CFAES Give Today
Ohio 4-H Youth Development

Ohio State University Extension

CFAES

Ohio 4-H Highlights: September 2021

  1. 4-H royalty at Ohio State

    Maddie Allman

    4-H alumna Maddie Allman has been selected for the 2021 Ohio State University Homecoming Court. This honor does not come easily, and Allman attributes much of her success to her 4-H experience.

    Homecoming court members are selected based on their spirit, involvement, leadership qualities, and academic standing. Applicants complete a written application and interview process before being selected. Fortunately for Maddie, these are all things that she learned through her involvement in Ohio 4-H. 

    Maddie, in front of her on a table is a rabbit. To the right of the rabbit is a trophy, to the left is two trophies, hanging on one trophy is a banner.At age 8, Maddie joined her 4-H club in Vinton County because she wanted to show rabbits. Rabbits led to non-livestock projects, 4-H camp, junior fair board, and eventually the Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council (TLC). As part of TLC in 2019, Maddie took a position as the Vice President of Outreach. The culmination of these experiences taught her life skills that she continues to use as a college student. 

    Maddie attributes her passion, ambition, confidence, and public speaking abilities to 4-H. Without 4-H, she doesn’t believe that she would be where she is today.

    “4-H made me who I am, and it has given me the confidence to do things like run for homecoming court,” saidMaddie, with two other homecoming court member, hugging Brutus Buckeye in Ohio Stadium. Allman.

    On top of these skills, 4-H has also led to Maddie’s career choice. She is majoring in community leadership with a focus on community and Extension education and dual minors in youth development and rural sociology. She also works as a student assistant at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. Following graduation, Maddie plans to pursue a career in Extension education and continue on to graduate school.

    When she isn’t focused on work or academics, Maddie is actively involved on campus. Currently, she serves as president of Ohio State’s Collegiate 4-H Club.

    Court members are responsible for helping with several back-to-school events. In the past month, Maddie has assisted with Ohio State’s Welcome Week, Involvement Fair, and convocation for first- and second-year students. In October, she will have Maddie with Dean for the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Cathann A. Kress and past University President Dr. Michael V. Drake.the opportunity to attend the homecoming football game and be recognized on the field.

    Each member of Ohio State’s homecoming court also chooses an organization they are passionate about and are expected to conduct a fundraiser for the group. For Maddie, it was an easy decision.

    “I couldn’t think of anything else except for 4-H. I thought to myself, ‘I have to fundraise for 4-H’,” said Allman.

    All donations made to Maddie’s fundraiser will go to the Ohio 4-H Foundation Fund. This fund supports Ohio 4-H Youth Development programming efforts and goes toward supporting 4-H members participating in conferences, camps, and other activities. If you are interested in donating to Maddie’s fundraiser, please follow the link below for more information.A girl wearing a green jacket ziplining.

    Give Now

  2. 4-H is going to Hollywood!

    4-H Clover and American Idol logo. Text reads: Let's show American Idol some 4-H grown talent:

    On Friday, Sept. 24, American Idol will host a virtual audition day dedicated to 4-H’ers—current members and alumni ages 15–28. Individual 4-H singers nationwide will audition over Zoom for a chance to become the next American Idol. Register now to secure your spot at bit.ly/Idol4H!

  3. Last call to participate in Ohio 4-H Celebration of Youth event

    5 adults going down slides at Leeds Farm.

    It’s not too late to join us for this year’s annual 4-H Celebration of Youth event on Saturday, Oct. 2. You won’t want to miss out on a night of fall fun at Leeds Farm. Details can be found at go.osu.edu/COY. Tickets will be available until Friday, Sept. 24. 

    This year, we are offering a young alumni BOGO deal for those ages 21–30. Regularly priced tickets are $100 each, but we are offering a buy one, get one free deal for the first time ever for young alumni.   

    This adults-only event will include an opportunity to play on the farm! Whether you want to mingle and visit with 4-H friends or ride the zipline, there is something for everyone! The evening includes City Barbecue and fresh doughnuts from Patterson Fruit Farm.

