UConn 4-H equips youth with skills for the future while meeting them where they are today. We craft programs to enable youth to thrive and build confidence and resiliency based on lessons learned through years of research on positive youth development. UConn 4-H offers opportunities and experiences that develop youth into their full, authentic selves, enabling them to shine both now and in the future.

Thanks to the generous support of donors like you, UConn 4-H members have found their spark through 4-H programming. As a result of your support, youth have developed leadership skills by participating in national 4-H trips to Washington, DC; learned more about our state’s governance through 4-H Citizenship Day at the Connecticut State Capitol, demonstrated their creativity through Expressive Arts Day, and – sometimes – literally created sparks while engaging in hands-on STEM learning. Donor funds also supported 4-H skills trainings, such as the recent workshops leading to the certification of 29 volunteers, 11 youth, and 21 4-H camp staff in CPR, another way we live out our commitment to providing safe environments for learning.

Donate during 4-H Giving Week, October 6-12, to help us reach our goal of 400 donors for 4-H, so more youth here in Connecticut can be beyond ready for tomorrow.

Please help us grow the legacy impact supported by our Endowed 4-H Centennial Fund at s.uconn.edu/4hcentennial  or make a gift to the 4-H Development fund to support immediate needs at s.uconn.edu/4hdevelopment. 

The Fairfield County 4-H Dog Show will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at the Edmond Town Hall Gymnasium, 45 Main Street, Newtown, CT. Open to 4-H members and their verified dog projects.  Entry fee is $5.00.

Registration packet

The New England 4-H Dog Clinic will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at the Tolland Agricultural Center in Vernon, CT from 9am to 1pm.  Check in starts at 8am.  Registration fee is $15.00.  Registration is due by May 1st.  Mailed registration must be postmarked by April 29th.  No same day registration.

Event Flyer

UConn 4-H Livestock Judging Schedule

The following practices are open to any fully enrolled 4-H Youth, of all ability levels. Please come prepared to take notes and dress for spending time in a barn.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Judging practice at Katie Adkins – Beef Cattle
44 Minor Road, Terryville, CT 06786

Tuesday, April 30, 2024 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
UConn Heifer Barn – Beef Cattle and Sheep
Horsebarn Hill Road, Storrs, CT 06268
(drive pass the milking parlor to the bottom of the hill)

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
To be determined

Tuesday, June 25, 2024 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
To be determined

Practices will be held to allow 4-H members to develop skills in, placing classes, presenting oral reasons, without notes, and interpreting performance data. You will need to demonstrate
competency to be considered for the Connecticut 4-H Livestock Judging Team that competes in Louisville in November 2024.
Questions ? Contact bonnie.kegler@uconn.edu

This event is open to all youth 12-18 years old. Adults are welcome to attend to assist throughout the day with needed volunteer tasks. Register now by completing and returning the registration form. Registration is $15 until 3/20/24. After that date the fee goes up to $20. Registration fee includes lunch, UConn 4-H polo shirt and program materials.

Each day, 4-H youth use skills learned through their project work. We will explore those tools used by 4-H members and how we can put them to work in everyday school settings. Tools like financial literacy, public speaking, healthy eating and civic engagement. We will look at 4-H workforce readiness skills and how we can apply those skills toward academic success.
Please call 860-885-2824 at least two weeks prior to the event if special accommodations are needed.

Poster Contest
Within our projects, 4-H focuses on Head, Heart, Hands and Health. How do you use what you learned in 4-H in other areas of your life like school? Create a poster to share with others. Prizes for the best displays.

UConn 4-H Citizenship Day Flyer

Registration Form

The 2024 UConn 4-H Dairy Judging Farm tours will be held on the last Thursday of each month, from February through May, with the UConn 4-H State Judging Contest being held at the CT Holstein Show at Goshen Fairgrounds on June 29^th.

Trainings will be provided throughout the spring to be able to prepare several interested members to compete in the UConn 4-H State Dairy Judging Contest in June. We then will work with the top 6-8 placing members over the summer to prepare our new UConn 4-H Dairy Judging Team to compete at the Big E and Louisville this fall, then then on to Madison to the World Dairy Expo in 2025. The following tours are open to any fully enrolled and interested 4-H youth to attend. Please bring something to write on (clipboard with paper) and a pen. Disposable plastic boots will be provided. There is no need to register ahead of time, just come to any or all you can and learn how to judge dairy cows and heifers!

