Green & Growing

Date: June 13-17, 2025
More Information: go.osu.edu/camp

Deadline to Register: May 15, 2025

• Early Bird Registration: February 15 - February 28, 2025
• Save $20.00 on your registration fees if you register by February 28.

Financial Aid Application Deadline: May 1, 2025

The 2025 Franklin County 4-H Walk & Serve will be held on Saturday, April 12. Mark your calendars and invite all of your family and friends!

• Area 4-H clubs adopt a local non-profit organization.
• The club members learn about that organization, how it serves the community, and how they can help meet some of those needs.
• The clubs purchase and prepare all of the supplies needed to make/assemble a cool project to be completed at the event by the public that comes to the event.
• Example: Carousel Riders 4-H Club partners with the American Cancer Society. They purchase supplies to dye silk scarves. Then at the event, the club members help the public create colorful silk scarves to be given to patients with cancer.
• Grant funds are available to help clubs purchase supplies.

All Franklin County 4-H Clubs are encouraged to consider working with a non-profit organization and participating in the Walk & Serve this year. Contact Amy Fleshman with questions or to get your club started at amy1peter3.4@gmail.com

Clubs Already Committed to the 2025 Walk & Serve

Blue Ribbon Connection - YMCA Van Buren (hygeine kits)

Carousel Riders - American Cancer Society (dying silk scarves)

Change the World - Possibly YWCA (sewing bags and adding items to be determined)

Clever Clovers - NNEMAP Food Pantry & Worthington Resource Pantry (birthday bags)

Fantastic Futures - Ovarian Cancer Alliance (project undetermined)

Far East - Simply Living (project undetermined)

FC Shooting Sports - Veterans Food Bank (meal bags)

Great Expectations - MASH Pantry (food and/or hygiene bags)

Grove City Clover Crew - Moms2B (stuffed toys)

Let's Get Better Together - Star House (toiletry bags)

Lucky Clovers - A Kid Again (making cards and crafts for "Courageous Care Kits")

Whetstone 4-H'ers - Clintonville Beechwold Resource Center (decorating placemats)

* More clubs and projects needed - reach out if you have questions!

*Participating clubs are asked to provide 100 (or more) giveaway items for the Clover 5K runner bags. Examples of giveaway items include: lip balm, nutrition bars, small packs of healthy snacks, pens, etc. Clubs are encouraged to get these giveaways from local businesses that can donate their branded items as advertising.

*Gift cards to any local retailer or restaurant are needed for 5K awards that day. Any donation of gift cards are greatly appreciated.

Get your walking shoes ready. The annual walk/run has been a valuable fundraiser for the Franklin County 4-H program and we're excited to announce its return for 2025! The Clover 5K will be held the morning of the Walk & Serve on April 12.

New this year! 4-H families will receive a $10 off their Clover 5K registrations! Contact your club's volunteer advisor to get your coupon code for $10 off each registration. If you can't get your coupon code from your club advisor, contact the Extension Office.

NOTE: Individuals using a coupon code who are not a member of a current 4-H member or volunteer's household will have their registration canceled after verification.

Register by March 26 if you plan to order a Clover 5K shirt!

Register today for the low price of only $20 (or $10 with the coupon code).

The official Walk & Serve / Clover 5K event shirt can be purchased separately at check out.

This year, Franklin County 4-H will not be holding an officer training event. The 4-H Council discussed it, and decided that there wasn't enough participation to go through the required effort to prepare for the event. Club officers are encouraged to check out the many online resources to learn about their particular office. There are many informative videos and resource guides for each office at this website: https://ohio4h.org/officerresources

If club volunteers would like a officer pins and certificates, please contact Beth boomershine.10@osu.edu or Rachel stoneburner.31@osu.edu and they would be happy to put a packet together for your club.

You can now re-enroll in 4-H for 2025. Remember to log in with your family's email and password to find your family profile. Watch the videos below for a guide to the enrollment system.

This is your place to connect to the entire collection of Ohio 4-H project books for the year. When choosing a project, consider your interests, background, what is necessary to start the project, and the resources available to help you complete it. Start looking for your 2025 projects now! Family guides will soon be mailed to all families who participated in 4-H last year, or you can download the Family Guide now at https://ohio4h.org/projectguide

Do you know what you need to do in order to complete your project? Make sure you check out the Franklin County 4-H Project Requirement Guide HERE. The project requirement guides explain what is required to complete each project.