    Unable to join us? There are other ways you can support this annual fundraising event:

    If you have any questions, please contact Crystal Ott at ott.109@osu.edu or Emily Niemann at niemann.29@osu.edu, or give the Ohio 4-H Foundation a call at 614-292-6943.

  4. Ohio 4-H Foundation: Making the best better!

    A screenshot of a Zoom room. Participants are holding canvases they painted.

    Despite the many challenges this year, Ohio 4-H educators have offered a variety of innovative programs, thanks in part to support from the Ohio 4-H Foundation. Over the past 10 years, more than $1.6 million has been awarded to 4-H efforts throughout the state to create new programs, support ongoing activities, and promote 4-H. Here are just a few of the programs created for 4-H youth this year.

    Take the Leap Day, statewide

    In 2020, the Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council (TLC) hosted the first Take the Leap: Career Readiness Day. Teens met at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center for an introduction to the world of work. This year, TLC built upon the success of that first effort by hosting a virtual program. Thirty youth joined online for sessions on business etiquette, creating a LinkedIn profile, and connecting with 4-H alumni about transferring their 4-H experience to the workforce.

    Ohio 4-H Conference, statewide

    Each year more than 1,200 4-H volunteers and teens meet in Columbus for the Ohio 4-H Conference to discover new resources and activities for youth. This year’s virtual event was held over three days with more than 3,400 check-ins for 87 different sessions on topics ranging from new projects to livestock updates to games for club meetings.

    Cloverbud kits, Greene CountyA girl wearing a face mask.

    4-H Educator Rebecca Supinger created Experience 4-H at Home kits for the youngest 4-H’ers, each focused on a different H. The 50 kit recipients learned about career readiness, agriscience, healthy living, and citizenship with the activities and supplies in the kit. In the “Head” kit, Cloverbuds discovered directions to make a birdseed ornament with a 4-H cookie cutter and how to create a handmade mask. 

    3 girls in a field in front of a volleyball court flying a small drone.

     

     

     

     

     

    Exploring precision ag, Portage County

    Later this year, youth in a two-day program will learn all about precision agriculture and how drones are used in the process. The second session focuses on career options with presentations from ag professionals who will share how drones help them in the workplace. In this photo, 4-H’ers tested the drones and learned about precision ag while at Portage County 4-H camp, held at Camp Whitewood. 

  5. Alumni wanted: How to stay involved

    A man helping two teen girls with a coding project.

    Ten years as a 4-H project member go by quickly, especially when those years are filled with hands-on learning, meeting new friends, and making lots of memories.

    4-H alumni often describe the program as one of the most influential parts of their childhood. You can help the youth of today and tomorrow have that same 4-H experience by staying involved with the program as a 4-H alumni. Here are 10 ways that you can volunteer.

    1. Help youth lead a club
      • Assist with organizing meetings, speakers, and other logistics.
      • Assist and/or mentor a 4-H volunteer who is serving as a project leader.
    2. Teach a skill
      • Organize a club or share your skills by teaching a club meeting workshop devoted to your area of specialty.
    3. Judge projects
      • Serve as a judge for 4-H exhibits, competitions, or performances, providing encouragement and suggestions for improvement.
    4. Plan or assist at an event
      • Volunteer at a county special event—from set up or clean up to serving food or taking registrations, there are lots of ways to get involved.
    5. Serve on an advisory board or committee
      • Sit on a local advisory or county governing board to help determine program priorities.
    6. Help with a specific 4-H project
      • Advise a 4-H member in their project work; help youth identify and set goals, create and implement a plan, and reflect on what they learned and would do differently next time.
    7. Assist with program delivery
      • Volunteer at an after-school program, a summer program, camp program event, or club meeting.
    8. Volunteer on a fair organizing committee
      • Volunteer at a local fair—be inspired by the talents and creativity of the next generation while promoting the country’s largest youth development organization!
      • Work in the food booth or help in the 4-H exhibit hall or at the 4-H show ring.
    9. Utilize your professional skills
      • Share your technical skills and knowledge to develop subject matter for curriculum/project sheets.
      • Assist with creating marketing tools, graphic art, Word documents, webpages, videos, online training modules, etc.
      • Intern at your local Extension office with the 4-H program, a great resume builder.
    10. Share your experiences
      • Share your hobby/passion—inspire a young person as a guest speaker or short-term instructor.
      • Share your career path—invite a 4-H’er to shadow you for the day.
      • Share your educational path/give a testimonial—how did you get to where you are? (If you are a college student—how did you choose your school, what are you pursuing, what are you aspiring to do?)

