Florida 4-H

4-H organization flag displayed in front of the Florida Capitol building.

Florida 4-H Policies

Full list of Florida 4-H Policies can be found at:

County 4-H policy is guided by the local Advisory Committee, with legal authority resting with the State 4-H Program Leader. No county policy may conflict with state or federal 4-H policies. All individuals involved in 4-H events and activities must adhere to general guidelines, as well as specific rules for competitive events at District, State, and National levels.

Refer to the State 4-H Events website for a state 4-H program calendar, event webpages, and event resources.

All 4-H events promote Positive Youth Development (PYD) by respecting diverse learning styles and applying an Experiential Learning approach. Awards and recognition should reflect a holistic view, emphasizing cooperation, goal progress, and participation, beyond just competition.

Strong county programs are foundational to the success of 4-H programming. District, State, and National Events complement county programs by offering many exciting opportunities ranging from educational conferences, workshops, and camps to competitive exhibitions, demonstrations, public speaking, and judging events.

4-H events and activities are a planned part of the 4-H curriculum and are reflective of a 4-H Project. All events and activities should support an approved Curriculum/Project category:

Science: Animals, Plants, Environmental, & Technology
Leadership, Citizenship & Communications
Healthy Living: Family & Consumer Sciences, Food, Personal Well-being & Safety

All 4-H events and activities should be designed to allow youth to:

gain experience and develop skills in gathering, absorbing, preparing, and presenting educational information
enhance decision making capabilities
make public presentations
learn standards by which comparisons are drawn
develop good sportsmanship

Competitive Events

Competitive events are just one of the many teaching methods used by 4-H Leaders and Extension Agents. 4-H professionals and volunteers are encouraged to keep competitive events in the proper perspective, making sure the event or award does not become an end. The emphasis should be placed on providing an educational experience for the 4-H member and not on the importance of winning an award. It is imperative that we, as agents and leaders, realize that the real winner is the youth who learns about being a more responsible member of society because of their 4-H experience.

Refunds are managed on a case-by-case basis. Unless extreme circumstances arise or a specific policy applies, the following guidelines for refunds and cancellations will be observed:

Participants who register for an event and cancel before registration closes will receive a full reimbursement of any associated fees.
Once registration has closed, no refunds will be allowed unless a documented medical emergency or natural disaster inhibits a participant from attending. In such a circumstance, please contact the State Events Coordinator to make a note on your account. Once formal documentation has been submitted, within 30 days, an appropriate refund will be disbursed.
Refunds issued after registration has closed may not be eligible for a full reimbursement if costs associated to the registration have already been paid and are unable to be adjusted.
Requests for reimbursement after an event has concluded will not be accepted, regardless of circumstance.

All policies should be validated by reviewing the official listing of policies on the Florida 4-H website. Policy is subject to change.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The University shall actively promote equal opportunity policies and practices conforming to laws against discrimination. The University is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran status as protected under the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Assistance Act.

Age Division

Eligibility for enrolled 4-H members is determined by the student’s age as of September 1st of the current program year. The program coordinator will specify any exceptions for an event. Age classifications for events and activities should be determined as of September 1st of the current 4-H program year and be as follows:

Cloverbuds 5-7 years of age
Juniors 8-10 years of age
Intermediates 11-13 years of age
Seniors 14-18 years of age

*Membership age of youth participation is determined by the youth’s age as of September 1 of the current program year (September 1 – August 31). The minimum age of a 4-H member is 5 years old and the maximum age is 18 years old, or completion of high school, whichever comes first. Youth whose membership age is beyond 18 who have qualified for a National contest (as a culminating event for their project learning) shall be eligible to participate in the event if they qualify per National Contest policies.

Youth classified as an “exceptional student” and thus determined eligible for a special program by the State Board of Education [Florida Statute 1003.01(3)(a)] shall be eligible to participate in 4-H until the age of 21 years old (National 4-H upper age limit) or completion of high school, whichever comes first.

