A 4-H project is a collection of experiences based around a specific topic.

These experiences are a huge range of everything you have done in a calendar year. Your 4-H community (parents, club members, volunteers, 4-H Agent and others) will help you learn about upcoming opportunities you might be interested in.

4-H Projects are year-long individually designed educational experiences. Youth pick a topic to explore and pursue learning experiences centered on that topic January through December.

Categories include:

• Animal Science
• Citizenship & Civic Education
• Communication & Expressive Arts
• Family & Consumer Sciences
• Environmental Science
• Healthy Lifestyles
• Personal Development & Leadership
• Plant Science
• Science & Technology

Youth can pick any topic of interest from archery to horse and from gardening to rockets. This is what makes 4-H so great! 4-H then offers a variety of activities to learn more and youth are able to pursue individual experiences as well. Make sure to write it all down in your 4-H Project Record!

These activities may include:

• Hands On Experience – Raise an animal, grow a garden, build furniture, etc.
• Field Trips – go with your family, club or school to explore a location related to your project
• Interviews – share time with a professional working in your project field
• Camps or Classes – take a 4-H class or another camp on your topic
• Teach Others – hold a class to teach others (4-H has lots of opportunities to do this!)
• Presentations – share your knowledge in a school or 4-H presentation
• Competitions – 4-H has lots of opportunities to compete to earn awards & incentives
• Research – books, internet, journals, library – limitless!
• Showcase at Fair – Cabarrus County Fair, Mountain State Fair, NC State Fair and so much more!
• Club or County Meeting – see your 4-H agent for a club to join or our next county event to share your experience with others!

If you have trouble starting, 4-H has many curriculum guides with lots of activities. Here is a monthly cheat sheet to complete a 4-H Project Record. 

If you need help talk to your club leader or 4-H Agent.