On Friday, November 7, over 120 Fulton and Montgomery county 4-H members, family members and volunteers celebrated their annual recognition night at the Amsterdam Elk’s Lodge. Throughout the year 4-Hers participate in projects ranging from woodworking and sewing, to horticulture and animal science. These projects culminate in exhibits at the Fonda Fair in late August, where 4-Hers show off their work to the general public. The members who document activities in their record books and turn them in to be judged on merit are eligible to receive project award discs, a symbol of their years’ worth of hard work and dedication to their projects.

I pledge my

my HEAD to clearer thinking,

my HEART to greater loyalty,

my HANDS to larger service,

and my HEALTH to better living

for my club, my community, my country and my world.

4-H Motto - “To Make the Best Better”
This national 4-H Motto should be the objective of each 4-H leader and member.

4-H Slogan - “Learning by Doing”
This is the educational philosophy of the 4-H program.  Since young people learn best when they are actively involved in the learning process, 4-H projects are designed to provide “hands-on” experience that is reinforced through group discussion and application – “do – reflect – apply.”

4-H Colors
The 4-H colors are green and white. White symbolizes purity, and green represents life, springtime, and youth.

4-H Club Emblem – A green four-leaf clover with a white “H” in each leaf
In 1907 a clover was chosen for the emblem, originally featuring only three leaves representing head, heart, and hands.  In 1908 a fourth leaf was added to represent health.  Today the 4-H Club Emblem is protected by law and belongs to the Congress of the United States.  It is protected under Federal Statue 18USC707.

4-H members are encouraged to embrace the 4-H spirit expressed through these symbols and to live and wear it proudly in all they do and say.

A 4-H club consists of 5 or more school-age youth, guided by two or more adult volunteers.  The 4-H Club’s goal is long-term youth development, which encourages its participants to learn life skills that will help them grow into healthy and productive citizens.

A 4-H club is an informal, educational youth opportunity, which serves as a “hands-on” laboratory for helping youth grow in many ways. Download the PDF below to learn all about a 4-H club.

Several types of volunteer roles contribute to the leadership of the 4-H Club Program. All volunteers are offered and encouraged to pursue training opportunities throughout the 4-H program year. 

Organizational Leader - The organizational leader establishes and maintains a club structure that supports 4-H Youth Development activities for school age youth within a defined area.  He/she works with the project leader, activity leader and youth in planning the club program; arranges for meeting facilities; complies with Cornell Cooperative Extension procedures; ensures that all enrollments, program registrations, completions, and reports are filled out and submitted to the county 4-H office in a timely manner; keeps the 4-H educator staff informed about activities, accomplishments and problems. An organizational leader may also act as a project leader.

Project Leader - The project leader provides instruction and guidance to 4-H members when doing a project.  The key component of the project leader’s role is teaching; the “classroom” is wherever the members meet in order to work on their project(s). Project leaders may also assist with project-related activities on the county level and guide members in the selection of projects and the completion of project reports.

Activity Leader - The activity leader is responsible to help members plan for and participate in one or more specific activities the club has included in its yearly plan. These include such things as community service, public presentation, special celebrations, trips, etc.

Resource Leader – Resource leaders are volunteers who are selected by Cooperative Extension staff to aid, train and work with 4-H club leaders or members on a short-term basis.  They have a specialization in a certain program area and have undergone specialized training, sometimes leading to a certification.  Resource leaders often teach workshops or serve as evaluators at fairs and contests.  Some examples of resource leaders are: Master Sewer, Master Gardener or Master Food Preserver.

In New York State, adults with an interest in becoming a 4-H volunteer must complete an application process that includes an application form, interview, reference check, NYS Department of Motor Vehicle check, criminal background check and formal approval.

Once approval has been granted, 4-H club organizational leaders participate in initial training. Quarterly meetings include educator staff and club organizational leaders. On occasions when the club organizational leader is unable to attend, an adult representative from the club may take his/her place at the meeting. At least one representative from each club is expected to attend each of the quarterly meetings.

