What is 4-H?

Michigan 4-H is the youth development program of Michigan State University Extension. It provides fun, hands-on educational opportunities that prepare youth for life and work by helping them find their spark, build real world skills and become resilient, adaptable, lifelong learners.

Many people think 4-H is just for kids who live on farms or those interested in raising and selling animals – but that’s not true! Offered in a diverse array of topics, each year more than 100,000 young people, ages 5-19, explore what interests and excites them with Michigan 4-H. In program areas ranging from animals to archery, engineering to entrepreneurship, and leadership to learning to cook, 4-H provides experiences that allow youth to practice and build foundational skills that ready them for the future.

Learn more about Michigan 4-H.

Join 4-H

4-H is building a ready generation in a world of change. With skills learned in 4-H, youth become ready for whatever the future holds: ready to lead, ready to build, ready to serve and ready to contribute to the world around them.

Data shows that compared to their peers, 4-H’ers are:

2x more likely to have the goal of being a leader;
3x more likely to participate in community service; and
2x more likely to report living life with intentionality and purpose.

*Tufts University longitudinal study of Positive Youth Development, 2021

Beyond ready to get started with 4-H? Sign up today!

Volunteer with 4-H

Consider becoming a Michigan 4-H volunteer and help to prepare the next generation. By giving your time, talent and skills, you can help ready youth for whatever the future holds. Give an hour a week, month or year - there are volunteer roles for any skill level, time commitment and interest area.

With your help, more kids will be ready to take on the world. More youth, more community, more ready!

Learn more about becoming a 4-H volunteer!

Current 4-H youth and volunteers

Login to 4-H Online to connect with your local 4-H program!

4-H Online

Oceana County 4-H Events

Nov 10

Online Parent Talk System Webinar Series - November-December 2025

November 10, 2025 – December 15, 2025 7:00-8:30pm ET Online

The Parent Talk System is a course for caregivers of toddlers to teens to improve communication and provide strategies for raising confident, caring, responsible children. Offered at no cost.
Nov 20

Healthy Animals, Strong Farms, Biosecurity Training for Service Providers - St. Ignace

November 20, 2025 9:00AM – 12:00PM St. Ignace Public Library 110 W. Spruce St. St. Ignace, MI 49781

MSU Extension, Michigan Food and Farming Systems and the Center for Regional Food Systems have partnered to offer biosecurity training for agricultural service providers
Jan 13

Pesticide Applicator Core Review and MDARD Core Testing – Jan 13 2026 Hart

January 13, 2026 8:00AM – 5:00PM Check-in for the program is 8 to 8:30 a.m. MSU West Central Michigan Research and Extension - 5185 Oceana Dr., Hart, MI

A review of the Pesticide Applicators Core Manual to prepare for the MDARD Pesticide Applicators Certification Exam in the afternoon. THE CORE REVIEW IS MANDATORY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE IN-PERSON TESTING. Refreshments and light lunch will be served.
Jan 13

Avoiding Money Mishaps webinar-January 13

January 13, 2026 6:00PM – 7:00PM Zoom

This youth focused webinar will focus on how to protect yourself from fraud, scams, identity theft, and predatory lending.
Jan 15

Healthy Animals, Strong Farms, Biosecurity Training for Service Providers - Frankenmuth

January 15, 2026 1:00PM – 4:00PM Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center 3775 S. Reese Rd. Frankenmuth, MI 48734

MSU Extension, Michigan Food and Farming Systems and the Center for Regional Food Systems have partnered to offer biosecurity training for agricultural service providers