National 4-H Age Requirements

National level age requirements are dependent on the event or activity. Please see national rules on what age requirements are for individual events.

Cloverbud (age 5-7) Specific Guidelines

Restrictions for this age group are due to developmental capabilities, safety considerations, and insurance restrictions. Please see the 4-H EDIS publication offering guidance for 4-H Cloverbuds.

Children 5-7 years old may not enroll in large animal projects (i.e. sheep, goat, swine, beef, dairy, and horse) or participate in any livestock or horse shows. A member must be 8 years of age at the beginning of the current 4-H program year (September 1) to enroll in a 4-H large animal project.

This does not prohibit 5–7-year-olds from learning about large animals through attendance at meetings or field trips. However, they cannot participate in 4-H activities that bring them in contact with large animals due to safety and insurance considerations.
Note: Parent(s)/Guardian(s) will assume complete liability of young children who are assisting siblings with large animals.
Animal projects for 5–7-year-olds will be limited to small animals only. Small animals include chickens and other poultry, rabbits, dogs, cats, and pets.
Cloverbuds are NOT permitted to show any animal competitively but encouraged to participate.
Shooting sports and motorized vehicle 4-H programs will NOT permit the participation of 5–7-year-olds. Again, safety and insurance considerations are the reasons for this stipulation.
Residential or overnight camping programs, operating in cooperation with the University of Florida IFAS Extension 4-H programs, are not designed to address the unique developmental supervisory needs of 5– 7-year-olds. Therefore, this age group is not eligible to participate in residential camping programs. Family camps, especially designed to include 5–7-year-olds, may be provided by your local county/district program.
Youth who are 5-7 years of age are ineligible to participate in competitive activities at any level (club, county, district, state, national, or international). However, they may exhibit or share project activities at a participation level for feedback. “Participation” awards, rather than “placement” awards may be given to this age group. Youth in this age division should be encouraged to explore multiple project areas vs choosing specific topics to focus on.

Ages for Overnight Statewide Events

As per current 4-H Membership age policy*, youth who are 4-H age 18 regardless of their high school graduation date, are still allowed to attend summer programming as the culmination of their 4-H year. However, if this youth is actual age 18 (legally defined as an adult) or if they were NOT enrolled in school (public/private high school, accredited home school) then there are elevated risks associated with their attendance as a participant. There will be special considerations that events will adhere to. 4-H Extension Agents and the respective Adult in Charge must be aware of the risks associated. The following will apply:

Youth will be considered a 4-H participant and must adhere to all event rules, expectations, and the 4-H Code of Conduct.
Youth who choose to come and go from a statewide event, i.e. attend a college class during the event, must be checked-in and checked-out in the presence of their adult in charge on the event log.
Youth who are actual age 18+ are considered an “adult” by law, if they are involved in any illegal activity which includes but is not limited to, fighting, drug or alcohol possession, etc.

General Regulations for 4-H members in District, State, Regional, or National Events

A participant must meet the following criteria:

All youth participation in UF/IFAS-sponsored programs is defined as UF/IFAS 4-H Youth Development and youth shall be reported via the 4-H Online enrollment system*. (link site)
Be enrolled in the 4-H project, related project, or activity area for the event entered.
Meet any other regulations pertaining to the specific event or activity entered.
Youth competing on a team in a contest may only compete on one team in that contest.
For Public Speaking, Demos, or Illustrated Talks – youth members should choose one topic as their presentation topic, improving that presentation from county, to district, to state. They may only compete with one presentation (public speaking, demonstration, or illustrated talk) at the state level.

Cost

The cost to members participating in events and activities varies. Specific dollar amounts are given in the registration information sent to all counties or provided on the state event website. Contact your local Extension office for additional event costs, as they may have extra fees (e.g., transportation) not covered by the state event fees. Florida 4-H has a minimum mandatory program membership fee, fees may vary by county.

