4-H Youth Development

Who We Are

4-H prepares young people to step up to challenges in their community and the world. Positive youth development programs give 4-H youth hands-on, real world experience to become leaders. Through the University of Idaho and UI Extension, 4-H reaches every county in Idaho. With more than 36,000 members and 4,000 volunteers statewide, 4-H helps youth move Idaho, America and the world forward in ways that no other youth organization can.

4-H is open year-round to youth ages 5-18 without regard to race, creed, gender, marital status, handicaps or disadvantages, economic or ethnic backgrounds.

The Study of 4-H Positive Youth Development shows 4-H youth outperform their peers in:

• Earning higher grades
• Attending college
• Contributing to their communities

Research specific to Idaho youth shows that 4-H members are:

• Far less likely to engage in risky negative behaviors
• More likely to do service projects to help others
• More likely to seek school and community leadership roles
• More willing to talk to parents about issues such as drugs, alcohol or sex

County-based 4-H programs combine professionals from the University of Idaho with a unique partnership based on county, state and federal funds. Funding from individuals, businesses and organizations provides support for special events, awards and educational materials.

4-H recognizes the age of the member on Jan. 1 of the current 4-H year. Eligibility established on Jan. 1 remains in effect for the entire 4-H year (Oct. 1 to Sept. 30).

4-H members ages 8 to 18 years are eligible for all programs offered by 4-H, including competitive activities/events. Individuals older than 18 years who have special needs are eligible to participate in 4-H while they are enrolled in high school.

Club size limits and type of projects are decided by leaders of individual clubs. To qualify as a club, there must be at least five participants. Clubs composed of immediate family members are strongly discouraged.

Cloverbuds is a noncompetitive educational program for youth ages 5 to 7 years. It is designed to introduce younger children to 4-H. Cloverbuds may not participate in large animal, ATV or shooting sports projects.

Cloverbuds attend club meetings/functions and use county or state publications. Children enrolled in the 4-H Cloverbud Program cannot display or sell animals at fair. They are not required to complete or exhibit their book. A club display of Cloverbud books at the fair is allowed, but the books are not judged.

• Teen Action in the Community (TAC) Team
  • Meets monthly year-round
  • Service-learning based
  • For more information contact Katie Hoffman 756-2815 ext 301
• Teen Conference
  • June Leadership training
• TALK Retreat
  • March Leadership training
• Healthy Living Advocates
  • Healthy Living mentor training
• 4-H Ambassadors
  • 4-H advocate and public speaking training
• Know Your Government
  • February Leadership training

4-H programs include the areas of: science, engineering and technology, healthy living and citizenship. They differ from 4-H projects because they include a variety of knowledge areas and are inclusive of many projects and events. Programs can target specific audiences, seek out community partnerships and have funding sources that provide resources.

The identified 4-H program areas in Idaho are:

• 4-H Afterschool
• Ambassadors
• Collegiate 4-H
• Healthy Living
• Outreach to Military Kids
• Shooting Sports
• Science and Engineering/Technology

A project is a topic that you can explore. You’ll learn life skills like understanding yourself, working with others, problem solving and decision making.

4-H can be anything you want it to be. 4-H projects are based on research, so you have up-to-date and accurate information about things you’re interested in. 4-H project manuals and guides have ideas for activities to do and ways to learn more. Not all of these projects may be offered by your club or county 4-H program, but this is a great place to explore. If there is something that you are interested in and it’s not on the list, talk with a 4-H staff member.

Think about what you like to do or what you are interested in, then look at the list of projects.

Some of the project manuals are available in your local UI Extension county office and some are online. Choose one that looks interesting and find out more about it.

Your 4-H leader and your parent can also help you decide. Check with your 4-H leader to find out if there are requirements for the project.

Your 4-H leader or county 4-H staff member will have a list of project manuals or guides.

Some project activities are online while others can be ordered.

Your 4-H leader or 4-H staff member can help you, so just ask.

Learn basic riding skills and different areas of horsemanship. 4-H horse leaders have a love of horses and youth, so they usually meet once a week to learn and ride together. Youth may compete in horse shows for ribbons and prizes. 

Classes, projects and events may include:

• Showmanship
• Bareback equitation
• Western equitation
• Horsemanship
• Barrels, poles and flag race
• English equitation, jumping and dressage
• Working ranch horse program: learn to rope and sort cattle
• Green horse project: for youth who are training their own horse
• Driving project: learn to harness and drive a horse with cart

Youth are required to wear an approved riding helmet at all 4-H meetings and events when mounted or driving a cart. Youth who cannot afford a helmet may apply for a helmet scholarship (PDF).

