Joining 4-H

Step 1

Getting Started

The best way to get started in 4-H is to first decide which club works best for you based on meeting times, dates, and location. Review the Club Meeting Dates and Locations link below to help with your selection. Don't let the name of the club stop you from checking them out. In our county, members in all clubs are involved in a variety of projects. You must be a member of a club to participate in county project activities and workshops.

• Club Meeting Dates and Locations

Step 2

Join a Club

Contact the Club Leader and express your interest in joining the club. Find out about the club activities, requirements and expectations. Club Leaders are a great resource to guide you through the process. There are likely to be changes in the club list and leaders the start of each 4-H year.

• Club Meeting Dates and Locations

Step 3

Enroll

Complete 4-H enrollment by scrolling down to enrollment information.

Enrollment costs $30 per person. Several projects require additional project fees which will be collected when participating in the project.

Please take a look at the Clover for project information and general 4-H guidelines/rules.

• Clover: Montana 4-H Project Selection Guide

Step 4

Find Project Resources

Project books - the educational materials that supplement hands-on activities - are listed in the Clover under project requirements. Project books can be bought HERE.

Record Book forms are required to complete a 4-H year. Find out more about record books HERE.

Step 5

Stay Connected and Informed

Check the monthly Newsletter, 4-H website, Lewis & Clark County 4-H Instagram page, and Lewis & Clark County 4-H facebook page for the latest news, project workshops, county activities, and project contact information.

Review the New 4-H Family Handbook.

Participation in 4-H is divided into the following age groups based on the educational and developmental needs of each group. "4-H age" refers to the members' age on the first day of the program year, October 1st.

Cloverbuds: 5-7 years old
Junior/Intermediate: 8-13 years old
Senior: 14-19 years old
Volunteers - 19 years and older

In addition, some 4-H projects have age requirements for participation. Project-specific age requirements are noted in the Clover at the beginning of the project description.

Enrollment is completely online through ZSuites

• You can begin enrolling/re-enrolling on October 1st each year.
  • Detailed ZSuites Enrollment Instructions (written)(PDF, 340KB)
• New 4-H Family Handbook

4-H age is always calculated using October 1 of the current 4-H year. For example, if a 4-H member turns 14 on December 15, their 4-H age is still 13 years old until the next 4-H year.

• Cloverbud: 4-H members 5-8 years old (as of October 1). This is the only option for members under 8 years old. It is a non-competitive educational project and is the only project they can enroll.
• Traditional 4-H Member: Youth who are 8-18 years old (as of October 1). Members may participate fully in the program and competitive activities. This category is broken down further into the following categories often used for competitions and events:
  • Junior 4-H Member: Members who are 8-13 years old (as of October 1)
  • Senior 4-H Member: Members who are 14-18 years old (as of October 1)

Due to safety concerns, some projects have age limitations. The following project areas follow different age guidelines:

• Green Horse and Colt-to-Maturity (Horse): Must be at least 12 years old (and completed levels 1-3 of Horsemanship)
• Leadership: Must be at least 13 years old (as of October 1)
• Shooting Sports: Must be at least 9 years old (as of October 1)

4-H membership is open to all eligible youth. Montana State University Extension does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status.