EquiSTEP - Equine Safety, Training, and Education

EquiSTEP is an annual statewide requirement for all youth participating in Ohio 4-H Horse Program activities. EquiSTEP replaces the statewide requirement of reading the Horses, Safety, and You (191R) resource and viewing the Every Time, Every Ride and Horses, Kids, and Ethics videos for youth and their families who are new to the 4-H horse program. The EquiSTEP curriculum focuses on helmet safety, equine safety & handling, equine health & nutrition, and sportsmanship and is designed to rotate topics every year. The topics for the EquiSTEP program are shared below and will rotate as the member completes the course annually.

• STEP 1: Head (Helmet Safety)

  • Helmet Safety Video (Every Year)

• STEP 2: Hands (Equine Safety & Handling)

  • YR 1 Equine Behavior

• STEP 3: Health (Equine Health & Nutrition)

  • YR 1 Assessing Horse Health

• STEP 4: Heart (Sportsmanship)

• YR 1 Winning & Losing
  

• Here is the link to enroll in/access EquiSTEP:
  https://cfaesosu.catalog.instructure.com/courses/equistep-2025
  
  

• To complete EquiSTEP individually, a participant must enroll using their own unique email address. (Participants should not use their school email addresses as the course enrollment invitation will be blocked by the school’s email system.) Participants must view all five videos (introduction and STEPS 1-4) which last approximately one hour in total. Once the videos are completed, participants will be able to access the 10-question quiz. Participants must complete the quiz associated with the training and achieve a minimum score of 7 (out of 10) in order to pass the training. Once the quiz is successfully completed, participants will need to complete the course survey to trigger a certificate of completion. The certificate will be emailed to the participant’s email address as well as their county’s 4-H office. The participant must select their correct county (Franklin) to trigger the email to the correct email address and they must click on the submit button at the end of the survey to trigger the email.

The EquiSTEP Program is required for ALL 4-H Horse members! Failure to complete the online course by April 1, will result in the members' inability to participate in the Franklin County Fair.

Note that any horse member competing in any statewide horse events such as the Hippology Contest, Horse Bowl, or the Horse Communication Contest must complete EquiSTEP prior to the event.

This is a great place to get fabric for a sewing project! Don't miss out on this fun event.

Are you taking any of these 4-H projects to the Fair?

• Market Rabbits

• Market Poultry

• Market Lambs

• Market Goats

• Lactating Dairy Goats

• Market Beef (including beef & dairy feeders)

• Market Swine

If you answered yes to the question above, YOU ARE REQUIRED BY LAW to attend a livestock quality assurance session in order to exhibit your animal at the fair. There are three options available.

Multi-County Session Sponsored by ASE Feed & Supply

Date: March 19, 2025 - THIS SESSION IS FULL

Franklin County 4-H Session 1:

Date: April 14, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Kunz-Brundige Franklin County Extension Building

Address: 2548 Carmack Rd., Columbus, OH 43210

No registration required.

Franklin County 4-H Session 2:

Date: May 22, 2025

Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Kunz-Brundige Franklin County Extension Building

Address: 2548 Carmack Rd., Columbus, OH 43210

No registration required.

Due to major construction around the Extension Office property, the date and location of the annual Advisor's Fair Update has been changed.

Club advisors should plan to attend this event to learn important updates for helping their 4-H members make fair entries and other important things they should know about the upcoming Franklin County Fair.

Date: April 22, 2025

Time: 7:00pm (after a brief 4-H Council meeting)

Location: Edwards Building, Franklin County Fairgrounds

2025 FRANKLIN COUNTY 4-H POULTRY PROJECTS
HPAI STATEMENT – March 19, 2025

If you follow the news, you’ve likely seen reports related to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) or avian flu (Bird Flu). We want to share as much information as possible so that 4-H members thinking of taking poultry projects can be prepared for any changes in poultry shows for the upcoming fair season.

On March 17, the Ohio Department of Agriculture issued a proclamation prohibiting the movement of poultry animals in thirteen western counties (does not include Franklin) until May 15. The proclamation prohibits poultry shows, sales, and all other activities that require poultry to leave their premises in those counties. This precautionary measure aims to mitigate the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and protect their local poultry industry, youth exhibitors, and the broader agricultural community.

