Each club is managed by adult volunteer leaders. These leaders are considered Level 2 volunteers and must undergo background screening in accordance with Florida 4-H policies. Level 2 volunteers will need to regularly enroll in 4-H Online and updated their background screening.
Although each club has volunteer leaders, the youth members are the ones who really run the show. Club members will elect officers who will then use Parliamentary Procedure to hold their club meetings. 4-H club meetings consist of three parts – business, educational program, and recreation. Typically, club meeting business will include upcoming dates, votes on community service and fundraising projects, and additional topics individualized to each club. The educational program might include a club member teaching other members something about their project. For example, a club member might give a demonstration of how to properly clean a saddle and bridle for their horse project or how to correctly measure dry ingredients for their cooking project. The recreational portion of the meeting will be an activity designed to get all club members involved and having fun together.
In general, 4-H club members are expected to meet the following standards each year:
- Complete a 4-H project.
- Give a club, community, or county 4-H presentation.
- Participate in a community service event.
These are minimum expectations. Each club may have additional requirements.
When choosing a 4-H club to join, use our Directory to see when and where clubs meet, as well as the primary project focuses of the current club members when making your decision. Keep in mind that club members are not limited to the projects listed on the directory, and a member of any club may choose to participate in any project. Feel free to reach out to multiple club leaders or attend a few different meetings to decide which club to join.
Once you have decided on a 4-H club, the next step is to enroll in 4-H Online. Alachua County 4-H has a $25 annual membership fee that will also need to be paid in order for youth ages 8-18 to join a club. Cloverbuds (ages 5-7) and adults do not have an annual membership fee.
