What is 4-H?
What Is 4-H? – short summary about 4-H as a national organization
Welcome to Gillespie County 4-H!
We are proud to have 8 clubs in Gillespie County! Please feel free to contact the Gillespie County Extension Office at 830-997-3452 to learn more about Gillespie County 4-H.
New Member Book 2023-2024 (pdf)- summarizes events, deadlines, projects, awards, etc… – this document will be very helpful for families interested in being involved with the Gillespie County 4-H program.
This is a 40 minute video of the 2020-2021 New Member Orientation in Gillespie County. This video gives a general overview of joining 4H and opportunities in Gillespie 4H.
How do I enroll/register for 4-H?
Enrollment in 4-H is accomplished by using 4H Online, which is an online system, and you can access your account or create an account by clicking on the link below. Enrollment in 4-H is by academic year (i.e. September 1 – August 31), and each member must enroll each year. There is a $25.00 annual membership fee if you enroll by October 31st, and the membership fee increases to $30.00 if you enroll after October 31st, so it is to your advantage to enroll early! Clover Kid membership is now a flat rate of $10 per 4-H year.
Click on the links below for step by step instructions:
Online Enrollment Instructions for Existing Youth Members
- use these instructions for all youth members even if you were enrolled in a different county previously
Online Enrollment Instructions for Adult Volunteers
- NOTE: Adult Enrollment does require two 30 minute trainings before completing, so plan for this process to take 1-2 hours to complete
Online Enrollment Instructions for Brand New Families to 4H
- use these instructions if your family has never been enrolled in 4H in another county previously
What are the age minimums for participating in Gillespie County 4-H?
- Clover Kids/Beginners: 1st and 2nd graders
- Junior Members: 3rd (at least 8 years old), 4th, & 5th graders
- Intermediate: 6th, 7th, & 8th graders
- Senior: 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
How will I know what is going on in Gillespie County 4-H?
We will post information on this website, but we also produce a monthly newsletter that is e-mailed to all Gillespie County 4-H families each month. The newsletter is also available through 4-H Connect, and it is also on our blog website under https://gillespie4hnews.blogspot.com/. We send out weekly e-mail blogs reminding our members of upcoming events, deadlines, or any other additional announcements happening in 4-H, along with blogs specific to large events, such as validation dates, etc.
What kinds of activities can I do in 4-H?
The possibilities are endless, but a few of the activities Gillespie 4-Hers are involved with are:
- Showing/Raising Animals
- Food & Nutrition
- Fashion & Interior Design
- Entomology
- Photography
- Livestock Judging
- Shooting Sports
- Meat Judging
- Robotics
- Gardening
- Horse
- Plant ID / Range Judging
- Wildlife
- Dairy Judging
- Dog (Companion Animal)
If you want to start a project of your own, just contact our 4-H Extension Agent, and we will be happy to provide you with whatever information that we can find.
Mission Of Texas 4-H
Prepare youth to meet the challenges of childhood, adolescence and adulthood, through a coordinated, long-term, progressive series of educational experiences that enhance life skills and develop social, emotional, physical and cognitive competencies.
What Is 4-H All About?
4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. 4-H is about having fun, learning, exploring and discovering. In 4-H, young people make new friends, develop new skills, become leaders and help shape their communities.
More than 65,000 Texas youth are enrolled members of 4-H community clubs in Texas. Another 850,000 Texas youth get involved in 4-H through special educational opportunities at school, in after school programs, or at neighborhood or youth centers. These youth live in cities, suburbs, small towns and rural communities.
4-H gives them a chance to pursue their own interests “ from photography to computers, from building rockets to raising sheep. A list of 4-H projects is available online. They go places such as to camp, to state and national conferences. They learn to be leaders and active citizens.
In 4-H clubs, they serve as officers and learn to conduct meetings, handle club funds, and facilitate group decision-making. In a growing number of communities, 4-H youth serve as youth representatives in municipal or county government or as members of Teen Courts. They give back to their communities. 4-H members get involved in volunteer projects to protect the environment, mentor younger children and help people who are less fortunate.
4-H TRADITIONS
The History of the 4-H Clover and Emblem
The first 4-H emblem was a three-leaf clover, introduced sometime between 1907 and 1908. The three leaves represented head, heart and hands. In 1911, at a meeting of club leaders in Washington, a fourth leaf representing health was added and the current 4-H four-leaf clover emblem was approved. It is protected by the U.S. Congress.
The 4-H pledge was worded by Otis Hall, Kansas state 4-H leader. It was approved at the first National 4-H Club Camp in 1927 in Washington, D.C. The words “my world” were added to the pledge in 1973. Their addition is the only change ever made to the 4-H pledge.
HEAD stands for clearer thinking and decision-making. Knowledge that is useful throughout life.
HEART stands for greater loyalty, strong personal values, positive self concept, concern for others.
HANDS stands for larger service, workforce preparedness, useful skills, science and technology literacy.
HEALTH stands for better living, healthy lifestyles.
4-H Pledge
I pledge.
my Head to clearer thinking,
my Heart to greater loyalty,
my Hands to larger service,
my Health to better living.
For my Club, my community, my country, and my world.
4-H Motto
To make the best better.
(all text in italics is taken directly from the Texas 4-H and Youth Development website)