Given the evolving nature of the current HPAI situation, it is possible that other counties (like Franklin) may be added to the list in the future. Poultry families are encouraged to use biosecurity practices to limit the spread of HPAI. Resources for poultry biosecurity can be found here: https://go.osu.edu/HPAI

At this time (March 19, 2025), a pause in live poultry shows is not in the plans for Franklin County. Be assured that the Senior Fair Board and Livestock Sale Committee are monitoring the situation closely. But we wanted to make you aware of some things to consider, in case it would happen.

1. 4-H Members may want to consider enrolling in a second project if they want to be certain they have the opportunity to exhibit a project at the Franklin County Fair. There is no penalty to the member or the club if the youth later decides not to complete that additional project and do the poultry project only.
2. There are measures in place for youth enrolled in a poultry project if the Ohio Department of Agriculture or United State Department of Agriculture would place a ban on live animal exhibition. That plan is outlined below and was approved by the Franklin Co. Senior Fair Board on March 18.
   
   

PROPOSED PLAN – Approved by Franklin Co. Senior Fair Board

Franklin County Jr. Fair Poultry Projects

This is the proposed 2025 response plan IF the Ohio Department of Agriculture places a ban on poultry exhibitions after the April 1 project enrollment deadline.

Switching Projects

Members would not be permitted to switch projects after the April 1st enrollment deadline. If they have other projects, they could drop the poultry projects and return their unused book.

* If a ban was issued prior to April 1st – members would have the opportunity to switch projects.

Completing the Poultry Project

4-H members could continue to raise their turkeys, market chickens, ducks, geese, and fancy poultry as planned. If an exhibitor would like to continue to raise market chickens; they can be purchased from any NPIP certified hatchery. Turkeys would already be ordered.

4-H members can complete their project by submitting a project book as complete as possible and participating in the Livestock Interview Evaluations on July 9. This only gives them credit for taking the project and a year in 4-H – this alone does not make them eligible for the Jr. Fair Sale.

County Fair

IF live birds are not allowed to come to the fair for exhibition, members choosing to continue with their poultry projects as planned would develop a poster for each poultry project (market, turkey, ducks, fancy poultry) originally signed up for in 4-HOnline by April 1. This poster = your fair participation. The displays would be exhibited in the Burke barn during the fair. More specific details about the poster dimensions and topics would be shared with exhibitors if a ban happens.

Poultry project members would be able to participate in poultry showmanship during the fair. This will primarily be knowledge-based but may include showing a stuffed educational bird. The fair board will hire a judge as usual for the show. The county poultry showmanship champion will participate in Showman of Showmen contest.

Poultry project members would be able to participate in the poultry skillathon that will be held during the scheduled Livestock Project Interview Evaluations on July 9. Participation in the poultry skillathon will allow members to be eligible to participate in the Premier Exhibitor contest.

Sale Participation

Market poultry project members would be eligible to participate in the sale if they attended quality assurance, completed their market livestock project book, participated in poultry showmanship, and exhibit a poster display for each market poultry project.

Members could then participate in the sale by taking their project poster displays into the sale ring. Members with live bird projects will retain possession of the birds for home processing or delivery to a processor.

Members will be expected to contact prospective sale buyers as usual by face-to-face contact or letters. Exhibitors should take this opportunity to educate potential buyers about Avian Influenza and how the poultry projects would be sold at the fair.

Due to the lack of poultry processing options, market poultry are no longer a terminal project. It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to take birds home or sell birds to a private buyer. The sale committee will provide poultry exhibitors with a list of potential poultry buyers.

Since it is a premium only auction, exhibitors will have the opportunity to still go through the auction with two market poultry projects. (The two projects must be from different sub species. (Example: Chicken and turkey.) Exhibitors cannot go through the auction with two of the same sub species. (Example: Chickens Broilers + Roasters.)

See all of the livestock sale information from the fair book here:

https://www.fcfair.org/s/2025-Livestock-Sale-Rules-syrs.pdf

Franklin County Fair Family Fun Day will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 8:30 am- 5:30 pm. The event is presented by the Franklin County Agricultural Society and they would love to have you participate.

The goal of the event is to create a day of family fun events, ranging from demonstrations, literary events, hands on experiences, contests, scavenger hunts, make it and take it activities, character pancake breakfast, touch a truck, karaoke, line dancing and much more. The Fair Board is looking for support from 4-H clubs to make the event a success.

