Fayette County 4‑H opens enrollment, outlines camps, workshops and volunteer options

Stephanie McCurdy, host of Extension Kitchen, and Lisa Brunz, the new 4‑H educator with Fayette County, used the program to encourage local families to enroll in 4‑H activities this season and to outline camps, workshops and volunteer options.

Brunz said enrollment is open and highlighted both animal and non‑animal project options. "We have close to 280 right now," she said; McCurdy suggested the number was "more like 380," an exchange that indicates enrollment is in the mid‑hundreds. Brunz emphasized that anyone planning an animal project must meet the livestock enrollment deadline: "May 15 — hard deadline always, that one is not negotiable," she said.

The program laid out the range of projects available to participants. Brunz listed common livestock projects — swine, dairy, beef, chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep, horses and ponies — and noted that static or building projects are available for youth who cannot keep animals. "If you don't have the capacity or the room for it to raise an animal, building projects might be the way to go," Brunz said, citing posters, architectural replicas, sewing, scrapbooking and shooting sports as examples.

Brunz also described an events and workshops calendar intended to support project completion and skill building. She said a recent "Spring into 4‑H" open house drew about 230 families and that green books and a new 2026 handbook are available at the county office. Among scheduled workshops is an electric project session run in coordination with Roots; Brunz said it lasts about four hours, provides lunch and often ends with a facility tour. "Our beginners — first and second level — are able to complete their full electric project during that workshop," she said. Organizers are also planning scrapbooking, small engine, rocketry and leather craft workshops, with dates to be announced.

Youth programing beyond workshops includes overnight and day camps. Brunz said a 4‑H camp in May will take place at Mahoning Valley Christian Camp in Rush County for third‑through‑fifth graders, while older youth can attend Roundup and Academy on Purdue's campus in June for career exploration and college‑style programming. A mini 4‑H camp day is scheduled for June 17 at Expo Hall, where organizers expect about 30 attendees.

Junior Leaders remains active for students in seventh grade and above; Brunz noted ongoing community projects and a youth‑led grant application completed by members of that club. On volunteering, she said adults interested in helping can contact the Fayette County extension office or begin the process through 4HOnline. "Once you complete the training modules that are online, it signals us that that has been completed and lets us go ahead and approve your volunteer application," she said, adding that volunteers need not be parents or relatives.

McCurdy also noted a local donor had covered the $25 enrollment fee for participants. "In Fayette County, we have an anonymous donor that pays for the $25 enrollment fee per kid," she said, and the hosts reiterated that the program is free to join for enrolled youth.

Enrollment remains open for most projects; families seeking to enroll or to ask questions were directed to call the Fayette County extension office or to use 4HOnline for registration. The hosts closed by sampling a chia seed pudding prepared during the show and inviting listeners to return to Extension Kitchen for future episodes.