Miller County 4-H has 182 members, ages 5–18, and 57 adult volunteers. 4-H clubs are located through out the county. Youth can enjoy any one of the six clubs in Miller County. They can attend meetings; complete 4-H projects; exhibit their projects in the local fairs and the state fair; participate in local events, state and national trips and events; and qualify for college scholarships. To find out more, contact Jennifer Kempker at the MU Extension Center in Miller County.

Miller County has six 4-H clubs located throughout the county and other countywide project groups.

Nobles 4-H Club, of the Eldon area, meets every third Sunday of the month at 3 p.m. at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Eldon.

Projects offered are Hams, Swine, Beef, Photography, Cake Decorating, Arts & Crafts, Crocheting, Scrapbooking, Poultry, Livestock Judging, Shooting Sports, Woodworking, Gardening and Clover Kids for ages 5-7 years. Special projects/Community service: food basket at holidays, visiting elderly and singing carols at Christmas, preparing fairgrounds in July for the County Fair, and placing flags on Veterans' graves during Memorial weekend.

Club leaders: Theresa Upton, Sunni West and Kim Kaibel

Spring Garden 4-H Club of the Spring Garden area covering Olean and Eugene. The club meets the third Sunday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the Spring Garden School House in Spring Garden.

Projects offered are Beef, Swine, Welding, Cake Decorating, Arts & Crafts, Rabbits, Hams, Scrapbooking, Photography, Livestock Judging, Goats and Sheep. Special projects/Community Service: Adopt-a-Highway program, maintain the school house building, donations to Eldon Community Clean Up.

Club leader: Meghan Opie

T-Town 4-H Club, of the Tuscumbia area, meets the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Riverside Park in Tuscumbia.

Projects offered include: Beef, Swine, Bottle Calves, Clover Kids, Rabbits, Gardening, Shooting Sports, Cake Decorating, and Sewing. Special projects/Community Service: adopt a family for Christmas, projects for the Miller County Nursing Home, maintain flower bed and Spring clean-up at Riverside Park, and work concessions at fair.

Club leader: Lora Buechter

Circle A 4-H Club, of the Iberia area, meets the first Sunday of the month at 4 p.m. at the Circle A Show Barn.

Projects offered are Swine, Photography, Arts & Crafts, Sewing, Cake Decorating, Bacons, and Cooking. Special projects/Community Service: treat bags for Richwood Villa, Thanksgiving meal to Richland Villa, help a needy family, and Adopt-a-Highway.

Club leader: Brenda Thompson

St. Anthony 4-H Club meets the first Sunday of the month at 9 a.m. at the Lorenz Hall in St. Anthony.

Projects offered include: Beef, Sheep, Swine, Hams, Photography, Cake Decorating, Sewing, Cooking and Arts & Crafts. Special projects/community service: pick up trash in the community, visit elderly during Christmas, and collect aluminum cans (all money goes to our club). Important information from the club leader – kids need to show up to five of the meetings, parents showing does not count.

Club leaders: Cathy Engelmeyer and Stephanie Bax

Mary's Home 4-H Club is in the Mary's Home area for anyone that would like to attend. Meetings are the third Sunday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Parish Center cafeteria.

Projects offered include but are not limited to: Bucket/Bottle Calf, Swine, Ham and Bacon, Arts and Crafts, Wood Working, Welding, Scrapbooking, Photography, and Shooting Sports. Special projects/community service: we have a flower garden that we tend to, adopt a family and decorate K of C Hall for Christmas.

Club leaders: Melissa Koetting and Clara Schupp

Shooting sports

Safety first but lots of fun! The Shooting Sports project includes many options for 4-H members. You will learn safe gun handling skills, and sound fundamentals of shooting under the guidance of caring and knowledgeable adult volunteers.

Project leaders and project:

  • Archery — Shawn Whittle, James Upton, Theresa Upton, Kenda Humphrey, Robin Humphrey
  • Shotgun — Jeff Crocker, Steve Kallenbach
  • Air Rifle and Small Bore Rifle (.22) — Rodney Bax, Steve Kallenbach, Jeff Holtmeyer

Livestock judging

Learn to evaluate animals, judge them like a pro and justify your decision.

4-H exhibit: a completed project, trained animal, or presentation prepared for evaluation or display at a county fair, contest, or competition.

Find more information about the Miller County Fair:

4-H at the Missouri State Fair. August 10-20, 2023

The Missouri State Fair serves as an agricultural classroom offering Missouri producers and agricultural leaders opportunities to exhibit current practices and new technology and to provide a showcase of high-quality livestock, agricultural products, and industrial displays. The Fair also offers a wide variety of entertainment and fosters pride in the State’s agricultural heritage.

The Missouri State Fair provides a safe environment where knowledgeable producers, teachers, and agricultural leaders can offer encouragement and recognition to Missouri’s youth as they participate in competitions and educational programs.

The Missouri State Fair provides a setting for Missouri’s producers, agricultural leaders, and farm families to engage consumers in order to increase their awareness of our state’s strong agricultural heritage. The Fair fosters a better understanding of the important role of Missouri farm families and the agricultural community in assuring a healthy and prosperous future for all Missouri citizens.