There are four main ways you can support the Franklin County Fair Family Fun Day:

1. Set up a display table in the Activities Tent, 10:00am-12:00 pm. Offer a Make It and Take It craft and a learning activity for youth fairgoers and their families. They estimate up to 200 Make It and Take It materials could be shared during this time.
2. Your club members(s) could facilitate an educational demonstration or share a hands-on activity with participants, during a scheduled time frame. This may include topics on agricultural awareness, nutrition, woodworking, rocketry, science/STEM and much more!
3. Volunteer to help with set up/tear down of the event activities
4. Volunteer to help during the day with activities to make sure participants are having a great time,

For your participation, your name or club's name will appear in signage for the Family Fun Day. This includes advertisement, social media outlets, the Fair App and the FCAS website.

The Franklin County Fair Family Fun Day Planning Committee would be very grateful for any participation you are willing to offer. More information and documents about the event can be found here in their documents below.

Letter to Clubs and Organizations

Volunteer Form

4-H clubs with members exhibiting livestock are strongly encouraged to send an adult representative to the monthly Fair Sale Committee meetings. These meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of every month in the Junior Fair Office. Representatives will have the opportunity to participate in discussion regarding the Junior Fair Livestock Sale and learn how to become more involved in the livestock sale portion of the fair.

Sale Promotion Sub Committee Members wanted: The Livestock Sale Committee is searching for individuals who are interested in serving on the Sale Promotion sub-committee to assist with the buyers brunch, buyer letters and tickets, photos, etc.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 21, 2025 at 7:00pm in the Junior Fair Office.

Submit your application to camp at the 2025 Franklin County Fair today: https://www.fcfair.org/campingapp

All applications will be reviewed after the May 12, 2025 application deadline to determine those that will have camping space for the fair. Please remember that large animal livestock exhibitors, horse exhibitors, and Senior Fair Board members will be given preference for camping sites. The camping committee will also consider camper size, number of amps needed, and fair commitments to determine who receives the camping spaces. If more applications are received than spaces allowed, a waiting list will be started.

Once the committee determines who may camp, those individuals will need to pay the $275.00 fee by June 1.

For questions regarding camping at the fair please contact the Senior Fair Office - 614-876-7235 or mail@fcfair.org.

The Franklin County Spring Equine Youth Clinic is held at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard, Ohio. It is an opportunity for participants to learn the basics and improve their skills in Showmanship, Equitation, Hunter Under Saddle, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Ranch Pleasure, Trail, and Trail in Hand.

Saturday, May 3, 2025

Registration Information: https://sites.google.com/view/fchorse/events/equine-clinic

Franklin County residents who are age 18 or older should consider purchasing a Agricultural Society Membership! There are many benefits.

Benefits of a Franklin County Fair Agricultural Society Membership

• Members have voting abilities for the society elections and determine who serves on the Senior Fair Board.

• Members are invited to the Ag Luncheon at the fair for free food!

• Members are invited to the annual meeting in the fall for dinner and a fair update.

• The membership grants you daily access to the fair for free!

• Anyone who has held a membership for a year is eligible to run for a seat on the Senior Fair Board in the annual election.
  
  

Guidelines

• Must be a Franklin County resident and provide a photo ID when purchasing the membership in the fair office
• Must be 18 years old or older
• Cash or check accepted. Credit cards can be used with a convenience fee added.

As you know, the Junior Fair is a vital part of our community, providing young people with the opportunity to learn about agriculture, responsibility, and teamwork through livestock projects. Over the next several years, we have the goal of enhancing the livestock pens used by our participants. These pens are essential for providing a safe and comfortable environment for the animals, as well as creating an engaging experience for fairgoers.

Our goal is to raise $50,000.00 which will allow us to purchase pens that are safe for junior fair exhibitors, animals and fairgoers. Our current pens are 30+ years old and are showing their wear, so it is time for replacement.

Donations can be made via check to the Franklin County Agricultural Society, P.O. Box 6 Hilliard, Ohio 43026. Please put Pen Campaign in the subject line. Additionally, we would love the opportunity recognize your generosity by adding your name to the permanent sponsor sign that will be displayed throughout the year in the livestock building(s).

