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About 4-H & How to Join

  • Who can join 4-H?

    Any youth ages 5 to 18 can join 4-H!

    • Ages 5 to 7 are called Cloverbuds.

    • Ages 8 to 10 are Juniors.

    • Ages 11 to 13 are Intermediates.

    • Ages 14 to 18 are Seniors.

    Your 4-H age is how old your child was on September 1st at the start of the 4-H year. For example, if it is March now and your child turned 13 on February 1st, their 4-H age is 12. That is how old they were on September 1st.

    If you are not sure about your child’s 4-H age, you can check their 4-H Online profile or ask the Extension Office.

  • Steps to Join 4-H
    1. When picking a 4-H club to join, use our Directory. Find out when and where clubs meet and what projects they focus on. Remember, club members can work on any project they want, even if it is not listed. You can talk to several club leaders or visit different clubs before deciding which one is best for you.
    2. See our 4-H Club Directory. Choose a 4-H club that fits your child’s interests and your family’s schedule. Contact the 4-H Club leader to confirm the next meeting time and place. Ask the leaders any questions about the club. We suggest attending a few different 4-H Clubs before choosing one. Youth can join more than one club. We recommend joining no more than 2 or 3.
    3. After you choose a club, the next step is to enroll in 4-H Online. Bradford County 4-H charges a $20 yearly fee for youth ages 8 to 18 to join a club. Kids ages 5 to 7 (called Cloverbuds) and adults do not have to pay this fee, but they still need to enroll.
    4. Enroll your child as a 4-H member in 4-H Online. Pay the $20 yearly membership fee for youth ages 8 to 18. Parents who want to volunteer should enroll too. Parents and Cloverbuds (ages 5 to 7) do not pay the fee.
    5. Start your 4-H project! Ask your club leader or look on this website for details.
  • What is a 4-H Project?

    A 4-H Project is any learning experience that takes six hours or more. Youth can complete a project about almost anything. They can work on a Project Book or a Record Book for any project.

    A Project Book is a guide with activities and learning ideas. A 4-H’er can use it alone or with a club. A Record Book helps keep track of a project. It includes things like money spent, leadership activities, and progress toward goals.

    Youth are encouraged to complete Record Books for each project. In Bradford County, Record Books are due during the summer. Youth earn awards for their books at the annual banquet in August. Youth can also make a Performance Book. This book shows accomplishments from all their projects in one place.

  • What does 4-H do?

    All 4-H events should help young people grow in a positive way. The 4-H program does this by respecting how different kids learn, their personalities, and what motivates them. All 4-H programs use “learning by doing.” This means giving members real, fun experiences that help them build important life skills.

    Strong programs in each county are very important for 4-H to succeed. Events at the district, state, and national levels add to county programs. These events include educational conferences, workshops, camps, contests, demonstrations, public speaking, and judging. District and state events support the county and club programs.

    All 4-H events and activities help youth to:

    • Gain skills in finding, understanding, and sharing information

    • Make better decisions

    • Practice speaking in front of groups

    • Learn how to compare things fairly

    • Develop good sportsmanship

    4-H adults, volunteers, and parents should remember that contests are about learning, not just winning awards. The goal is to give kids a good learning experience.

    Our 4-H programs follow the Targeting Life Skills Model. For each event, we choose life skills to focus on. For example, a science program teaches science skills but also helps with critical thinking, working with others, keeping records, and other useful skills.

  • 4-H Motto, Slogan, Pledge, & More

    4-H Motto - To Make the Best Better

    4-H Slogan - Learning By Doing

    4-H Pledge - I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living. For my club, my community, my country and my world.

    4-H Mission - The Florida 4-H Youth Development program uses as learn-by-doing approach and caring adults to help youth grain the knowledge and life skills they need to be productive, responsible citizens. To achieve its mission, Florida 4-H accesses the expertise and resources of the University of Florida as well as a nationwide network of Cooperative Extension Service faculty and staff.

    4-H Vision - Florida 4-H aspires to be the leading youth development program that creates positive change in youth families, and communities.

    4-H Creed - I believe in 4-H Club work for the opportunity it will give me to become a useful citizen.  I believe in the training of my HEAD for the power it will give me to think, plan and to reason.  I believe in the training of my HEART for the nobleness it will give me to be kind, sympathetic and true.  I believe in the training of my HANDS for the ability it will give me to be helpful, skillful, and useful.  I believe in the training of my HEALTH for the strength it will give me to enjoy life, to resist disease, and to work efficiently. I believe in my country, my state, and my community and in my responsibility for their development.  In all these things I believe, and am willing to dedicate my efforts to their fulfillment.