In Fulton and Montgomery Counties there are three different types of 4-H membership: 4-H Cloverbuds, 4-H Club Members and 4-H Independent Members.

To join 4-H, choose among these options:

1. Seek and join an established 4-H club. The 4-H office can help match you to a club with interests common to your interests.
2. Start a new neighborhood 4-H club of your own. It only takes 5 youth to start a new club. Oftentimes youth find this a good option, especially if there is no existing club that is geographically near your neighborhood.
3. Enroll in 4-H as an independent member. The option does not provide the learning experiences associated with the group meeting/parliamentary procedure/leadership, socialization, and team work.

Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties if you reside in one of these counties. If you are a resident of a county other than Fulton or Montgomery Counties in New York State, contact your local Cooperative Extension office.

4-H Cloverbud Membership

Generally ages 5 & in Kindergarten through grade 2, 4-H Cloverbuds are members of a group that generally meets once a week or twice a month for about an hour.  4-H Cloverbuds work on short term projects, usually spending two or three meetings on one topic, including related field trips whenever possible.  4-H Cloverbuds practice group decision making, individual skill building, and socialization with peers.  4-H Cloverbud clubs are led by at least two caring adults who plan projects, events and activities with input from the youth members.  Leaders involve parents in activities at all levels.  Competition is not permitted in the 4-H Cloverbud program in accordance with research, which has shown competition to be inappropriate at this age level.  Most 4-H Cloverbud Clubs have between 5 (the minimum) and 10 members.

4-H Club Membership

4-H club members meet once a month for regular business meetings and attend project meetings in which they are enrolled at scheduled times throughout the year.  Project offerings vary from club to club and year to year.  Some clubs are focused on one major subject matter area, offering project work in related topics.  Other clubs are general interest groups where members take projects from a wide variety of subject matter areas.  All 4-H clubs plan and participate in community service projects and members learn first- hand about Parliamentary Procedure, increasing their decision making skills by participating in a monthly business meeting led by elected officers and following a set agenda.

Most 4-H clubs have between 5 (the minimum) and 15 members.  Larger 4-H clubs meet in church halls, firehouses, town halls or other community venue.  Smaller clubs meet at the leader’s home or the homes of members.  4-H club members’ families are responsible for transportation to and from meetings, events and activities and for most costs incurred for the member’s own project materials.  Research has shown that 4-H club membership improves school performance, a youth’s ability to make lasting friendships, and positively impacts their desire to make a difference in their communities.

4-H Independent Members

4-H independent members have the same rights and responsibilities as 4-H club members.  4-H independent members are guided by a parent/guardian or another caring adult arranged by the family. They obtain project teaching materials for their selected projects directly from the 4-H office and are responsible for securing supplies and equipment for all of their own projects.  4-H independent members plan and perform community service project work in their communities.  4-H independent membership is especially appealing to youth who have family or other commitments which preclude them from attending regularly scheduled business and project meetings.

Yes, for most 4-H activities and events.  On occasion there may a special opportunity for the public to join in a 4-H activity, but generally 4-H activities require prior enrollment.

4-H members are required to enroll in and complete at least one project, participate in the counties-wide 4-H fundraiser and submit a 4-H Member Record Book. 4-H members who fail to complete and submit a 4-H Member Record Book do not receive completion for the 4-H year.

4-H members are expected to respect adult leaders, fellow 4-H members and guests, and 4-H staff.  They are also expected to attend club meetings, support club activities, and complete their 4-H project work and record book to the best of their ability.

4-H members are expected to respect and abide by local, state and federal laws, 4-H rules and regulations on the county, state and national level, respect and honor their club's rules and exhibit exemplary behavior during any 4-H activity. 4-H members are expected to exhibit fair competition and sportsmanship at all times.

All 4-H members are required to read, sign and honor a "4-H Member Code of Conduct" during the enrollment process annually.