Mercer County 4-H season is officially underway, and now is the time for families to get plugged in.

Mercer County OSU Extension educator Beth Guggenbiller joined Kevin Sandler on Spectrum to talk about the importance of the 4-H calendar and the enrollment timeline. Guggenbiller says March 1 is the county enrollment deadline, but families should start now by choosing a club and picking projects, because by the time March 1 gets here you should already be committed and ready to roll.

Guggenbiller says 4-H is much more than just fair week. Clubs meet throughout the year and focus on leadership, citizenship, community service, and skill building, along with the traditional fair projects. She says Mercer County has 24 clubs spread across the county, giving families options based on location, meeting times, and interests.

And while many people think 4-H is only for kids who live on a farm, Guggenbiller says that is not the case. Some members take livestock projects, but many others choose special interest projects that range from STEM and workforce development to cooking, woodworking, gardening, and practical life skills like laundry.

Guggenbiller also highlighted the Clover Buds program for younger kids ages 5 to 8, which focuses on learning and activities without competitive fair projects. Full 4-H membership and project competition begins in third grade.

Guggenbiller says one of the biggest benefits of 4-H is building confidence and “soft skills” like giving short presentations, learning responsibility, and communicating with adults, skills that carry over into school and life.

Families interested in joining can contact the Mercer County OSU Extension office, visit mercer.osu.edu to view club options, or connect through their Facebook page.