4-H Club Policies

Goals and Philosophy of the 4-H Program

The purpose of 4-H is to provide opportunities for young people to:

Develop their highest potential in leadership and citizenship abilities.
Appreciate the value and dignity of work.
Acquire knowledge and skills through 4-H project materials and activities.
Develop attitudes and abilities to cooperate with others.
Learn to accept and carry out responsibilities.
Be of service to others.
Projects, club activities, and club meetings are tools used to help youth achieve these purposes.

The following Guidelines were established by the Potter County 4-H Advisory Committee for guidance in operating a 4-H club.

Article I Membership

1. Members must be at least 8 years of age and not have passed their 19th birthday by January 1st.

2. All 4-H members must be enrolled in the Potter County Extension Office by June 1st.

A. Horse Members- Youth carrying the 4-H Horse Project must be enrolled by June 1. Projects must be declared in the Extension office by June 1st, using the Horse ID Certificate.

B. Dairy Members- Youth carrying the 4-H Dairy project must be enrolled by June 1st of the current year. All animals showing in the Junior 2 year old class and older classes must be registered in the members name by January 1st of the current year. All animals showing in the yearling and calf classes must be registered in the members name by May 1st of the current year.

C. Market Members - Youth carrying a market project (beef, sheep, swine, rabbit, goat) must be enrolled in an organized 4-H club before the animal can be registered for the sale.

January 1- Beef members
May 1 - Sheep, Swine & Goat members
April 1 - Rabbit members

D. Members participating in the 4-H Dairy and Livestock Breeding Animal Leasing program must have their project plan/lease in to the Extension Office by June 1st of the current year.

3. Members must attend 60% of local club meetings in order to be eligible for project completion, county 4-H events and participation in 4-H events at Fair. First year members must attend 60% of the meetings from the time they register in a 4-H club.

**Committees and individual clubs have the right to have required meeting attendance above the 60% limit, no committee or club may set the meeting limit under 60%.

Summer Enrollment for Out of County Youth

For those members who spend the summer here and would like to show, it has been recommended in order to meet attendance requirements that they attend meetings in their home county during the school year and attend summer meetings here. The club in Potter county must hold summer meetings. This would be a meeting exchange program. If there are any interested members, they need to set this up in advance with club leaders and 4-H agents in both counties. It will be a written agreement.

4. Any member who chooses not to participate in competitive events may still complete their project for the year under the guidance of the local leader and the Extension Office.

5. Members may choose to participate in other optional activities to enhance their educational experiences, such as 4-H Horse Shows, Jr. Dairy Shows, 4-H Livestock Shows, Jr. Livestock Sale, Fashion Revue, Teen Leadership Activities, and Premier Exhibitor. Members are responsible for completing registration and following guidelines of participation at these events and activities.

6. All members shall adhere to the 4-H members code-of-conduct at all 4-H events, following each events policies and rules. Infractions will be handled by the Potter County 4-H Advisory Committee and the Extension office.

Project Completion

1. Attend 60% of local club meetings.

2. Members must complete project record book for that year and turn books in to the Extension Office by the end of August.

Article II Club Organization

1. 4-H activity calendar will run from November 1 to October 31.

2. A club must at least hold six regular club meetings a year, not to include trips or special events.

3. It is recommended that a club have a minimum of 5 members.

4. There shall be a local club organization with the necessary officers and duties. Club meetings are to be conducted by the club officers.

5. For regular club meetings there will be absences and excused absences.

Absences are when a member does not notify a leader that he/she will not be at a meeting.  Excused absences are when a member notifies a leader that he/she will be unable to attend a meeting due to school events, church events, or other.

A member cannot count six excused meetings as six meetings attended.
Make-ups for excused meeting will be determined by individual clubs.

6. Each year clubs will be audited to maintain sound fiscal management. All clubs must turn in their books.

Article III Volunteer Leaders

1. All adults who wish to become 4-H volunteer leaders must be screened by the Extension Office before participating in 4-H events.

2. All 4-H Volunteer Leaders shall adhere to the 4-H leaders code of conduct at all 4-H events. Infractions will be handled the Extension staff.

Article IV Fundraising

1. All fundraising events must be approved by the County Extension Office. Forms for fundraising events must be turned in to the Extension Office 20 days before the scheduled event for approval.

Article V General Operation

1. All county owned educational materials (books, videos, games, etc.) are a county resource and will be housed in the Potter County Extension Office for all clubs and members to access by a library check-out system.

For more information or questions on 4-H, call 274-8540

Potter County 4-H
24 Maple View Lane
Coudersport, PA 16915