Attire

Florida 4-H does not have an “official dress” or “uniform” that is required to be worn during 4-H events. Florida 4-H has set forth the following guidelines that are applicable for all state 4-H events, (Link https://florida4h.ifas.ufl.edu/events/). Green and white or black and white is highly encouraged and appropriate. However, youth will not be penalized in competitive events if attire in these colors is not available. Clothing with messages or commercial logos are discouraged. Additionally, when youth are participating in certain projects, i.e. livestock, ATV, or shooting sports, safety should be considered.

Participation & School Grades

A students’ Grade Point Average (GPA) cannot be used as a criterion for entry into a 4-H event.*

The Florida Statues K-20 Educational Code Chapter 1006: Support for Learning (f.s. 1006.15) states that “to be eligible to participate in interscholastic/intra-scholastic extracurricular student activities, a student must maintain at least a 2.0 or above grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, for the semester immediately preceding participation, or cumulative GPA in courses required by s.1003.43 (1).”

Several Fair Boards have adopted this rule, also called the Raise Bill, passed in 1984 as one of the conditions governing a youth member’s eligibility to participate in livestock shows and sales. While the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) supports the law’s intent (i.e. to encourage high school students to enhance their academic performance), CES does not preclude participation in 4-H programs based on GPA because:

4-H in Florida is not an extracurricular student activity coordinated by the schools. 4-H is the community-based educational program of the University of Florida and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, conducted in cooperation with USDA and county governments. 4-H livestock shows are designed as an important component of the 4-H educational experience and are not considered a school-related extracurricular activity.
4-H must make its programs available to all youth 5-18 years old, as set forth by the State Department of Education, Department of Universities, and USDA in their non-discrimination criteria. To use other criteria as a basis for participation is considered illegal. Additional information about the University of Florida IFAS statement of organization and operations can be found at http://regulations.ufl.edu/chapter6/. The non-discrimination policy can be found at the same web site under 6C1-1.0061.
Privacy of information laws state that student records are not open to non-school personnel, including county 4-H faculty, without student/family approval. Thus, county 4-H faculty are not in a legal position to monitor or enforce the GPA rule.

Competitive events within the Florida 4-H program occur at the county, district or area, state, and regional or national levels. Most competitions require some qualifying level of participation. This progression may be county to district to state OR county to state OR district to state. The times and locations of events vary, and it is important to reference event specific information.

The following State Competitive Events occur, or are awarded, at 4-H University: Demonstrations, Illustrated Talks, Public Speaking, Photography, Graphic Design, Fashion Revue, and Share the Fun.

Competitive Event Rules

A youth competitor must be a 4-H member and:

Meet all requirements for the specific event entered.
If a senior places first at a state event, individually or part of a team, they may not compete in the same state event in the future. They may advance to a National Contest if one is available. Exceptions can be made to this rule by the specialist in charge of the event if these guidelines are not in accordance with the National Contest. (Exceptions are not made in the case of demonstrations, illustrated talks, public speaking competitions, or share-the-fun.)
Junior and intermediate members will be allowed to return and continue to compete in state events even if they have won first place in their division.
State level winning senior teams should encourage alternates to practice with the team in case one of the team members is unable to compete at the National Competition. Should a substitution be required for a team, the specialist for the contest should direct how the substitution is made.
Specialists reserve the option to cancel an event if participation is too low to justify the resources needed to conduct the event.

Demonstrations and Illustrated Talks

Demonstrations/ Illustrated Talks should be placed in the category that most closely reflects the related project. Otherwise, demonstrations/illustrated talks may not be suitable for competition at the district and state levels. Competitors must also adhere to the regulations for competitive events listed on the previous pages.

District

District Events is the next level beyond county events where youth showcase project learning through a variety of competitive means, such as demonstrations, speeches, share-the-fun and others. Senior qualifiers in these areas will go on to compete in state level competition.

