Join Cayuga County 4-H

Join the fun of 4-H in Cayuga County. New members are always welcome.

4-H members get together to learn about projects in lots of areas. Some members learn about animals while others explore food and nutrition, clothing construction, heritage crafts, gardening or woodworking to name a few. Many 4-H members do projects in more than one project area.

The New York State 4-H Membership year runs from October 1st to September 30th. Enrollment is open to all youth ages 5-18 (as of January 1st of 2025). Persons with an intellectual disability may participate fully in 4-H programs as long as their developmental age is considered to fall between five and nineteen years of age.

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Cloverbud Members

The youngest members of 4-H are called Cloverbuds. These members, age 5-8, participate in club activities and are discovering 4-H during this time. Most programs are open to Cloverbuds, though they may not be eligible for certain prizes at the county or state level.

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4-H Club Members

Traditional 4-H Club members are ages 8-19. 4-H clubs are a wonderful opportunity for youth to learn to work together learning life skills. A traditional club is a group of 5 or more youth from 2 different families who meet on a regular basis to pursue common interests. Each club is run independently with guidance from the Cayuga County 4-H office by approved volunteer leaders. These adults plan activities that meet the needs and desires of its members. Each club is set up differently and the volunteer leaders have the discretion to limit membership based on geographic area, age of members, maximum number of members or project areas. 

Club Year Planner

Interested in starting a club? Email 4-H Program Lead Sara Wagner for more information.

Club Charter Request

Starting a 4-H Club

Existing clubs may not be accepting new members every year. In such instances, new members may join as independent members or families can unite to join new 4-H Clubs.

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Independent 4-H Members

Youth opt to be independent members for a number of reasons. Enrolling as an independent member allows you the freedom and flexibility to set your own goals and pursuits. Work is self-directed with the guidance and support of parents or mentors. Self-study, home study, mentoring or shadowing, and whole families learning together, are examples of 4-H independent membership. Joining as an independent member is also an option when a suitable club cannot be found. Independent members have the same access to 4-H resources and can participate in all the same county events, activities, and workshops as club members.

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How Much Does It Cost?

4-H enrollment is $20 per youth with a maximum of $50 per family.

We want to keep enrollment costs as low as possible to ensure that 4-H participation is affordable. To do this, we require each 4-H member to participate in AT LEAST ONE Cornell Cooperative Extension Cayuga County fundraiser per year. You will be notified well in advance of fundraiser opportunities.

4-H families can choose not to participate in fundraising events by adding a donation of $30 per family to their enrollment fees.

Payment can be made by:

• Cash or check in person at the 4-H Office
• Check by mail (please do not send cash in the mail)
• Credit/Debit/PayPal via the link in the sidebar

Finances should not prevent any youth from participating in 4-H. Please email 4-H Program Lead Sara Wagner for more information on scholarships.

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Enrollment Instructions 

Enrollment for the new members begins October 1st and runs until September 30th.  

Enrollment has 4 steps:

1. Sign up for our 4-H newsletter here and follow us on Facebook to make sure you know all about our upcoming events.

2. Create or update your 4-H Online profile. You must include complete contact information for youth, parents/guardians, and emergency contacts. Make sure to fully complete the registration process. Any questions regarding 4-H Online can be directed to the 4-H office.

New Member 4-H Online Enrollment Instructions

3. Download, sign, and upload to 4-H Online the Code of Conduct, Acknowledgement of Risk, and Photo Release form. You must upload these to your youth's 4-H Online profile or return them to the 4-H office. 

4. Pay the 4-H membership dues. Annual membership for all youths enrolled in either Cloverbuds or 4-H are $20 with a family maximum of $50. Please add $30 to your family's dues if you would like to opt out of fundraising events, otherwise enrolled 4-Hers are expected to participate in at least one fundraising event during the year. Dues may be paid using a credit or debit card via Paypal or using cash or check at the 4-H office (please do NOT mail cash):

Cayuga County CCE

199 Franklin St. Suite 3

Auburn, NY 13021

Please include in your payment the names of 4-Hers that the dues are for. Your payment may not be applied in a timely or proper fashion if you do not include the names of 4-Hers who's dues are being paid.

Paper forms will not be mailed out. Anyone needing help navigating 4-H Online can contact the 4-H office at (315) 255-1183 or email 4-H Program Lead Sara Wagner.

All current members must be re-enrolled by February 1st. 2025 in order to participate in the Cayuga County 4-H Youth Fair or Market Livestock Auction.

All new members must be enrolled by April 1st. 2025 in order to participate in the Cayuga County 4-H Youth Fair or Market Livestock Auction. New enrollments will not be accepted after this date.

Last updated October 7, 2024