4-H Calendar of Events

The 4-H program year runs from September 1 to August 31 annually. To be a member of 4-H, a youth must have passed their eighth birthday before January 1 of the current program year. A youth may remain in 4-H until they have passed their nineteenth birthday before January 1 of the current program year. A young person can be a member of only one 4-H club in one county in Missouri. However, this policy does not prevent a 4-H club member from enrolling in a 4-H school enrichment program or other short-term 4-H programs. Youth are expected to affiliate with the 4-H program of their predominate county/state of residence or club membership location. Membership/participation experiences are transferable between counties in the state and between states.

Achievement Days in Pettis County are held in the month of July to allow for all 4-H members to test their project skills through demonstrations, judging, and exhibiting. Each member may do a demonstration or illustrated talk or participate in a judging event. Those members enrolled in clothing, may participate in the Fashion Revue Contest and a style show. Any member may also participate in the Public Speaking Contest. The top scoring participants in the county contests are then selected to attend the state level contests. Top scoring demonstrations and project exhibits are selected to attend the Missouri State Fair.

The Benton County 4-H & FFA Fair is usually held in July. The fair involves livestock categories of Dairy, Beef, Swine, Sheep, and Horse Show. There are also non-livestock exhibits, Fashion Revue and Royalty Contest, and can include the 4-H Public Speaking Contest. The fair is open to all 4-H & FFA members in Benton County and adjoining counties in all shows and contests excluding Royalty. The Fair is a two-day event sponsored by local businesses. The Fair Board which consists of four elected officers and an adult and youth representative from each club makes the decisions concerning the fair. For more information regarding this event, contact the Benton County Extension Center at 660-438-5012.

The Pettis County 4-H Horse Show is held during the month of June. All 4-H members, who are in good standing and enrolled in the horsemanship project from Pettis County and neighboring counties are eligible to attend. For more information regarding this event, please contact the Pettis County Extension Center at 660-827-0591.

The Pettis County 4-H & FFA Jr. Livestock Show is held the 3rd or 4th Wednesday of July, at the Missouri State Fair Grounds. Exhibitors must be a member of a Pettis County 4-H Club or FFA Chapter. Exhibitors must be in "good standing" with their club and adhere to all regulations stated in the Pettis County Jr. Livestock Handbook, distributed annually in the spring. For more information regarding this event, please contact the Pettis County Extension Center at 660-827-5091.

The Missouri State Fair is held the 3rd and 4th weeks of August and is located in Sedalia, Missouri. 4-H projects which were selected through each counties Achievement Day Events, are exhibited in the 4-H building during the fair. 4-H'ers winning in the demonstration contest at their county event may also be nominated to give a demonstration at the state fair. 4-H'ers may also participate in state fair judging contests and exhibit livestock, dog show, etc. For more information regarding this event, please contact Missouri State Fair, 2503 West 16th Street, Sedalia, Missouri 65301, or call 660-530-5605.

National 4-H Week is traditionally held during the first full week of October. The week gives the 4-H program an opportunity to be nationally recognized for its work with youth. It is a chance to let others know 4-H is the largest youth serving organization in the country. The Advertising Council has selected the National 4-H Council and cooperating state 4-H programs to lead a two-year national public service advertising campaign, entitled "4-H Voices and Action", which focuses on young adolescents and concerned adults. The theme of the national campaign is "Are You Into It?", and the goals of the campaign are to motivate young people to get involved in community service, show young people as partners in community problem solving and improvement, expand awareness of 4-H and University of Missouri Extension programs, recruit young people, adults and volunteers for 4-H and UO/E programs and generate community support for 4-H and UO/E services.

The Pettis and Benton Counties Leader and Member Recognition Banquets are held in November to recognize those who have met the yearly completion requirements and to present awards for special accomplishments. Recognition is a basic need of all people. Awarding ribbons, pins, certificates, and plaques are material ways of giving recognition. However, the greatest award that can come to an individual is the personal satisfaction of knowing that one can achieve and in doing so can be of service to self and others. One should remember that the purpose of recognition and awards is to bring about desirable growth and development of the individual.

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		University of Missouri Extension Pettis County pettisco@missouri.edu Kay Sparks sparksl@missouri.edu 4-H Youth Specialist- Pettis/Benton Counties Updated 03/19/08