State

Each district may enter all blue qualifying senior individuals and all blue qualifying senior teams in state level competition in demonstrations and illustrated talks. Participants must meet a blue standard in district competition to qualify for state.

Regional/National

Selected project areas give 4-H’ers the opportunity to compete beyond the state level. In such cases, one overall demonstration will be certified for competition although there may be an individual and team winner at the state level. Please adhere to guidelines for National contests as is applicable.

Guidelines and Regulations

No living specimens may be used for a demonstration either in person or on video. This includes all vertebrates and invertebrates (i.e. insects, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, or mammals).
Demonstrations/ Illustrated talks must be between 3-12 minutes for juniors and intermediates, and 5-12 minutes for seniors.
A team demonstration is one in which two team members, in the same 4-H Age Division, participate both in speaking and presentation. No more than two members per team.
State entries must have competed at the county/district levels. Participation guidelines for county/district level activities that do not culminate at the state level are at the discretion of planning committees at the county/district.
Each presentation (i.e. demonstration, illustrated talk, share-the-fun activity, speech, etc.) will be the same from district level to state level. A 4-H member should improve on his/her presentation, but it must remain basically the same. If a member is participating at the state level with a similar illustrated talk or demonstration to the previous year, the demonstration or illustrated talk must be changed to include more depth and growth. Participants must provide all equipment and supplies for their presentations. (Efforts may be made at competitive events to provide technical equipment; however, youth should bring connectors/adaptors/laptops/jump drives as a backup.) Competitors are responsible for all aspects of their preparations and set-up of their competitions. Only competitors are allowed in the set-up/dressing room at State Competitions.
The demonstration/illustrated talk and public speaking competitions combine two forms of achievement and recognition for youth. These are:
- Standards of Excellence as established by experts and defined by the scorecards for demonstrations/illustrated talks and/or public speaking and reflected by a ribbon color (blue, red, white). By measuring personal progress against standards of excellence, youth can gain insight into their own efforts and abilities and set goals for improvement.
- Peer Competition where a panel of judges subjectively identifies, in a concrete time and place, the best team or individual. It is a strong motivator for some youth, however, this is developmentally inappropriate for youth age seven and under.
At state competitive events both “standards of excellence” and “peer competition” as described above are used. Youth participants must meet the standards/criteria set forth for the event based on the score sheet before being considered for the “best” or “top three placings” among their peers. Therefore, placings and trophies are not awarded merely for participation in the event. This judgement of quality of performance against the standards are made by the panel of judges and an average of the scores will determine the color of the ribbon awarded. All judges’ decisions are final.
In the event of a tie the highest score in “Subject Matter” (Section 3 on the scoresheet) will prevail. Should a tie remain, the score for “Organization and Presentation” (Section 2 on the scoresheet) would break the tie, and then, if needed, the score for “Member” (section 1 on the scoresheet).
State Competitive Event (demonstration and illustrated talk) competitors may also participate in Share the Fun or Fashion Revue if there is not a time conflict at 4-H University.

Public Speaking Overview

This program is designed to give 4-H members experience in the preparation and delivery of a 4-H related speech. This contest requires youth to recognize, organize, and present information on a given topic. The timed speech must be orderly and thorough. 4-H members must acquire the ability to speak convincingly in public, expressing ideas effectively with poise and confidence.