    Interested in any of these opportunities? Contact your local OSU Extension office or the Ohio 4-H Foundation at ohio4hfoundation@osu.edu.

  6. Faces of Ohio

    Kameron Rinehart

    Each month we highlight an Ohio 4-H alumnus. They have amazing stories to share, from their personal experience in 4-H to how they have given back to the program. This month we feature Kameron Rinehart, the founder and CEO of Rural Beans Roastery LLC, and a Fayette County 4-H alumnus.

    Kameron with a goat and group of fair royalty.Rinehart was a 4-H member in Fayette County for 12 years, where he took a wide range of projects from goats and chickens to small engines and public speaking. “I enjoyed getting to raise livestock and prepare them for the fair. Each year, I looked forward to going to the farm to pick out my goats for that year. I also did many leadership and community service-based projects, which led me to become deeply involved in 4-H.”

    During his time in 4-H, Rinehart was busy with both local and state 4-H programs. “I was on the county junior fair board, served as a camp counselor, an Ohio Military Kids camp counselor, member and president of the Teen Leadership Council, youth member of the Ohio 4-H Foundation Board for five years, the Ohio State Junior Fair Board, and Leadership Team member for National 4-H Congress and National 4-H Conference.” In Fayette County, Rinehart won the Citizenship and Community Service Achievement Award in 2016 and was named an Outstanding 4-H Member. As a result of his many contributions, Rinehart was one of the first people to be inducted into the Ohio 4-H Teen Hall of Fame.

    Rinehart’s favorite 4-H memory happened in Washington, D.C. “In January 2013, my 4-H educator was one of the leaders of a trip to attend the presidentialKameron with his Teen Hall of Fame award. inauguration. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and politics aside, it was an experience I hope 4-H can offer in the future. I met so many people and built friendships that I still have today. Just a few months ago, my former colleague at Ohio State realized we had met years ago on this trip! It was an incredible time and memories that will last forever.”

    Through all of the opportunities he had in 4-H and the people he worked with, Rinehart learned skills he still uses to this day. “4-H taught me many important lessons in life, and a lot of those lessons came from my mentors. People like Nadine Fogt, Robin Stone, Kim and JR Hoppess, Hannah Epley, Allen Auck, Theresa Ferrari, and Courtney Michaels taught me the value of service to others. From being a camp counselor and mentoring young 4-H campers to serving as a member of the State Junior Fair Board, getting to represent 4-H and serve the entire Kameron with his 4-H educator, Nadine Fogt.state of Ohio. I learned valuable skills such as public speaking, organization, respect, timeliness, mediation, and cooperation. I strive to make the best better in all that I do, and I believe 4-H is preparing youth to be agents of change for generations to come."

    Like most alumni, 4-H helped lead Rinehart to the career he is currently pursuing. “I am currently a master’s degree student at The Ohio State University studying agricultural communication, education, and leadership, focusing on community leadership. I hope to continue to obtain a PhD in the same field, then serve as a professor teaching leadership studies focusing on agriculture.”

    This past summer, Rinehart opened a coffee roasting business called Rural Beans Roastery LLC. Rural Beans Roastery was launched in summer 2021 and focuses on providing customers with freshly roasted coffeeKameron holding a bag of coffee. from around the world. The company sells 12 varieties of coffee, including its own Signature Blend, a combination of three very different coffees. “We focus on single-origin coffees and roast them fresh to each order.”

