Shelby County Mini 4-H

The goal of Mini 4-H is to help young children explore friendships outside the family; explore the way in which things work; practice both small and large muscle control; and think about the ways people work together on projects.

The NON-COMPETITIVE learning environment for Mini 4-H includes:

1.Planned learning activities in which children are invited to be active and explore materials and ideas without the pressure of completing a specific product or exhibit.

2.Low adult/leader to child ratio that allows time for adults/leaders to provide individual, positive encouragement and assistance.

3.Simple, interesting activities that are fun.

4.Encouragement of children to participate in a group activity by sharing and/or displaying their activity projects.

5.Rewards that are identical and/or ribbons of the same color for everyone. 

There is no limit to the number of projects youth can sign up for, however, we suggest starting out with one or two your first year.

Mini 4-H Meetings

• December 2, 2026
• January 6, 2027
• February 3, 2027
• March 3, 2027
• April 7, 2027

All meeting begin at 6:00om and are held in the Family Arts Building at the Shelby County Fairgrounds.

Fair Events for Mini 4-H

• June 9, 2027
  • Mini 4-H Fashion Revue Judging, 11:00am at Lewis Creek Baptist Church
  • Mini 4-H Communications Judging, 1:00pm at Lewis Creek Baptist Church
  • Public Fashion Revue, 7:00pm at Lewis Creek Baptist Church
• June 11, 2027
  • Mini 4-H Horse & Pony Show, show begins at 8:00am in the Horse Arena at the Shelby County Fairgrounds
• June 12, 2027
  • Mini 4-H Project Judging, 9:00am-12:00pm at the Free Stage (behind Brinson Building) at the Shelby County Fairgrounds
• June 15, 2027
  • Mini 4-H Cat Show, 8:00am in the Livestock Arena at the Shelby County Fairgrounds
  • Mini 4-H Poultry Show, 12:00pm in the Livestock Arena at the Shelby County Fairgrounds
• June 17, 2027
  • Mini 4-H Rabbit Show, 8:00am in the Livestock Arena at the Shelby County Fairgrounds
  • Mini 4-H Livestock Show & Frog Jumping Contest, 12:00pm in the Livestock Arena at the Shelby CountyFairgrounds
• June 21, 2027
  • Project Pick Up, 5:00-7:00pm in the 4-H Building at the Shelby County Fairgrounds

Mini 4-H Project Manuals may be picked up at the Shelby County Extension Office. 