Speech must be original and specifically related to 4-H in a demonstrable way. The entire speech does not necessarily have to feature 4-H, but every contestant must, at some point in his/her speech, mention 4-H and its relationship to the material being presented. Contestants who break this rule will be subject to penalization by the judges.
All requirements set forth in general regulations for participation at Florida 4-H University must be satisfied for senior participants at the state level.
General: Public speaking times must be between 3-7 minutes for juniors and intermediates, and 5-7 minutes for seniors
Horse: Public speaking times must be between 8-10 minutes.
Contestants whose speeches disregard the outlined time specifications and reference to 4-H will be subject to penalization as outlined on the score sheet.
Previous first place General and Horse 4-H public speaking contest winners at state competition are not eligible to compete in this event after earning first place.
Participants may refine their speeches between district and state competition, but the content should not change dramatically.
Individual participation only, no team speeches will be allowed.
General: The top two winners in each age division may advance from county to district and the top two senior district winners (who earned blue ribbons) advance to state. General State entries must have competed at the county and district levels.
Horse: The first-place Senior winners (who earned blue ribbons) at county events advance from county directly to state. Horse State entries are encouraged to compete at the district level for practice and feedback.
Blue, Red, and White awards will be awarded based on quality of performance. First, second, and third place will be awarded to the highest scoring individuals. The top three senior age winners at state competition may have the opportunity to participate in the Western National 4-H Roundup Public Speaking contest in Denver, Colorado at their own expense.
State Public Speaking competitors may also participate in Share the Fun if there is not a time conflict at 4-H University.

Share-the-Fun

The 4-H Share-the-Fun program is designed to help 4-H members discover their talents, develop them, and have opportunities to share those talents with others. It is part of the 4-H Leisure and Performing Arts Project and is conducted at County, District, and State levels. The objective of the Share-the-Fun contest is to enhance the following areas: appreciation of talent, leadership, confidence, interest in special training, and the ability to discover opportunities for wholesome recreation.

All 4-H Age Divisions may compete at the County Level. 1st place Juniors, Intermediates and Seniors advance to District Competition. 1st place Seniors advance to State Competition at 4-H University.

Act Classifications

Instrumental: Musical instruments of all descriptions
Vocal: Singing numbers
Dance: All dance, baton, and acrobatic routines
Dramatic and Novelty: Skits, stunts, pantomimes, monologues, puppetry, ventriloquism, impersonations, etc.
General: Acts which include two or more of the above classifications

Acts and Competition

Acts may be presented by an individual or a group. All Group member participants will be in the same 4-H Age Division.
Group acts are limited to a maximum of five participants.
Entertainment groups with more than five members are discouraged because of the difficulty in facilitating a group that size. However, this does not rule out participation by such a group if their talent is of exceptional quality and they meet all other requirements. Such an act must be cleared through the State 4-H Headquarters prior to District Events (contact State 4-H Events Coordinator). Acts with more than five participants who are not cleared through the State 4-H Office in advance will not be allowed to compete at Florida 4-H University.
The time for each act can range from 3-5 minutes.
Participants will be expected to attend a rehearsal prior to the State Share the Fun contest held during 4-H University.
To advance to district or state competition, all performers must be of the same 4-H age category, including any musical accompanist. Performers may use a recorded musical accompanist in MP3/4 format.
An electric piano and amplification will be supplied. All other props, instruments, amps, equipment, or other items necessary for the performance are the responsibility of the participant.
No living specimens may be used for Share the Fun either in person or on video at the District or State Level. This includes all vertebrates and invertebrates (i.e. insects, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, or mammals).
State Share the Fun competitors may also participate in one of the following: Demonstrations, Illustrated Talks, or Public Speaking if there is not a time conflict at 4-H University. Confirm times with the 4-H State Events Coordinator.

Fashion Revue

The Florida 4-H Fashion Revue is designed to help 4-H’ers explore science and art through clothing design, engineering, technology, and craftsmanship. It is part of the 4-H Clothing, Textiles, and Fashion Project and is conducted at county and state levels. All 4-H age divisions may compete at the county level. Seniors receiving a blue ribbon at the county level may advance to state competition which takes place at 4-H University.

Florida 4-H Fashion Revue categories include:

Personally Sewn: Traditional Clothing
Personally Sewn/Constructed: Cosplay Outfit (individual or group)
Wearable art: Embellished Garment
Repurposed Garment
Needle Arts Garment

Specific guidelines for each category can be found in the Florida 4-H Fashion Revue Guide. Fashion Revue at the county level is offered at the discretion of the county Extension Agent. Fashion revue at the state level is offered at 4-H University at the discretion of the Clothing, Textiles, and Fashion Action Team.

