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Colorado State University Extension operates in partnership with the El Paso County Community Services Division to provide non-credit programming to local citizens.

4-H Member Resources   arrow

Exhibit Requirements

2024 El Paso County Fair 4-H Exhibit Requirements

  • Outlines the general project rules and expectations for entries submitted to the El Paso County Fair

2024 Colorado State Fair Exhibit Requirements

  • Outlines the general project rules and expectations for entries submitted to the State Fair

Animal Project Resources

4HOnline

E-Records

4-H Members must complete an E Record book for each project that the 4-H member is enrolled in an receive a score of 70% or above.

General Projects – STEM, Shooting Sports, Creative & Family & Consumer Science Projects

  • Click HERE for E-Record Book Templates from the state website

Animal Projects

  • Click HERE for E-Record Book Templates from the state website

Self Determined

  • Click HERE for E Record Book Template

4-H Policies

El Paso County Policies for Success

Colorado State 4-H Policies for Success

The Colorado State Extension 4-H Policies supersede the El Paso County Extension 4-H Policies when something is not addressed in the El Paso County Policies for Success document.

4-H Code of Conduct

Colorado 4-H Dress Code

Alcohol Awareness Brochure

Alcohol Policy Handbook

CSU Protection of Minors Policy

Colorado 4-H Youth Development Policies

Colorado 4-H Website Code of Conduct

Using the 4-H Name & Emblem

County Awards

Camelid Achievement Award

Dog Handler Versatility Award

Pet Pig Achievement Award

STAR Award

4-H Knowledge and History

The 4-H Program has been an organization dedicated to the development of youth members for over a hundred years—and 4-H members are a part of a proud history of service learning and self development, reaching almost 6 million youth annually.

The Smith-Level Act of 1914 established a system of Cooperative Extension Services, connected to Land Grand universities, whose goal became to inform local citizens in each community about current agriculture developments, home economics, public policy, and other related subjects. This act formalized the 4-H Program nationally.

In Clark County, Ohio, Albert Belmont Graham was a country schoolmaster and agriculture extension pioneer at Ohio State University. In 1902, Graham held and experimental agriculture young adult club at the University, (often called either “The Tomato Club” or the “Corn Growing Club”), and many consider this to be the first glimmer of youth development programming – the early sibling of what would later become the 4-H Program.

In Colorado, instruction in agriculture started as early as 1910 as part of the Outreach and Extension program. Since then, Colorado 4-H has thrived, growing in rural mountain towns, bustling cities, and expansive prairies. Extension Offices all over Colorado work to embody the Colorado 4-H Mission of “4-H empowering youth to reach their full potential by working and learning in partnership with caring adults.”

The primary focus of the 4-H Program at this time was a focus on instructing rural youth in improved farming and homemaking practices – and was among the first early youth organizations to give equal attention to both male and female participants. It became clear that youth members were more likely to experiment with new agriculture technologies, techniques, and practices, unlike their parents and grandparents, who preferred traditional methods. When youth began outpacing their adult members in crop production, the improved methods were more likely to be implemented by the adults, and positively impact their families overall.

In many ways, the growing 4-H Program represented the “growing” done on farms and ranches across the state – flourishing crops, higher quality animals, and healthier homes. The 4-H Colors of White (for purity) and Green (representing nature, youth, life, and growth) became the national standard. The 4-H Clover, too, became part of the national brand. The earliest “H’s” included Head, Hands, and Heart, with some states adding “Home” or “Hustle.” By 1924, the 4-H Clover joined the U.S Presidential Seal, Red Cross, Smokey Bear, and Olympic Rings as federally protected marks. The responsible stewardship of the 4-H Clover is granted to the Secretary of Agriculture, at request of the U.S Congress.

Once 4-H was Nationalized, the program developed its Motto: “To Make the Best Better” and their Slogan, “Learn by Doing.” These phrases represented the goal of Positive Youth Development, as does the 4-H Pledge, originally written by Otis E. Hall:

“I pledge 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.”

Today, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees the National 4-H Program, with help from National 4-H Council and land grant university extension offices nationwide. Each October, during National 4-H week, 4-H Programs across the country gather to promote and celebrate the 4-H Program nationwide.

In Colorado, 4-H youth members gather each January at the Leadership Development Conference in June on the Colorado State University Campus, seeking to promote the Colorado 4-H Vision, “A World in which youth and adults learn, grow, and work together.

In El Paso County, 4-H members and volunteers work everyday to “Make the Best Better”— and you can too!

Forms

Club Officer Resources

Scholarships

Scholarships

4-H Youth in Action Awards

The 4 H Youth in Action Program recognizes four confident young leaders with diverse backgrounds and unique perspectives in our core pillar areas: agriculture, civic engagement, healthy living and STEM. Each year, Pillar Winners will experience an exciting year of telling their 4-H story and celebrating their leadership.

Winners receive:

  • $5,000 higher education scholarship
  • Promotional video showcasing their 4 H impact story
  • All-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. for National 4 H Council’s Legacy Awards
  • Networking opportunities with 4 H celebrities and other prominent alumni
  • Recognition as the official 4 H youth spokesperson for their pillar

Applications on hold until 2023-2024 4-H year.


SUE CROZIER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship was created in memory of Sue Crozier.

​Eligibility:

  • High school graduating senior or college freshman enrolled in any Market Projects, Large & Small Animal Projects with the expectation for completion August 2024
  • A Sue Crozier Livestock Committee Scholarship may be received only once

​Qualifications:

  • Enrolled in the El Paso County 4-H or FFA Livestock Program the year applying
  • Satisfactory completion of a livestock project the year applying
  • Minimum of three years in 4-H or FFA club work (can be elsewhere)
  • Minimum of three years successful completion of market livestock projects (Students applying for the Scholarship must be enrolled in a livestock project, but do not necessarily have to be enrolled in a market livestock project, as long as they have successfully previously completed three years in a market livestock project)
  • Participation in 4-H and FFA livestock activities, county fair, livestock judging, etc., to the degree you education of work schedule allows
  • Minimum of a 3.2 out of 4.0 high school grade point average – and college GPA if applicable

​APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 15, 2024


Colorado 4-H Senate Scholarship Form 

This form is used to request funds from the Colorado 4-H Senate. It is used for State Conference, LDC, CLC and Youth Fest. Form must be complete and received (not postmarked) 10 days before the event registration due date.


El Paso County Jr. Livestock Sale Committee Educational Sponsorship Funds Application


Aid for 4-H Participation

El Paso County 4-H Request for Foundation Funds

This form is used to request funds from our El Paso County 4-H Foundation. Fund requests can go toward a variety of 4-H activities like paying for a 4-H event, membership dues, fundraiser supplies or anything 4-H-related.

Please mail your application to:
El Paso County 4-H Foundation,
c/o Kathy Hisey, President
24 Circle C Road
Fountain, CO 80817

Or email to epc4hfoundation1@gmail.com

Keeping ahead of COVID-19

This rapidly evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) has imposed an unsettling, fluid situation upon our community and its businesses. While the team here still aims to maintain a “business as usual” approach, we are making a number of significant changes to our operations to account for a situation that is far from normal.