• Cake Decorating
  • Exhibit three (3) decorated cupcakes OR three (3) decorated cookies on a heavy paper plate.
• Ceramics
  • Exhibit one (1) painted article of greenware or clay.
• Collections
  • Choose one: Collection displayed in a shoe box OR on a poster (14"x22") OR in an album/binder. You should add three (3) items to your collection each year.
• Communications
  • Public Speaking - Present one (1) of the following based on grade level:
    • Kindergarten: Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
    • 1st Grade: Recite the 4-H Pledge
    • 2nd Grade: Give a short talk (about 1 minute) on their favorite 4-H project or something they enjoy learning about in 4-H.
  • Demonstration - Present a demonstration (about 2-3 minutes long) on any safe, age-appropriate topic. Each Mini 4-H member will:
    • Introduce themselves
    • Tell the audience what they will demonstrate
    • Show and explain how to do or make something step-by-step
    • Show or describe the finished product (if possible)
    • Answer a simple question from the judge
• Construction Sets
  • Exhibit something you have made from a construction set such as Legos, K'nex, Lincoln Logs, etc.
• Crafts
  • Exhibit one (1) craft item that you have made. Refer to your manual for suggested items or make your own creative craft.
• Entomology (1, 2 or 3)
  • Entomology 1 - Identify parts of a fly. Color the butterfly or moth and mount it on a 14"x22" poster board.
  • Entomology 2 - Identify the parts of the ant and wasp. Collect five (5) different insect pictures and mount them on a 14"x22" poster board. Label each with the correct common name.
  • Entomology 3 - 
    • Design and make your own bug using materials around the house.
    • Make a poster or book showing the life cycle of a bug.
    • Make a poster showing bugs that live in groups on one half and bugs that live alone on the other half.
    • Make a project activity as a group and take it to the fair to show the kinds of things your group has been doing.
    • Make a scrapbook of pictures showing your group having fun while making the project activities in this manual.
    • Make a group mural showing a variety of bugs and where they live.
• Equine (1, 2 or 3)
  • Equine 1 - Identify the parts of a horse and mount it on a 14"x22" poster board.
  • Equine 2 - Complete the "Horse Terms" page. Label what they are and their definition. Mount these pages on a 14"x22" poster board.
  • Equine 3 - 
    • Draw a picture that illustrates at least one (1) of the "10 Things to Remember and write the rule(s) you illustrated on the poster. Mount the pages on a 14"x22" poster board.
    • Draw a picture of your ideal horse and write a paragraph telling what it's breed, color and markings are. Do not forget to give your horse a name! Mount the picture and story on a 14"x22" poster board.
• Fashion Revue
  • Choose an outfit from your closet or your parent's closet (with permission) OR create a costume, a dress up outfit or party outfit OR wear a sports outfit and model it at the Fashion Revue before the county fair. Write a description of your outfit and why you chose it.
• Flowers
  • Choose a different option for each year:
    • One (1) blossom, exhibited in a soft drink bottle or a small vase.
    • Notebook of flowers (labeled).
    • Small arrangement of three (3) flowers.
• Foods
  • Exhibit one (1) of the following by selecting a different option each year:
    • Peanut butter sandwich
    • Popcorn snack displayed in a small plastic sandwich bag
    • No Bake cookies
    • Marshmallow treats
    • 14"x22" poster on kitchen safety rules or the food plate
• Livestock (Poster)
  • Exhibit one (1) of the following, mounted on a 14"x22" poster board.
    • Division I - Choose one (1) of the topics listed below. Put your chosen exhibit on a poster board.
    • Division II - Choose one (1) of the topics listed below, not one you have previously done. Put your chosen exhibit on a poster board.
    • Division III - Choose one (1) of the animals in the manual. Draw a picture of the animal and write a short story, no more than 1 page, about it. Include in your story what the animal is and what breed it is. Tell us qualities about the breed plus something interesting about the animal. Add any interesting facts you discovered on your own. Put your exhibit on a poster board.
    • Division I & II Topics:
      • a picture that you have drawn of one of the animals in the manual
      • a story that you have written about one of the animals in the manual
      • a collection of cut-out pictures of one or more of the animals in the manual
      • if your family owns one of the animals listed in the manual, make a poster of pictures of you taking care of your animal
• Model Kits
  • One (1) assembled model kit (car, boat, animal, airplane, etc.), painted appropriately.
• My Pet and Me
  • Make one (1) project notebook or poster board and bring it to the fair for judging. Also, if possible, bring your small pet in a cage for judging.
• Photography
  • Exhibit one (1) of the following, mounted on a 14"x22" poster board.
    • A poster with six (6) pictures of non-moving subjects (landscapes, buildings, scenery).
