Ohio State - 4-H Youth Development

The Delaware County 4-H Team is heading back to Ohio after competing at the National 4-H Food Challenge.! The competition was held in Dallas at the State Fair of Texas. Naming themselves the Buckeye Battalion, team members Ashleigh Willyerd, Ellie Whittington, Liz Bender, and Ethan Oberhaus competed in a cooking competition using the surprise secret ingredient of cinnamon raisin bread to create a delicious healthy breakfast dish in 40 minutes. Although they did not advance to the finals, they enjoyed meeting 4-H teams from across the country and sharing cooking tips. The team was coached by 4-H volunteer Angela Willyerd.

Check out scenes from the Farm Science Review--we hope to see you there today and tomorrow!

In 2025 alone, Ohio 4-H youth enrolled in 121,329 projects.

That number represents 121,329 big ideas sparked, new interests discovered and opportunities to develop life-changing skills for Ohio’s 4-H youth.

Inspired by Dolly Parton’s legacy, we’re asking you to help us put more project books in the hands of young people across our state. Give at the link below now through September 25.

https://bit.ly/4reg5n2

Check out this opportunity!

🔥🍗 NEW FOR OHIO 4-H! 🍗🔥

Ohio 4-H is excited to introduce the Chicken & Turkey Barbecue Contest for senior 4-H members ages 14–18!

📅 October 3, 2026

This first-year program is designed to help participants learn the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference contest format while building their barbecue skills!

Participants will take part in:
🔥 A contest overview and barbecue demonstration
🍗 A mock Chicken & Turkey BBQ Contest
👩‍⚖️ Judges' discussion and feedback
🏆 Winner announcement

Participants will learn about scoring and expectations, food preparation techniques, and what it takes to compete at the national level—then put their skills to the test in a mock contest!

🏆 REPRESENT OHIO AT NATIONALS!

Following the 2026 program, one Chicken BBQ participant and one Turkey BBQ participant will be selected to represent Ohio at the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference!

📍 National Contest: November 18–19, 2026

🔥 Ready to fire up the grill and represent Ohio 4-H?

👉 Register here:
https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_56i4so0G5ljCJT0

🔗 Learn more about the contest and national rules:
https://ohio4h.org/chicken-and-turkey-barbecue-contest

Don't miss this exciting new opportunity to learn, compete, and show off your barbecue skills! 🍗🔥🏆

🍀🚜 Join Ohio 4-H at Farm Science Review!

Make plans to visit the Ohio 4-H STEM Tent during Farm Science Review, September 22-24, for hands-on activities that showcase the exciting connections between STEM, agriculture, and problem-solving.

Whether you're a current 4-H member, a volunteer, an alum, or simply interested in learning more about Ohio 4-H, you'll have the opportunity to participate in interactive experiences.

📍 Add the Ohio 4-H STEM Tent to your Farm Science Review itinerary and stop by to see Ohio 4-H in action!

The Ohio 4-H Urban Immersion Project - Washington concludes today. It was a 4-day immersive experience for 14 4-H teens from 11 Ohio counties. These youth came in not knowing each other and embraced challenges that put them outside their comfort zone. The Washington Seminar Center served as home base for the experience. -Steve Brady and Nate Arnett were leaders for the trip.

Below are some highlights from the 4 day experience:

-Teens were divided into food groups from the start and were tasked with buying and preparing meals for the group as if all 16 participants were on a government food assistance budget.

-Service was a key part of the experience as teens served 180+ meals at the SOME (So Others Might Eat) organization to individuals who were unhoused. Later that day they prepared 40 lunches to hand out to people living on the streets while they explored the city. They also had a challenge activity to learn Metro transportation system.

-On Friday evening the group welcomed speakers from the National Coalition for the Homeless who shared their stories of being homeless. Teens were able to ask questions and learn more about the issue of homelessness.

-Saturday included a city wide scavenger hunt and a small group challenge to connect with locals in the Eastern market community. In the evening the group enjoyed the new experience of trying food from Ethiopia.

-Each night the teens were able to reflect and process all they were experiencing and shared openly about the highs and lows of their day living in the city.

For more about this and other immersion experiences from Ohio 4-H visit Cultural Immersion Projects | Ohio 4-H Youth Development (https://ohio4h.org/families/just-teens/cultural-immersion-projects).

In 2027, Ohio 4-H teens will have the opportunity to participate in two unique Global Immersion Projects:

Greece at the American Farm School in Thessaloniki, where participants will explore agricultural innovation, food production, leadership development, Greek culture, and iconic destinations like Meteora and the Mount Olympus region.

Austria at the LFS Pyhra Agricultural High School, where youth will work alongside Austrian students, explore agriculture and food systems, visit Vienna, hike in the Alps, and gain real-world international experience.

These experiences are designed for Ohio 4-H members who are curious about the world, passionate about agriculture, and ready to develop their leadership skills.
To apply, youth must first receive a nomination from an Ohio 4-H Professional. Then applications are sent directly to those nominated.

Nomination deadline: September 30

Interested Ohio 4-H members should contact their county 4-H Professional at their local Extension office to learn more about the nomination and selection process.

More information about these and all 2027 Global and Cultural Immersion experiences can be found on the Ohio 4-H Youth Development Cultural Immersion webpage: https://ohio4h.org/families/just-teens/cultural-immersion-projects

Save the date for the 2026 Ohio 4-H Celebration of Youth!

Join the Ohio 4-H Foundation for an unforgettable evening celebrating and supporting Ohio 4-H on Thursday, October 15, 2026. All proceeds from the event help provide life-changing opportunities for youth across Ohio through Ohio 4-H programs.

📍 Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, Columbus, Ohio
📅 Thursday, October 15, 2026
🎟️ Tickets: $125 per person
✔️Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend.
⭐ VIP Guest: Nina Day, Champion for The Kids Mental Health Foundation
❤️ Funds raised directly support Ohio 4-H youth and programs statewide.

🔗Find more information and reserve your tickets today: go.osu.edu/COY

Ohio 4-H’ers hit the field for a one-of-a-kind Mowing Clinic at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field! ⚽️🌱Presented by Columbus Crew and ScottsMiracle-Gro, 4-H’ers went behind the scenes to discover the science, skills and careers that keep a professional soccer field looking game-day ready. They even picked up some practical lawn care tips along the way!

The fun didn’t stop there—a relay race brought some friendly competition, followed by a meet-and-greet with Crew Cat! 🐱⚽

From exploring careers to learning by doing, experiences like this help 4-H’ers build confidence, discover new possibilities and become for what’s next. 💚🍀 Ohio State - 4-H Youth Development

From committee meetings and statewide events to lifelong friendships, Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council members have much to celebrate from the 2025-2026 program year. 💚

At the TLC End-of-Year Banquet on August 23, members reflected on their accomplishments and heard inspiring remarks from Ohio 4-H alum Dr. Kameron Rinehart and Ohio 4-H Foundation President Joel Oney about the opportunities that Ohio 4-H provides and the power of saying “yes.”

The evening also marked a special leadership transition as the 2025-2026 officer team concluded their service and welcomed the 2026-2027 officers. Congratulations to these exceptional young leaders, and thank you to all TLC members for another successful year of leadership and impact! 🍀👏