About 4-H

4-H is a positive youth development program delivered by the nation's cooperative extension services that provides experiences where young people learn by doing. Through informal, research-based, experiential educational activities, 4-H members gain knowledge and life skills that enable them to become positive, productive, capable and compassionate members of their communities.

4-H is the largest youth organization in the United States!

At the federal level, 4-H is organized as a part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Our parent department in the USDA is the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

4-H in Louisiana is administered by the LSU AgCenter and its Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. The LSU AgCenter is part of the Louisiana State University (LSU) System.

What is a 4-H Club?

A 4-H Club is a group of young people in your school or in your community who want to improve their heads, hearts, hands and health. Each 4-H Club has its own officers. They are supervised by Extension agents and volunteer leaders. A leader may be anyone interested in helping young people. Volunteer leaders who supervise clubs are called “organizational leaders.”

Every 4-H member can select at least one 4-H project. “Completing a project” means doing everything the project book tells you to do. All 4^th grade members choose the “Discovering 4-H” project book and 5^th grade members choose the “Exploring 4-H” project book. 6^th grade members may select a project of interest from the available books at the 4-H office.

4-H members can participate in project clubs such as livestock, shooting sports, fashion club, SET (science, engineering, and technology) Club, and Pet Club.

What do 4-H members do?

“Learn by Doing” is the 4-H Club slogan. 4-H members do not just read about things; they do them. They make things; take part in club meetings; learn interesting new things; learn to follow; and learn to lead. They help their neighbors and their neighborhoods through club activities.

What activities are offered to 4-H members?

4-H members choose the activities they want to do.

Do you want to:

Visit interesting places?
Win awards?
Become a Leader?
Raise animals and plants?
Prepare food?
Collect insects?
Learn to sew?

4-H members can choose to do these activities and many more. In most parishes you can compete in demonstrations, make exhibits, design posters and participate in animal shows. These are just a few of the ways 4-H’ers learn by doing.

How do you join 4-H?

Louisiana 4-H provides opportunities for youth from all backgrounds and interest to become a member and learn and grow through hands-one experiences. Any youth from the age of 9 years (before January 1st of the current 4-H year) can be a member. Youth can participate as long as they a have not passed their 20th birthday on January 1. Because of our diverse age range, 4-H has lots of opportunities and experiences for all ages of youth to participate in.

4-H provides several ways that youth can participate. Three types of membership are offered in Terrebonne Parish:

Cloverbud - An age appropriate, non-competitive experience for youth that targets children from kindergarten through third grade.
Club Member - 4-H Club members must be in grades 4 though 12. Youth must be at least 9 years old and have not passed their 20th birthday. 4-H Clubs are groups of youth who meet monthly to learn, work on 4-H projects, perform community service, develop leadership skills and work together. Guided by one or more adult volunteers, a club can consist of six or more youth from a school, neighborhood or parish.
Member-at-Large - Participate in planned learning outside of a club setting. Self-directed with guidance and support of parents and mentor. 4-H youth must be in grades 4 through12.

Louisiana 4-H is moving to an online enrollment system. Enrollment instructions are given to students interested in joining 4-H at their school club meetings. Students should submit the yellow information page along with club dues to their school, then complete the online registration. Click on the link to take you to 4-H Online: https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in

Instructions for enrolling a member in the online system:

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4-H Club Meetings

All schools with 4-H clubs will meet in person once a month with the 4-H Agents. Some schools may schedule additional meetings to work on different projects throughout the year. Check school calendars, websites, and other communciations for 4-H meeting dates.

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