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Wood County 4-H

What is 4-H? 

4-H is one of the largest youth development programs in the United States involving more than 6.5 million young people and 540,000 youth and adult volunteers. The focus is on helping youth learn leadership, citizenship, and life skills by participating in projects and service.

Membership is open to any youth when he/she is in at least 9 years of age and is not older than 21 within the current 4-H year, which runs from October 1 – September 30. The Cloverbud program is open to youths ages 5-7 years of age. On a local level 4-H offers community clubs, specialty clubs, cloverbud clubs, county camp(s), club outings, Achievement Banquet, and more! In 4-H youth socialize, learn, and develop life skills in a safe, educational atmosphere.

Studies show 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
  • develop lasting friendships
girl with stem activity 4-H find your spark

Wood County 4-H offers four summer "4-H camps", community "4-H clubs", and a "4-H Afterschool program". Come join 4-H and have fun while you discover the world. For more information about 4-H and how you can join the adventure, call the Wood County Extension Office at 304-424-1960.

Jodi Smith, Wood County Extension Educator, 4-H and Youth Development
Lindsey Boso, 4-H Program Assistant
Becky Marks, Youth Health Educator

Wood County 4-H Clubs

Find Wood County 4-H Club

Wood County 4-H News

Wood County 4-H Honors Members and Volunteers at Annual Awards Ceremony 2024

Wood County 4-H Honors Members and Volunteers

Wood County 4-H celebrated a year of accomplishments at their annual Awards Ceremony on October 13, 2024.  The 4-H program is about learning experiences, igniting sparks in young people, and helping them become Beyond Ready – now and in the future. Some of the skills learned in 4-H that help prepare young people for the future are leadership, teamwork, compassion, respect, communication, public speaking, responsibility, generosity, and decision making. Today’s achievements are evidence that 4-H is building a Ready Generation in a changing world. Research shows that while the world is becoming increasingly challenging, 4-H members are 2x more likely to have a goal of being a leader; 2x more likely to participate in community service, and 2x more likely to live life with intentionality and purpose. 4-H helps kids dream, achieve, and thrive, and adult volunteer leaders help make this possible.  

Read about Wood County 4-H Honors Members and Volunteers at Annual Awards Ceremony 2024

Wood County 4-H Camp 2024

Group picture of all the kids at camp

Wood County Younger 4-H Camp Tribal Leadership

Read about Wood County 4-H Camp 2024

Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase Achievements 2024

A total of 219 livestock projects and were exhibited this summer at the Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase. In the Still Project Building, there were 105 still 4-H projects exhibited as well as a Youth Art Contest sponsored by the Parkersburg Art Center, a Photography Contest sponsored by Neal Smith Images, and a live Pet Show sponsored by Warner Kia. Activities throughout the week were provided for kids and families with the generous support of the Bargeloh family, Fordyce Livestock, BC Builders, Toys for Tots, and Shawver Enterprises, Inc. The West Virginia Central Credit Union was a gold sponsor of the event. Special thanks to the numerous sponsors of the livestock projects and buyers at the Livestock Sale. A complete list of all sponsors and buyers for livestock can be found on the Wood County Junior Livestock Sale Facebook page.

kids showing sheep

Read about Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase Achievements 2024

Browse Woodcuts—Wood County 4-H Newsletter 

Recent WV 4-H News

2025 My Hands to Larger Service mini-grants available

a wooden lending library

Since 2020, the West Virginia 4-H All Stars have generously funded mini-grants for West Virginia 4-H teens and their respective 4-H clubs 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 2025 My Hands to Larger Service mini-grants available

West Virginia 4-H Announces 2024 Youth in Action Award Winners

The West Virginia 4-H Youth in Action Program announces four young leaders in 4-H pillar areas: agriculture, civic engagement, healthy living, and STEM.

Read West Virginia 4-H Announces 2024 Youth in Action Award Winners

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

Older WV 4-H News


Wood County 4-H Calendar

4-H Cloverbuds

Cloverbuds have fun learning by participating in fun, hands-on activities directly related to the 4-H project areas. Children can enroll as Cloverbuds once they turn 5 years old by June 30 prior to the start of the 4-H year. Some Cloverbud groups meet separate from 4-H clubs, some meet in conjunction with 4-H clubs.

To learn how to enroll your child in the Cloverbud program in Wood County, contact the WVU Extension at 304-424-1960.


Learn how to enroll a child in 4-H Cloverbuds

Camps

Wood County 4-H hosts four camps every summer, an Older 4-H Camp, Younger 4-H Camp, Cloverbud Day Camp, and a regional Horse Camp. For more information about 4-H Camp age requirements and dates, go the our Wood County 4-H Camp Information, contact the WVU Extension Service office in Wood County at (304) 424-1960 or email Jodi Smith.

Wood County 4-H Clubs