 

2024 UConn 4-H Dairy Judging Tour Schedule

 

Thursday, February 29, 2024, 6:30 pm to 8 pm: Judging Practice at Kingswood Farm, Anne Ennis, 289 Providence Rd., Brooklyn, CT 06234

 

Thursday, March 28, 2024, 7 pm to 8:30 pm: Judging Practice at Birch Mill Farm, the Tim and Katlyn Kinsella, 185 Belden Street, Falls Village, CT 06031 

 

Thursday, April 25, 2024, 7 pm to 8:30 pm: Judging Practice at Millborne Farm, Dr. Morey Miller, 264 N Granby Rd, Granby,  CT  06035-1301

 

Thursday, May 30, 2024, 7 pm to 8:30 pm: Judging Practice at Smyths Trinity Farm, The Dugas Family, 4 Oliver Rd, Enfield, CT 06082

 

Saturday, June 29, 2024, 6 pm: UConn 4-H State Dairy Judging Contest at the CT Holstein Show, Goshen Fairgrounds, 116 Old Middle St., Goshen, CT 06756

 

And a special thanks to all of these hard-working dairy farmers for opening up their barns to us!

 

Please remember that on Saturday, February 24^th, at the UConn 4-H Nutrition and Food Show, there is an added competition for Grilled Cheese and Milkshake Contests. The winners of these contests will be invited to be the UConn 4-H Grilled Cheese and Milkshake Teams at the 2024 New England 4-H Dairy Program at the Big E.

The 2024 UConn 4-H Horse Academic Contests will be held in January and April of 2024.

Registration Packet

This Packet Contains:

• Rules for Horsebowl (Quizbowl) at all 3 levels
• Rules for Horse Judging at all 3 levels
• Deadlines for entry
• Eligibility requirements
• Entry fees, forms and information

Senior Contest Kentucky Event Eligibility Information

• Horsebowl – At this time we do not have a Horsebowl State Coach – so the Horsebowl is not eligible for New England Contest or Eastern National 4-H Roundup participation.

• Horse Judging Contest – members who have an average score of 38, (across all judging classes and reasons) and want to participate will be considered for the team. With preference given to the highest average scores. (All classes and reasons scores will be added together and then divided by the total classes judges and reasons sets to determine average scores.)  State 4-H Horse Judging Coach will determine practice schedule, and events that will be participated in.

Contest Dates and Deadlines for Registration  

Horsebowl – January 27, MX County Ext Center, Check in 9:30 AM – Deadline for Entry –January 6 

Horse Judging – April 27, 2024, Storrs Campus, Check in 8:30 AM – Deadline for Entry has been extended to March 20th

 

 

UConn 4-H Expressive Arts Day will be held on Saturday, March 23rd at the Litchfield County Extension Center and the Five Points Art Center, both in Torrington.  This exciting one-day event will include the 4-H Fashion Review, Photography and Art Contests along with the Textile Arts Contest. Workshops and an awards program are also part of this day.  Registration is $10 per person.  Please review the guidelines for each of the contests you will be participating in.  Please note photography entries are due by March 1st to Nancy Wilhelm and general registration is due by March 15th.  Art and Textile Arts entries are brought to the event for judging.

General Overview

Registration Form

Fashion Review Guidelines

Smart Shopper Workbook

Sewn Outfit Judging Form

Art Contest Guidelines

Photography Contest Guidelines

Textile Arts Contest Guidelines

Schedule

9:00 a.m. Registration
Senior Fashion Revue evaluations for Court of Honor begins at 9:15 am

9:15 a.m. Opening Announcements

9:30-10:15 Session I
• Workshops
Participants will be asked to sign up for their workshops on-line. Information will be sent to the online
registration after we receive your registration. On-line workshop registration will close on Sunday March
17 at 5pm – so register early. A variety of interesting and fun workshops are available. Choose from
square dancing, bell ringing, mindfulness art, quilting and 3D string art. Limited to 10-12 youth per most
workshops. First come first serve.

10:20-11:05 Session II
• Workshops Repeated

11:10-12:10 Session III
• Fashion Revue modeling workshop for all Fashion Revue participants
• Some workshops repeated for those not in Fashion Revue

12:15-12:45 Awards Program in
This portion of the event includes the 4-H Fashion Revue and award presentations

 

The UConn 4-H Horse Event Day will be held on Saturday, February 24 at the Middlesex County Extension Center in Haddam.  It includes Giddy Up Games, the Model Horse Show and the 2024 Horse Poster Contest.

Giddy Up Games is a fun, interactive program where teams of two participate in horse-themed challenges and win prizes at the end of the day.

The Model Horse Show exhibit drop off begins February 10 and goes through February 22.  Model Horse show judging will be February 23, as it takes a very long time to judge.  Model Horse Show awards will be given out following Giddy Up games on the 24^th.

Poster can be submitted on the 24^th, as the rubric for that is far less complicated.  Registration information for all 3 events is in the registration packet.  Please share with your community.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A HORSE PROJECT TO DO ANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES!  All participants are welcome.

Registration Packet