    Rinehart’s involvement in 4-H continues today. “I have been an annual donor since 2016, contributing to clock trophies for the state fair, the Celebration of Youth, and youth camping programs. I try to give back in the form of time whenever I can by attending events or volunteering to judge projects. I hope to encourage more young alumni throughout Ohio to give back as well. Even if it isn’t much, that’s OK! Remaining involved in the organization is critical for the future success of the program.”

    Rinehart encouraged youth to become involved in as many of the opportunities 4-H has to offer as they can. “Don’t wait to get involved! Your time in 4-H is limited, and you don’t want to look back as an alumni and think, ‘I wish I would have done that.’ Take advantage of the one-of-a-kind programs that Ohio 4-H and national 4-H offer, and don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone because the results will be amazing.”

  7. Calendar of events

    A group of people gathered around tables working on activities.

    Sept. 21–23, Farm Science Review (London)—Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the gate. Farm Science Review will feature agriculture-related products, manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors of farm types of machinery, fertilizers, seeds, and more. Click here for more information.

    Sept. 25, STEAM on the Quad (Lima)—10 a.m. Experience just how fun STEAM can be with hands-on experiments and activities. STEAM on the Quad will host 30-plus activities for families and kids K–8 to improve their knowledge and interest in STEAM fields. Preregister for this event.

    Sept. 26, Niki Schaub 4-H Scholarship Golf Scramble (Waynesfield)—8:15 a.m. All proceeds benefit the Niki Schaub 4-H Scholarship in Auglaize County. $50 entry fee per person, includes greens fees, cart, and barbecue chicken dinner. Call 419-568-7888 to register foursomes for the scramble, or call 937-489-6999 to register as a single.

    Sept. 30, GROBucks—Tomatoes (Troy) —Noon. Join us for GROBucks in September. We’ll focus on garden tomatoes; planting, growing, harvesting, and cooking with them. Participants will leave with a tomato knife for home use and a fun tomato make and take. Preregistration is required, and the cost for this session is $7. The deadline to register is Sept. 29; register at go.osu.edu/grobucks. If you have questions, please contact Amanda Bennett at the OSU Extension Miami County office, 937-440-3945 or bennett.709@osu.edu. This session will be held in person only.

    Oct. 2, 4-H Celebration of Youth: 4-H Leading the Way (Ostrander)—6:30 p.m. This event is open to all friends of 4-H age 21 and older. The 24th annual Ohio 4-H fundraiser will be held at Leeds Farm in Ostrander on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 6:30 p.m. This year’s event includes casual dress and farm activities. Individual tickets are $100. Tickets for young adults ages 21–30 are buy one, get one free. Tickets will include a meal and drink ticket, as well as the opportunity to enjoy ziplining, pumpkin jump, adult trikes, hayrides, and so much more! For ticket and sponsorship information, visit go.osu.edu/COY.

    Oct. 9, Ashtabula County Community Sale (Jefferson)—9 a.m. Crafts, flea market, antiques, and more at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds to support the mission of 4-H. Open to the public, no entry fee. For more information, email ashco4hadvisory@gmail.com.

    Oct. 16–17, Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp Alumni Weekend (Jackson)—3 p.m. Join us Oct. 16–17 to relive your best camp memories and make a few new ones. Register at go.osu.edu/alumniweekend2021.

    Nov. 6, Cultivate the Clover of Ottawa County (Oak Harbor)—5 p.m. Tickets for the Cultivate the Clover of Ottawa County Dinner and Auction are now available for purchase at the Ottawa Ciounty OSU Extension office, 419-898-3631. Tickets are $30 each. Cultivate the Clover provides financial support for 4-H programming, education, recognition, and participation in local, state, and national leadership activities.

    Nov. 13, Camp Ohio 5K Adventure Trail Run & Walk (Saint Louisville)Save the date for the annual 5K Adventure Trail Run & Walk. This event is a great opportunity to enjoy 4-H Camp Ohio’s beautiful trails and is open to all ages. More information coming soon at 4hcampohio.org.