    • A poster with six (6) pictures. Three (3) of the pictures can be of anything you like. The other three (3) pictures should be of the following:
      • One (1) picture of your school.
      • One (1) picture of a special friend, that may be your best friend, a dog or cat, a brother or sister, or your parents/guardians.
      • One (1) picture of your favorite place to play.
    • A poster with six (6) pictures. Four (4) pictures can be of anything you like. The other two (2) pictures should be of the following:
      • One (1) picture of your scenery.
      • One (1) picture of your favorite animal.
• Recycling
  • Exhibit an item you have made from recycled materials as outlined in your manual.
• Scrapbooking
  • Scrapbook with two (2) consecutive pages designated as the pages that you would like to have judged.
• Sewing
  • Exhibit will be one (1) of the following:
    • Fringe a scarf
    • Quilt square initials
    • Tic-Tac-Toe weaving
    • Stitch the mouse
    • Connect-a-pattern
    • Flight pattern
• Space
  • Exhibit one (1) of the following:
    • Design and make your own rocket using materials around your house like paper towel tubes and construction paper.
    • Make a poster (14"x22") showing some things you have discovered about astronauts.
    • Make the star constellation of your choice using two different techniques from the manual or make up your own method.
• Tadpoles to Frogs
  • After raising a frog, bring your frog to the fair for the Frog Jumping Contest. Don't forget to name your frog!
  • Tadpoles can be picked up at the April Mini 4-H meeting.
• Trees
  • Exhibit one (1) of the following using a different option each year:
    • An activity as outlined in your manual
    • Draw a picture of the ways your favorite tree looks in each of the four seasons.
    • A collage of pictures cut out from magazines.
    • A book of leaf rubbings using five (5) leaves that you think are interesting.
    • Make a poster no larger than 14"x22" that is tree shaped and glue things you found on a walk in a local park that have fallen from trees onto it.
• Veggie Art
  • Create art by using fruits and vegetables. Assemble them (using all edible parts) to build an animal or any creature you wish.
• Wildlife
  • Exhibit one (1) of the following:
    • Complete a poster about the animals you learned about as stated in the project book. Mount on a 14"x22" poster board.
    • Complete a poster about two (2) birds and two (2) mammals as stated in the project book. Mount on a 14"x22" poster board.
    • Write a story about an animal and provide a picture. Put in a plastic sleeve.
• Woodworking
  • Complete the project book and one (1) of the following:
    • Bird Feeder
    • Bookends
    • Shelf
• Fun Poultry Decorated Egg Show - This is a FUN show and is open to all 4-Hers and Mini 4-Hers. Exhibitors in this show are NOT required to enter birds. They may enroll by signing up in 4-H Online. Classes are divided into Grades K-2, Grades 3-7 and Grades 8-12. Bring your painted or decorated egg on Sunday, June 13, 2027 to the Poultry Barn anytime between 10:00am-3:00pm.
  • Painted Egg Competition
    • One (1) egg consists of an entry. Multiple entries accepted. (Egg size may be chicken, goose, duck, guinea or turkey.)
    • Entry must be hard boiled or blown.
    • Egg is painted or inked. NO adornment or decorations added.
    • Some type of upright support recommended.
    • Egg must be painted/inked by the exhibitor.
  • Decorated Egg Competition
    • One (1) egg consists of an entry. Multiple entries accepted. (Egg size may be chicken, goose, duck, guinea or turkey.)
    • Entry must be hard boiled or blown.
    • Egg is to be adorned or decorated but may have paint added.
    • Outline of egg must be recognizable.
    • Egg decoration must be created by the exhibitor.
• Livestock (Show) - To register for any of these animal shows, please register for the Mini 4-H Livestock Show Project in 4-H Online. It will include the Liability Form required to show at the fair. Due to space limitations and health requirements, we cannot allow a Mini 4-Her to bring an animal that they may own to show at the fair. You will be able to pair up with a current 4-H member and show their animal.
  • Horse & Pony - will be shown in conjunction with the 4-H Horse & Pony Show on Friday, June 11th and will start at 8:00am in the Horse Arena at the Shelby County Fairgrounds
  • Cats - will be shown in conjunction with the 4-H Cat Show on Tuesday, June 15th and will start at 8:00am in the Livestock Arena at the Shelby County Fairgrounds
  • Poultry - will be shown in conjunction with the 4-H Poultry Show on Tuesday, June 15th and will start at 12:00pm (noon) in the Livestock Arena at the Shelby County Fairgrounds
  • Rabbits - will be shown in conjunction with the 4-H Rabbit Show on Thursday, June 17th and will start at 8:00am in the Livestock Arena at the Shelby County Fairgrounds
  • Goats, Sheep and Swine - will be shown on Thursday, June 17th and will start at 12:00pm (noon) in the Livestock Arena at the Shelby County Fairgrounds

Mini 4-H Fashion Revue Script