Skip to main content

Grant County 4-H

Grant County is a rural area with two high schools and three elementary schools. The needs of youth have been identified as being of high priority. Comparative data relating to these concerns include low per-capita income, high rate of children living in poverty, low high school graduation rates, low post-secondary education participation, teen pregnancy, and high unemployment.

By far, 4-H is the most known and visible Extension development program, best known for its 4-H clubs and summer 4-H camps. Extension also offers literacy and adult volunteer leadership programming related to 4-H and youth development. Regular 4-H membership is open to all youths age 9 through age 21.

Current programs include 4-H youth development with:

  • an enrollment of more than 250 youth in eight 4-H clubs
  • more than 30 adult volunteers who serve as leaders and mentors in youth programs
  • a Forestry Judging Team
  • a Poultry Judging Team
  • a Horse Judging Team
  • a Livestock Judging Team
  • school enrichment programs
  • two weeks of summer 4-H camp (Older and Younger Camp)
  • Potomac Highlands Horse Camp
  • a Cloverbud day for children age 5-8
  • a summer Energy Express site
  • Nutrition Education through the Family Nutrition Program’s Nutrition Outreach Instructor

Meeting the needs of youth is critical in educational programming. Involving older adults, young families, and youths in action learning is instrumental in developing infrastructure for sustaining families and communities.

The West Virginia 4-H Health Initiative increases the knowledge of health and motivates youths and their families to improve targeted everyday health behaviors. Trained youth 4-H Health Officers conduct hands-on health activities at monthly club meetings. Club members set monthly goals to improve health habits and track progress on a 4-H Health Planner. Families receive reinforcing take-home messages.

Grant County's 4-H Clubs Grant County 4-H Camps

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