Visit the 4-H State Fair page

4-H news and information

Families enrolled in 4-H Online will receive email newsletters about upcoming county events. We also use Facebook, GroupMe or Team Reach, and our website to help keep people informed. Each 4-H member and family are responsible for keeping current on 4-H activities, events, and deadlines. To get on the 4-H Youth News Blast email list, please contact your 4-H youth specialist or the MU Extension Office staff.

About 4-H

4-H brings young people, ages 5 to 18, and adults together to learn everyday skills through hands-on learning. Working on activities from animal and plant sciences to robotics, 4-H’ers learn problem-solving skills that can make a positive impact upon our community. Through 4-H, young people learn to meet the diverse challenges of today’s world, build self-confidence, learn responsibility and make positive decisions.

4-H mission statement

Engaging youth as valued, contributing members of their communities in partnership with caring adults.

4-H is the largest youth-serving organization in the world. Based on your age, you join as a 4-H Member or Clover Kid!

  • 4-H Members (ages 8-18) - Youth choose projects to work on in groups or individually, participate in service projects and social outings, and grow leadership & communication skills. Youth can participate competitively in competitions and fairs! Youth can also join the 4-H Council, become a club/council officer, and go to State events!
  • Clover Kids (ages 5-7) - engage in fun learning activities to build skills, explore interests, and build confidence, to prepare them for being a full 4-H Member. Clover Kids learn from their older 4-H peers!

In Missouri 4-H we believe in...

  • Clearer Thinking by promoting character, maintaining excellence, upholding the mission, and honoring programmatic traditions of 4-H.
  • Greater Loyalty by embracing diversity and inclusion while encouraging and supporting innovation and youth leadership.
  • Larger Service by encouraging meaningful, positive youth-adult partnerships, community service, and engagement.
  • Better Living by supporting youth to become healthy, respectful, and productive members of society.

What can youth do in 4-H?

4-H's mission is to help youth learn skills they can use for the rest of their lives - what we often refer to as life skills. We believe young people learn best by hands-on-learning or learning by doing. In 4-H, your youth will have many opportunities to be actively involved in learning. 4-H Clubs help young people:

  • make new friends
  • explore topics of interest (or SPARKS)
  • develop leadership skills
  • share what they learn with others
  • make connections to mentors, leaders, and potential employers

4-H uses positive youth development strategies

In 4-H, youth build skills and values, and use their skills, talents, and time in ways that make them feel confident and competent. 4-H Enrollment begins Oct. 1 for the 4-H Program Year! Enroll in 4-H Online today.

4-H clubs are open to ages 8 to 18. Clubs meet monthly for group activities and club business. Each club elects officers and has an approved adult leader who supervises club activities. Club members also enroll in projects in their areas of interest.

With projects on more than 75 topics, 4-H has something to interest every child. Here are just a few of the opportunities 4-H offers: geocaching, robotics, international exchanges, horsemanship, pets, starting a business, arts and crafts, raising animals, woodworking, photography and gardening.

Clover Kids introduces 5- to 7-year-olds to the 4-H experience. In Clover Kids, children learn how to get along with others, work in groups and explore their interests, while building self-confidence. Clover Kids do not enroll in projects or raise animals and do not participate in competitive events, contests or shows.

Joining 4-H is as easy as contacting your local extension office. A staff member will explain the enrollment process and membership dues. In addition to dues, some projects may require a small investment to get started, and there may be a fee for materials, trips or other activities.

Young people are welcome to join at any time. The 4-H program year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. Certain activities may have participation deadlines.

Adult volunteers are essential to 4-H. Adult volunteers serve as club or project leaders, help with county or regional events, chair committees and organize fundraisers. You don't have to be a parent or grandparent of the 4-H member to get involved. All volunteers are screened for child abuse and neglect, as well criminal records, before they are accepted and each year thereafter. As a volunteer, University of Missouri Extension will provide you with training so you will be well-prepared and successful as an adult leader. The orientation includes information on 4-H history and the educational framework, the characteristics of age groups, character development and safety.

LEARN MORE

Learn more about statewide 4-H events, projects and resources.

Missouri 4-H projects and opportunities

Volunteer 4-H Awards

The Missouri 4-H Foundation recognizes the work of Missouri 4-H friends and volunteers through annual recognition and awards programs. In addition, the county recognizes one outstanding volunteer who continues to model the 4-H Pledge in action and excel in utilizing Positive Youth Development strategies in their work with youth.

4-H Project Record

Young people self-select projects and goals at the beginning of the project year and then reflect on the experience at the close of the year. The purpose is to help members learn to set goals, reflect on their experience and apply this experience to other parts of their life. These are scored & also receive awards based on quality of effort.

4-H Project Record

State Excellence Awards

Missouri 4-H recognition form levels 1, 2 and 3 are used as both progress toward personal goals and peer competition. Forms can be found on the Missouri 4-H website (type in Y2000, Y2100, or Y2200 in the search box above). The forms should be completed in full and returned to your 4-H staff in September.