4-H Events & Activities:
District, State & National
A detailed list of 4-H District, State, and National activities and events can be found below. For information about county-level 4-H events, visit our County Events & Activities page.
Judging Teams
Members learn about a specific commodity or resource (livestock, poultry, horticulture, etc.) And use this information to evaluate and/or rank number of the specific commodity. It usually requires the member to explain orally why he placed the classes in a given order.
Being on a judging team teaches public speaking, decision making and the specific subject matter or the commodity or resource being judged. All 4-Hers are eligible to participate on these judging teams. A team usually consists of 3 - 4 members. Teams compete with teams from other counties in district, state and national contests. Below is a list of the different judging teams.
Horse
Horse confirmation and general horsemanship knowledge
Horse Bowl
"Brain Bowl" format covers horsemanship knowledge
Dairy
Dairy cow conformation
Poultry
Poultry identification, egg grading, and dressed meat
Livestock
Beef and swine confirmation
Land
Land types and appropriate uses
Horticulture
Ornamentals, fruits, and nuts identification
Farm
Grains, forages and feeds, and livestock
Meats
Meat grades and cuts of beef, pork and lamb
Forest Ecology
Native plants, trees, insects and diseases
Rabbit & Goat
State fair youth contests only
Consumer Choices
Specific products are selected for 4-H member evaluation
District Events Day
Winners in the junior and senior division from County Demonstration Day can participate in District Events. This usually takes place the second or third Saturday in May. This is an excellent chance for 4-Hers to meet other members from other counties and to take part in further competition in their project areas. Any senior winner at District Events is then entitled to advance on to State 4-H Congress. (In some projects county senior winners automatically advance to State Congress without the need to compete at the District level.)
District III 4-H Christmas "Skating Party"
All counties in District III participate in the skating party. If you love to skate and have a lot of fun then you should make your presence felt at the party. All ages can attend the party. There will also be refreshments and lots of door prizes given away to the lucky 4-Hers. The skating party will be in December. Contact the 4-H Office for more information.
District III 4-H Junior Rally Day
This will be a fun learning experience for all junior 4-Hers ages 8 - 13 (older 4-Hers may attend if they want to). At Junior Rally Day you will learn more about 4-H and different projects and activities you can participate in as a 4-H member. All the sessions will be taught by Senior 4-Hers.
District III 4-H Retreat
This is a excellent opportunity for teen 4-Hers to meet other teen 4-Hers from other counties in District III. There you will have an opportunity to improve upon leadership skills, participate in recreational activities, but most of all we have a lot of fun. These activities will take place at beautiful Camp Cherry Lake.
Florida 4-H Congress
Each summer senior winners from District Events attend Florida 4-H Congress at the University of Florida. During this week long activity, Florida 4-Hers present their demonstrations and speeches and have a fun time. Florida 4-H Congress is an exciting time, full of interesting programs, tours, and social activities. 4-Hers stay in the University dormitories, eat at the student cafeteria, and experience campus life. In addition to demonstration and speech winners, each county can also send additional delegates, plus two Council delegates.
Florida 4-H Legislature
A four day learning experience designed to teach youth exactly how our state government operates. 4-H members stay in dormitories at the Florida State University Campus in Tallahassee and spend most of their time in the Florida State House of Representatives Chambers, role playing Florida lawmakers or lobbyists. Youth get to work closely with current Florida lawmakers and government officials in a mock legislative session. Florida 4-H Legislature is held in July. Jefferson County participants also take part in local government projects and learn about local government under the guidance of county adult advisors.
Citizenship: Washington Focus
A ten day program, including a bus ride from Florida to Washington D.C., with about 50 other 4-H teens from Florida. Teens tour our nation's capital, meet with Florida congressmen, and examine the workings of our democratic form of government. Participants stay at the National 4-H Center in Chevychase, MD where they become involved in leadership seminars, tours, workshops, and social activities with teens from all over the United States. The trip is held each June and is conducted by the State 4-H Office.
National 4-H Congress
National 4-H Congress is the ultimate honor for any 4-H member. This event is held annually in Memphis. 4-Hers from across the U.S. meet to share ideas and to participate in activities related to the project they are representing. Participants in National Congress are selected at the state level on the basis of their written 4-H record books. All costs of this program are covered through state and national donors.
John G. Lilly, Sr.
4-H Coordinator, Extension
