Once again, three buildings at the Clark County Fairgrounds will be turned into the town of Cloverfield — the place to find out what 4-H has to offer.
“First, visitors check in at the travel center to get a passport,” said Pat House, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development. “The focus is giving people a taste of 4-H.”
People who get all the stamps in their passports for each station will be eligible for more prizes.
There are more than 20 stops in Cloverfield, which features a wide variety of interactive activities, like learning how to create Dippin’ Dots-style ice cream with liquid nitrogen, making a paracord knot project and meeting the insect guy. The insect guy will let people hold some of the insects or let them eat a chocolate-covered insect, if they dare.
“They don’t have to do it if they don’t want to,” said House. “It’s not a mandatory thing.”
What seems to be mandatory at the 4-H Kickoff is having fun.
Of course, since it is 4-H, there must be some animals involved in some way. House said there should be rabbits, dogs, guinea pigs, goats and alpacas. But the animals are not the focus of the event. Animal-related projects are just a few of the hundreds of projects possible for all age groups.
Photography, archery and shooting sports are now 4H projects, in addition to traditional projects like sewing, canning and raising goats or steers.
The 4-H Kickoff is open to students aged 5 to 18 years. It begins at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m.
“They can stay for the whole time or for a little bit,” said House.
Snacks will be available and there will be chances to win door prizes.
Applications for 4-H and lists of clubs in each school district will be available. There are more than 30 different clubs in western Clark County alone.
The local 4-H website, http://clark.osu.edu, is full of great information about clubs and what type of study is involved with each project. Click on “Join 4H” then on “clubs.” Or call Patty House at 937-521-3860.
And after you get registered, be sure to march forth.
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