves. You just need to let us know which youth to look out for as registrations come in. A flyer is attached, and the registration link can be found at go.osu.edu/CNI.

Registration is due by Oct 31

The Washington County 4-H Advisory Committee budgets $150 help youth cover registration expenses.

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation is pleased to announce we will be hosting two free ExploreAg Camp experiences this fall!

If you know of any students who would be interested in applying, please encourage them to do so by Sept. 30.

ExploreAg Overview

• Purpose: Discover careers linked to agriculture and related STEM fields through a series of immersive and hands-on experiences and tours.
• Who: Ohio students entering grades 9-12 in the fall, or recent high school graduates.
• Cost: Free 

Learn more and apply by Sept. 30 at ExploreAg.org

2024 ExploreAg Fall Sessions

• Oct. 11, COLT Electric Lineman Training, Mt. Gilead
• Nov. 1, OSU Columbus Campus

ExploreAg is Ohio Farm Bureau’s signature ag literacy and workforce development program, offering free week, multi-day and day-long immersion programs for high school students. In ExploreAg, teens learn about agriculture and related STEM fields from industry experts, scientists and educators.

Questions or concerns? Contact info@exploreag.org.

Nicole Arnold, Food Safety Field Specialist, and team (Katie Stolte-Carroll, previous Ohio Dept of Ag inspector; Emily Marrison, Assistant Professor) will host the sessions to engage with new and experienced home-based food producers. Each Q&A will briefly introduce various topics and allow plenty of time for discussion and specific questions.

This activity is taking place on behalf of a USDA NIFA Food Safety Outreach Training grant supporting the safety and regulatory components of cottage foods and home bakery products (i.e., foods that can be produced in home kitchens and sold to the public).

Register here: go.osu.edu/virtualQA24

Each virtual Q&A session will begin with a 5–10-minute presentation.

You do not need to come prepared with questions. Feel free to drop in to listen!

*Please note that these virtual Q&As solely pertain to foods approved to be made at home (in Ohio) with the intention to sell them (e.g., cottage foods and home bakery products).

The virtual Q&A sessions are taking place once a month on Thursdays from 12 pm – 1 pm:

July 25 – What foods can be home-produced?

Aug. 29 – Who is a home baker or cottage food producer?

Sept. 26 – Where can I sell my products?

Oct. 31 – When should I reach out for help?

Nov. 14 – Holiday food production

Amy Ferketich faculty member in the OSU College of Public Health who is working on the Health, Tobacco, and Young People’s Environments (H-Type) study that will involve conducting online focus groups with youth and young adults to explore health-related questions.

They are interested in talking to youth from rural counties in Ohio. Scan the QR code and learn more about how you can participate. Here is the direct link to: http://www.go.osu.edu/htype