Food Challenge

Food Challenge provides an opportunity for junior, intermediate, and senior 4-H members to demonstrate culinary, teamwork, and communication skills. Youth work in teams of three to four, of the same age division, to prepare and present a dish using a predetermined set of ingredients and cooking utensils/equipment. Teams placing first at the county level are eligible to compete at the district level. Top placing intermediate and senior teams at the district level qualify to complete at the state level. The top senior team at the state level is eligible to represent Florida at the National 4-H Food Challenge in the fall. More information can be found at:

State Photography Contest

The 4-H Photography Program allows 4-H members to develop their photography skills and share their images. Junior, Intermediate, and Senior entries are judged separately. Blue, Red, and White awards are given to each entry. A top overall Junior, Intermediate, and Senior will be selected from each county. These three entries can advance to the state competition.

Graphic Design Contest

The 4-H Graphic Design Program provides 4-H members an opportunity to use their creativity and artistic ability to promote their project areas or 4-H program. Youth are encouraged to develop their visual communication skills by also identifying locations to display their created materials to communicate to external audiences about 4-H. Junior, Intermediate and Senior entries will be judged separately. Blue, Red, and White quality awards will be given to entries based on the score sheet criteria. One Best of Show Award will be presented to one entry in each class for each age division (Junior, Intermediate and Senior). Counties may submit all blue-ribbon winners into the State 4-H Graphic Design Contest. However, each youth cannot submit more than one entry.

The below listing will give you an idea of competitive events by project area. More specific details can be found by on the Florida 4-H Events Page. Event specialists reserve the right to cancel an event due to low registration numbers. NOTE: Not all competitive events will have a state level contest. Statewide contests are held based on project enrollment and specialist support.

Animals

Hog-n-Ham, Livestock Exhibitions, Horse Shows, Hippology, Horse Judging, Horse Demonstrations, Illustrated Talks, and Public Speaking, Horse Quiz Bowl, State Dairy Show, Dairy Judging, Dairy Quiz Bowl, Livestock Judging, Meats Judging, Avian Bowl, and Poultry Contests

Environmental Science/Nature and the Outdoors

Insectathon, Shooting Sports, Forest Ecology, Virtual Agriculture Judging, State Aquatic and Marine Ecosystems Contest, and Nature Poetry Contest

Plants and Gardening

Horticulture Identification and Judging

Florida 4-H Horticulture Identification and Judging Contest

Horticulture is the art and science of growing fruits and nuts, vegetables, flowers and foliage plants and ornamental plants. This contest provides the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and skills related to plant identification and judging. Youth are encouraged, but not required, to participate first at the county level. Each county 4-H program may enter up to two senior, Intermediate, and Junior teams in the competition. A 4-H team consists of three to four members. Up to two youth, per age division, per county, may also compete independently. The state winning team is eligible to represent Florida in the National Junior Horticultural Association (NJHA) Conference and Contest. Eligibility is based on score received at the state contest and is awarded at the discretion of the state specialist. Individual or team state winners are not eligible to compete in future state 4-H Horticulture ID/Judging events.

Communication & Expressive Arts

4-H Public Speaking, Demonstrations, and Illustrated Talk Contest, Photography Contest, Graphic Design Contest

Family & Consumer Sciences & Healthy Living

Life Smarts, Tailgate Contest, Food Challenge, Fashion Revue

Non-competitive events usually refer to educational programs that are not competitive in nature (i.e. do not incorporate competitive activities during the event). However, in some cases, participation is limited, and competitive selection procedures are employed to determine participants.

The events listed in this section are conducted annually through the State 4-H Headquarters and/or through program specialist leadership. The events are evaluated annually, and programming suggestions are received from county personnel, state event committees, specialists past attendees, and the Florida 4-H State Council. The programming emphasis may change from year to year, but the primary objectives remain essentially the same.

