Exploring 4-H

Exploring 4-H Showmanship

What is Exploring 4-H Showmanship?

Exploring 4-H Showmanship is designed to allow 4-H members in kindergarten, first, and second grade an opportunity to participate in livestock showmanship activities.  Project members will learn showmanship skills and techniques, as well as the animal's health care, development, and nutritional needs.

Members will work with a 4-H mentor (4-H livestock participants in grades 5 and above) to learn showmanship skills and techniques.  Exploring showmen will assist the 4-H mentor in grooming, feeding, and pen cleaning on show day.  Exploring members will exhibit in the Exploring Class of the species show at the Porter County Fair.

Animals exhibited by Exploring members must weigh less than 300 pounds, and are limited to the following species:  Goats, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, and Swine.

A signed release form is required to be on file in the Extension Office by July 1st for participation in Exploring 4-H Showmanship.  Please click here to download the form.

For complete rules, please click on "Handbook" at the left and then look for "Exploring 4-H Showmanship" in the list of projects.

Exploring 4-H Projects

What is Exploring 4-H?

Exploring 4-H is a fun way to get to know 4-H projects and clubs.  Youth in kindergarten, first, and second grade are encouraged to participate.  There are 17 different Explorer projects available to choose from.  Each project will be exhibited at the Porter County Fair and the member will receive an award ribbon.  Workshops are held to learn about 4-H, answer questions, and have FUN!

Exploring 4-H Projects:

The following is a brief description of each Exploring 4-H project.  For complete rules, please click on "Handbook" at the left and then look for "Exploring 4-H" in the list of projects.

Aerospace
If you enjoy flying model planes and rockets, this project is for you.  Exhibit one of the following:  small airplane or model rocket kit, small balsa airplane or poster on your favorite airplane topic.

Arts & Crafts
Let's be creative and make a neat craft.  Use your imagination as you design your craft.  Crafts can be used for decorations and they make great gifts too!  Exhibit one of the following:  splatter painting, drawing, craft kits, design your own craft, or a craft project of your choosing.

Bicycle
Bicycle riding is the outdoor activity most popular with children.  Learn about choosing a bike, bicycle maintenance, traffic rules, hazards of the road, safety and helmets.  Exhibit the following:  a poster based on one of the activities covered in the manual.

Collections

Everyone loves to collect things.  Collecting is as easy as finding a group of your favorite rocks or putting together a group of pencils.  Learn more about collecting and why people collect things.  Exhibit one of the following:  a sample of your collection, a report on what you saw at a museum or library,  or a survey of friends and family to find out what they collect.

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs no longer walk on the Earth, but they are still very popular.  Learn about fossils, different kinds of dinosaurs, where dinosaurs lived, and how they may have become extinct.  Exhibit one of the following:  a fossil cast, a dinosaur scrapbook, a dinosaur model, a poster showing how big dinosaurs were, or a dinosaur exhibit of your choosing.

Farm Animals

There are all kinds of farm animals.  Explore the world of farm animals, from the little ones . . . like rabbits and poultry, to the big ones . . . Like cows and sheep.  Exhibit one of the following:  a story about your favorite farm animal or about a farmer, posters about what farm animals make for us or about the different kinds of farm animals, rewrite a fairy tale using farm animals, or make a model of your favorite animal, or another exhibit of your choice.

Foods

Everyone can have fun in the kitchen.  Learn about measuring, nutrition, making easy recipes and kitchen safety.  Exhibit one of the following:  peanut butter sandwich, popcorn snack, no bake cookies, kitchen safety poster, food pyramid poster, or marshmallow treats.

Forestry

Trees are all around us.  They grow big and strong for all to enjoy.  Learn about trees, the wood they make and the animals that live in trees.  Exhibit a poster about one of the following:  the parts of a tree, the uses of wood, animal homes, types of trees, or make an exhibit related to collecting colored leaves or completing leaf rubbings.

Gardening

Learn how plants grow.  Plant seeds or small plants in a garden or in a pot, inside or outside, and watch them grow and make vegetables or flowers.  Exhibit one of the following:  a plate of three vegetables, a plant in a pot, a plant scrapbook, or a Chia® Pet.

My Pet & Me

Do you enjoy animals?  If an animal has four legs, crawls, flies, swims, or hops, you can bet someone has one for a pet.  Caring for animals can be fun.  In this project, you get to share your pet with pictures, drawings, and stories in a notebook you put together.  Exhibit a notebook about your pet.

Models

Models is a great way to build things!  Learn about models and different ways of making models.  Exhibit one of the following:  a snap together model, a model made from clay or popsicle  sticks, a model made out of different things (ex. Legos® and clay), a model with a background, or a report on models that you saw in a museum.

Plants & Flowers

Learn about plants and their special needs.  Do experiments with plants.  You will also learn about different kinds of flowers.  Exhibit one of the following:  three cut flowers in a vase, a flowering plant, a house plant, a cactus, a colored flower, a poster of the different parts of a plant, a scrapbook of flowers or a plant maze.

Sewing

Learn the basic skills needed for sewing.  Begin putting together the equipment needed for doing easy home sewing and repair work.  A SEWING MACHINE IS NOT NEEDED FOR THIS PROJECT!  Exhibit one of the following:  sewing kit, pin cushion, Cool Cat and Honey Bear, machine practice pages, or throw pillows.

Sun, Stars, & Space

Who doesn’t like to learn about the sun, the planets, and space?  Learn more about the planets in our solar system, the sun, constellations, and exploring space.  Exhibit one of the following:  a planet mobile, a model of a planet or moon hit by asteroids, a model of a comet.

Trees

Can you name the tree a leaf came from just from the shape of the leaf? Do you know how to tell how old a tree is?  If you would like to learn the answers to these questions and many more, the Trees project is for you.  Exhibit a poster based on one of the activities covered in the manual.

Whales & Dolphins

Whales and dolphins are fun to learn about.  They explore our oceans so let’s explore them.  Learn about popular types of whales and dolphins, the parts of the whale, whale songs and the learning dolphin.  Exhibit one of the following:  a whale or dolphin scrapbook, a whale or dolphin model, a poster showing the different parts of a whale, a whalarama, or another exhibit of your choice!

Wildlife Adventure

Do you ever wonder about the animals that live in the woods and open areas around your home or town?  The world of wildlife beckons you!  Learn about wild animals and birds that live around you.  Exhibit one of the following:  birds of Indiana poster, a bird feeder, bird watching chart, collecting insects, or another exhibit of your choice!

To receive more information about Porter County 4-H and to learn how to get involved with a club near you, please contact the Porter County office of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service at 219-465-3555 or email us.*

*In the email, please let us know as much information as possible, such as: child's grade in school, what school the child attends or what 4-H club you're interested in (click on "4-H Clubs" in the left menu), what 4-H projects you're interested in, etc.