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Barbour County 4-H

Youth development in Barbour County is open to everyone, from youngsters to young adults.

4-H is one of the largest youth development programs in America with more than 6.5 million young people and 540,000 volunteers. In West Virginia, one out of every five youth under the age of 21 participates in 4-H youth development programming. 

Dedicated to the four-fold development of head, heart, hands, and health, 4-H youth learn valuable leadership, citizenship, and life skills by participating in projects with topics as varied as rocketry, GPS mapping, shooting sports, public speaking, photography, animal care, nutrition, and community service. Regular 4-H membership is open to youth aged 8-21 and 4-H Cloverbud membership is open to youth aged 5-7.

4-H members are invited to attend monthly club meetings to plan community events. Barbour County 4-H clubs are located across the county and meetings are held at various locations throughout the county.

Each summer 4-H members, as well as all Barbour County youth, are encouraged to take part in 4-H camp. Camp is a great opportunity to meet new friends and take part in fun activities. The 4-H Camp is located in Philippi, near Philip Barbour High School.

Research shows that 4-H members do better in school, are more motivated to help others, feel safe to try new things, achieve a sense of self-esteem, and develop lasting friendships.
If you would like more information on becoming involved in the 4-H program as a club member, camp participant, or volunteer, please feel free to contact the Extension Office.

Recent WV 4-H News

It Pays to BEE a Writer: State 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest

Honeybee on red clover

West Virginia 4-H is excited to announce the 2024 State 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest!

The topic for this 750-1000 word essay is Varietal Honeys.

Read It Pays to BEE a Writer: State 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest

Ten My Hands to Larger Service Mini-Grants awarded in 2024

Ten 4-H teen leaders and their teams have pledged their hands to larger service in the coming months as they implement the service projects outlined in their winning mini-grant applications. The West Virginia 4-H All Stars have committed $2,000 to support the ten mini-grants to enhance communities in Berkeley, Harrison, Monongalia, Morgan, Ohio, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, and Randolph counties.

Cooper Knott and the Scrabble Scramblers 4-H Club in Berkeley County plan to update athletic equipment at the Camp Frame. This facility attracts the tri-county community for year-round social, educational, and recreational gatherings. The basketball hoop and backboard at the facility are broken and need to be replaced for the facility users to enjoy for years to come.

Harrison County 4-H members Hope Woods, Hannah Woods, and Spencer Nolan plan to repurpose old furniture to make a blessing box in their community. Community members can help fill this box with food, warm clothes, hygiene products, and other essentials that those in need can discretely acquire. By repurposing old furniture instead of building a new box, the 4-H members aim to reduce waste and encourage environmental preservation.

Read Ten My Hands to Larger Service Mini-Grants awarded in 2024

2024 My Hands to Larger Service mini-grants available

Youth replacing the floorboards of a porch

For several years the West Virginia 4-H All Stars have generously funded to eleven mini-grants for West Virginia 4-H teens/teen leader groups to assist in the planning and completion of a community service project through the My Hands to Larger Service 4-H Project.

Mini-Grant Application

Read 2024 My Hands to Larger Service mini-grants available

Older WV 4-H News