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

Aug 14

Michigan 4-H State Horse Show

August 14, 2025 – August 17, 2025 Farm Bureau Pavilion at Michigan State University, 4301 Farm Lane, Lansing, MI 48910

The 4-H State Horse Show is an annual, four-day event that brought together 4-Hers from counties across Michigan. Members are selected by their county 4-H programs to participate in this event.
Aug 18

Adulting 101-Navigating Life: Addressing and Handling Peer Pressure

August 18, 2025 6:00PM – 7:00PM Zoom webinar

In this Adulting 101 webinar, participants will engage in an interactive presentation that explores the reality of peer pressure and ways to identify, process, and overcome it, to ensure healthy decision making and positive self-confidence.
Aug 19

8/19-8/21/25 Virtual Youth Mental Health First Aid for Rural Communities

August 19, 2025 – August 21, 2025 Zoom

The 8/19/25 & 8/21/25 Virtual Youth Mental Health First Aid certification course is for adults 18 years and older who hope to learn how to assist youth experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis.
Aug 24

Bee Palooza

August 24, 2025 1:00PM – 4:00PM MSU Horticulture Gardens, 1066 Bogue St, East Lansing, MI 48824

Bee Palooza is a free event for all ages to “bee our neighbor,” focusing on supporting Michigan pollinators and plants.
Sep 9

Online Parent Talk System Webinar Series - September-October 2025

September 9, 2025 – October 14, 2025 11:30am-1:00pm 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.