In addition to the below events and activities Florida 4-H also offers statewide specialty camps and open enrollment residential camps. Residential camp is an opportunity available to all youth regardless of their length of participation in 4-H.

Animals

Horsemanship School, Dairy Conference, Livestock Judging Clinics, Southeast Youth Dairy Retreat

Environmental Science/Nature and the Outdoors

Shooting Sports Instructor Certifications, Forest Ecology Clinic

Science and Technology

4-H National Youth Science Day

Citizenship & Leadership

State Council, Executive Board, Florida 4-H Day at the Capitol, Month of Service, 4-HU, Legislature, iLEAD: Intermediate Leadership Conference, Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference, National 4-H Congress, National 4-H Conference

Florida 4-H University is a statewide event that provides opportunities for youth to Lead, Learn, and Serve while they explore multiple project areas. Youth are engaged alongside professionals, make career connections, and are provided opportunities to share knowledge learned.
Florida 4-H Legislature provides an opportunity for teen 4-H members to have a “learn by doing” experience in state government each summer. During this event, 4-H’ers will serve as Florida 4-H senators, representatives, lobbyists, media correspondents, Lt. Governor or Governor in a “mock” style experience. 4-H participants will get to experience what it takes for laws to be considered and passed or vetoed in a model legislative session at the Florida State Capitol. The purpose of Florida 4-H Legislature is to provide an experience that prepares 4-H members for leadership in the American democratic process. Each participant learns, practices and defends the theory and process of representing citizens and making public policy
State 4-H Executive Board consists of four delegates from each of the 13 4-H districts, up to 30 Executive Board Appointees, and the eight Florida 4-H State Officers. The Executive Board is a group of youth from across the state that represent their county and district. The members attend working committee meetings at Executive Board Weekends, during which they offer input into events such as 4-H University, Legislature, 4-H Day at the Capitol, and Intermediate State. Additionally, this group leads the statewide service project and does other work of the state council.

Policy Reference

4-H membership is available to all youth ages 5-18 without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, handicap, or national origin. However, selected projects or programs do have enrollment restrictions. Not all projects or program activities are deemed appropriate for all age ranges due to either developmental appropriateness, safety, or other considerations.
When 4-H members and volunteers participate in open shows and other events that conflict with 4-H policies (such those that allow competition or showing large animals which are being permitted for cloverbud age youth), it is important for youth, parents, and volunteers to avoid giving the impression that they represent 4-H during those activities such as by wearing 4-H attire while participating. *
Extension/4-H faculty and staff are not permitted to provide significant support for or actively promote open shows and other events that conflict with 4-H policies (such as those that allow competition or showing large animals which are not being permitted for cloverbud age youth). 4-H volunteers and parents who assist at such events should avoid giving the impression that they represent 4-H during those activities such as by wearing 4-H attire while participating. *

If 4-H is not a partner with the local Fair Board or sponsoring organization in planning and conducting the program and these groups choose to control participation (allowing children under 8 years of age to participate or using GPA or another criteria not acceptable to 4-H), then 4-H members may be invited to participate as private citizens. However, the sponsoring organization will be responsible for monitoring GPA and/or other participation criteria. In this situation, the cooperating organizations may not use the 4-H name and emblem in the title of the event, promotional material, or fund-raising activities.

Policy, Risk Management, & Insurance – Dr. Stacey Ellison, State 4-H Program Leader Programs
Curricula, & Evaluation – Dr. Sarah Hensley, State Specialized Extension Agent
Volunteer Management & Development – Dr. Candi Dierenfield
State Specialized Extension Agent Animal Sciences – Dr. Chris DeCubellis, State Specialized Extension Agent
State Council & Executive Board – Derby Sale, Citizenship & Leadership Coordinator
State 4-H Events – Kelsey Cook, Florida 4-H Events Coordinator