March 19, 2025 - ASE Livestock Quality Assurance (Tolles)

April 1, 2025 - Enrollment Deadline

April 12, 2025 - 4-H Walk & Serve

April 14, 2025 - Livestock Quality Assurance

April 22, 2025 - Advisor Fair Update - DATE CHANGED

May 1, 2025 - Fair Entry Portal Opens

May 22, 2025 - Livestock Quality Assurance

June 7, 2025 - Fair Entry Deadline

June 13-17, 2025 - Franklin County 4-H Camp

June 25, 2025 - 4-H Council Meeting

July 9, 2025 - Livestock Evaluations & Skillathon

July 14 - 20, 2025 - Franklin County Fair

July 23 - August 3, 2025 - Ohio State Fair

September 17, 2025 - 4-H Council Meeting

November 19, 2025 - 4-H Council Meeting

The Urban Immersion Project is a 4-H initiative that combines cross-cultural learning, teamwork, and service-learning in the urban environment of Washington, DC.

Curious about this experience? Review the Benefits of Urban Immersion Experiences for Urban and Suburban Teens to learn more!

Teens ages 15-18 are eligible for this 4-day service-learning experience that will build skills and abilities to prepare youth for success in a diverse workplace as well as build a cultural understanding of those who are different. This experience will not be about shopping or sightseeing, although we will visit some monuments and historic sites.

The 4-H Educator leading this experience will contact all teen applicants to complete an additional Zoom video/phone interview before selection.

Program Components
• Diversity and the Urban Experience
• Cooking in Food Groups
• Service Projects
• Ethnic Food Night
• City Scavenger Hunt
• Exploring Issues of Homelessness
• DC Monument Night Tour
• Metro Challenge

Who: Ohio 4-H teens ages 15-18 and still in high school (by the date of the trip)
Where: Washington, DC
When: Thursday (6 am), September 18th – Sunday, September 21st, 2025
Cost: $250 (limited scholarship opportunities available)

APPLY: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6QX2SYim38bKTHM

Questions about this experience? Contact Steve Brady (brady.111@osu.edu or 513.695.1311)

• What: 4-H Event Youth Assistant (4HEYA)
• Who: Individuals age 13-18 (as of January 1 of the year of application) and have at least 1 year prior 4-H experience.
• Timeframe: Apply by May 15, selection, training, service to OSF, and evaluation. Complete responsibilities by August 31, 2025.
• Applications available at: https://go.osu.edu/4HEYAapp
• Two references should be submitted at: https://go.osu.edu/4HEYAref
• Requirements (in addition to application/selection process):
• Training - Must attend one of the options for training (July 10 or July 15)
• 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.
• Events - Must work a minimum of 3 events at the Ohio State Fair; may work more if desired
• Program Fee: $25/person (paid at [go.osu.edu/4HEYA25]go.osu.edu/4HEYA25);
• Teens Receive:
• 4HEYA Polo & Nametag
• State Fair admission, parking ticket, and meal ticket(s)
• Optional State Fair housing in the Rhodes Center (if desired)
• Experience of working events at the Ohio State Fair
• Opportunity to enhance leadership skills and be involved in the State 4-H program
• Questions? Contact Frances (foos.61@osu.edu) or Sara (Deakin.5@osu.edu)

The Lake Erie Sport Fishing course will be offered at Stone Lab June 9-15, 2025! High school students must have completed their sophomore year, be at least 15 years of age, and completed one course of high school biology or environmental science prior to June 9th, 2025.

This course includes a week-long stay on Gibraltar Island and daily fishing trips on Lake Erie. Applications are currently open, and scholarships are available (high school student deadline March 28). We encourage you to apply for the scholarships. Additionally, thanks to generous donors, all students enrolled in Stone Lab courses for Summer 2025 will receive a 50% credit for room and meal fees! High School students must have a teacher or similar adult submit the recommendation form found on the website on their behalf.

Youth who have completed 8th or 9th grade by the end of the 2024-2025 school year are invited to explore exciting career pathways, engage in hands-on learning experiences, and discover new passions at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, June 11-14. This immersive experience connects youth with industry professionals, faculty, and peers to spark their interests and inspire future career goals.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and explore!

Learn more: go.osu.edu/4hsparkexpo

Attention 4-H members, families, and volunteers! Ohio 4-H would like to know what project topics you would like to see that are not currently offered. Please take the very short survey at go.osu.edu/oh4hprojects and share your project ideas today.

Email: boomershine.10@osu.edu or stoneburner.31@osu.edu
Website: franklin.osu.edu
Location: 2548 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: 614-866-6900 option 2
Facebook: facebook.com/4hfranklin