Record Books

• 4-H Cloverbuds Memory Book (Word) (PDF)
• 4-H Secretary’s Record (PDF)
• 4-H Record Book Format (ZSuite online application)
• 4-H Record Book Cover Page (Word) (PDF)
• 4-H Record Book Project List (Word) (PDF)
• Project Information and Activity Log (Word) (PDF)
• Non-Livestock Project Record (Word) (PDF)
• Small Animal Project Record (Word) (PDF)
• Horse Information Form (PDF)
• Horse Project Record (Word) (PDF)
• Horse Project Enrollment Form (PDF)
• Beef Project Record (Word) (PDF)
• Sheep Project Record (Word) (PDF)
• Swine Project Record (Word) (PDF)
• 4-H Story (Word) (PDF)
• 4-H Involvement Report (Word) (PDF)
• 4-H Entrepreneurial Project Level 1 & 2 (Word) (PDF)
• 4-H Entrepreneurial Project Level 3 (Word) (PDF)
• 4-H Entrepreneurial Project Level 4 (Word) (PDF)

Scholarships

• 4-H Almira Capps Scholarship Application (Word) (PDF)
• 4-H Basket Scholarship Application (Word) (PDF)

The Lemhi County Junior Livestock program gives youth the opportunity to raise, show and sell an animal.

Youth learn how to take care of their animal including feeding and watering, fit an animal for the show and show it. They also must complete a 4-H or FFA record book and do a demonstration. 

Youth can choose beef, sheep, swine, goat or poultry for a project. Each species has its own ownership and feeding requirements. Livestock must be tagged and identified a certain number of days before the show:

• Beef: 150 days
• Swine: 100 days
• Sheep and meat goats: 60 days

Youth must be 4-H or FFA members in Lemhi County to participate in the show and sale. Animals are shown in two classes at the show: showmanship and quality.

Showmanship Judging

Youth are grouped by their age as of Jan. 1. They are judged on how well they have prepared their animal for the show, how well it trained and presented in the show ring.

Quality Judging

Youth are grouped according to the weight of the animal. The judge looks at the quality of the animal including the amount of muscle, fat and correctness of structure. 

Weigh-In and Sale

Animals need to meet minimum weights at weigh-in during Lemhi County Fair. Animals that do not meet minimum weights are shown in showmanship only and cannot be sold in the Junior Livestock Sale. Animals making minimum weight can be sold at the Junior Livestock Sale. The Sale allows local people and businesses to buy the animals, supporting the youth. Minimum weights at Fair:

• Beef: 1,000 pounds
• Swine: 210 pounds
• Sheep: 100 pounds

4-H Horse Camp is a fun opportunity for youth who love to ride horses to spend four days at the Lemhi County fairgrounds.

Youth bring their horses and ride with a professional trainer each day to improve their riding skills.

They attend horse-related workshops that are different each year. Workshops can include trail ride, leather craft, outdoor cooking, showmanship, cowboy polo, horse-back soccer, dressage, first aid and more.

• Ages 8 to 18 (as of Jan. 1)
• Third full week of July at the Lemhi County Fairgrounds
• Check-in: 3-5 p.m. Monday
• Finale: Thursday evening with dinner and performance
• Applications open June 1 to July 2
• Limit 40 youth, first come/first served basis
• 4-H membership optional, but 4-H members pay a lower fee and may be eligible for scholarships

Advanced horse camp lets teens 15 and up improve their horsemanship and leadership skills. Youth ride with the horse camp trainer for two days on specific horsemanship skills of their choice.

Once the teens receive training, they volunteer in a leadership position. Those positions include assistant to the trainer, assistant to another instructor, workshop teacher or group leader.  Many teens have a different responsibility each day.

Teens interested in Advanced Horse Camp must

• Be 15 years old by beginning of horse camp
• Have attended horse camp as a camper
• Apply
• Interview

Teens are evaluated on:

• Ability to follow instructions
• Horsemanship skills
• Communication skills
• Attitude
• Professionalism

UI Extension, Lemhi County offers a 4-H Cooking Club. Youth learn cooking skills, try new fruits and vegetables and practice recipes they can make themselves.

• Ages 8-12
• Second Friday of each month, Oct.-July.
• 2-5 p.m.
• Location: UI Extension, Lemhi County
• Requires 4-H enrollment. Contact Becky Coffey at 208-756-2815 ext 301 to register.
• Free

Each summer in early June, UI Extension, Lemhi County 4-H holds a project camp. Project classes are divided into three tracks. Two projects are offered in each track. Youth choose one project in each track to complete.

• 8 to 13-years-old on Jan. 1 of the current year
• Four and a half days, Monday through Thursday (lunch provided) plus a camp week project fair on Friday
• Location: Lemhi County Fairgrounds
• Up to 10 youth per track
• 4-H enrollment required