How To Join Chaffee County 4-H
1.) Pick a Club. The clubs are listed below. We recommend going to several different club meetings to find the best fit. Some clubs specialize in different projects. Contact the club leaders if you have any questions!
2.) Create a 4HOnline Account. 4HOnline is the online system we use in Colorado. You will need to create a profile to become a member. Click here to go to the 4-HOnline log-in screen. Find detailed instructions on the enrollment process here.
3.) Payment. Membership dues are $25 per member per year. We accept both cash and check. Come by our office at 185 Quigot Court, Salida, CO 81201 to drop your payment off or mail payment to 10165 CR 120, Salida CO 81201. Make checks payable to “Extension Activity Fund.”
4.) Pick a Project. What is your 4-H’er interested in learning? We have over 150 projects to choose from. 4-H’ers spend the year learning about the topic, then complete at the County Fair. Project areas include animal sciences, communication/arts/leisure sciences, family consumer sciences, mechanical sciences, natural resources, and self-determined projects. Find a complete list of projects here.
5.) Purchase or Download Your Project Manual. Your project manual will be your guide throughout the year. It will help teach you new skills and has a variety of different activities to complete. To find your project manual, visit this webpage. Click on the area your project is under and scroll until you find your project.
Once you find the project, you can purchase or download your manual by clicking on the orange colored unit number (example: Unit 1-3 or Upcylce Your Style). The link will take you directly to the site to purchase the manual. Most manuals are between $10-$15. If you need help determining what unit you might be, contact our office. We typically recommend starting at unit 1, but if you want to start at a different one, that’s okay too! Some units are based on age, some units are based on skill progression.
6.) Download Your Record Book. Record keeping is an important life skill. Record books, also called “E-Records,” help 4-H’ers learn how to keep track of finances, supplies, animal health, goals, etc. Find and download your record book here. If you need help printing, contact our office and we will print it for you.
7.) Make sure you complete the following tasks to finish the 4-H year as a member in good standing:
- Attend 50% of 4-H club meetings.
- Give a demonstration. A demonstration is a brief presentation you give at a club meeting. You can make a poster, PowerPoint presentation, how-to speech, or something similar. Select any topic related to your project area and talk to your club leader about scheduling your demonstration.
- Complete community service. You can do this as a club or as an individual. Take pictures of you doing your community service to put in your record book.
- Complete your record book. Attend record book trainings and workshops to help guide your record book process.
- Create and showcase an exhibit at the Chaffee County Fair! This is the culmination of everything you have learned about your project throughout the year. This may look like showing your horse, dog, or market animal during the animal shows or exhibiting during the indoor project judging.
- This could mean showing your animal at the Fair, or exhibiting at the indoor project judging. Be sure to follow the exhibit requirement rules. They can be found at this link.
Joining 4-H is a very rewarding, engaging, and fun experience. But it can also be overwhelming and new. We are here to support you! If you have any questions about what you just learned, contact our office!
Chaffee County 4-H Clubs:
Chaffee County has 7 community 4-H Clubs that meet in Salida, Buena Vista, and Leadville. Contact us to see which clubs meet closest to you and match your interests the best. Plan to visit the club during a regular meeting as a guest to see if that club is a good match.
Leadville:
Broken Arrows 4-H Club:
- Focuses on a wide variety of projects such as foods, crafts, and shooting sports. Can support small animals, goats, and sheep. Club members are all ages. Check with leader for meeting time and location.
- Leader: Anita Harvey – ajmharvey@hotmail.com
- Leader: Hillary Homer – brokenarrows4hclub@gmail.com
Buena Vista:
Hub Livestock 4-H Club:
- Hub Club is one of our largest clubs for members of all ages who do livestock projects, shooting sports, and many general/indoor projects. Meets the second Sunday of the month typically at the BV High School.
- Leader: Michele Anderson – mwarneranderson@gmail.com
- Leader: Rebecca Hahn – hub4hclub.bv@gmail.com
Salida:
Imagine That! 4-H Club:
- Leaders and parents can support sewing, cake decorating, photography, heritage arts, and visual arts, as well as large and small animal projects. Meets the second Sunday of the month at 3:30 pm at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds meeting room.
- Leader: Adrienne Weber – imaginethat4hclub@yahoo.com
Mountain Explorers:
- In-town club that focuses on STEM projects and shooting sports. Club usually meets the 4th Sunday of the month at the First Presbyterian Church on Poncha Blvd in Salida.
- Leader: Barbara Jones – mtnexplorers4hclub@gmail.com
Mount Shavano Rangers:
- Club with members of all ages. Members do horse, beef, other livestock and small animal projects. Club meets the second Monday of the month at the Fairgrounds meeting room at 6:00 pm. Cloverbuds is available if older brother and sisters are in the club.
- Leader: Sarah Pridemore – mtshavanorangers@yahoo.com
Paw Prints:
- Member both young and older do a wide variety of projects such as the dog project, entomology, robotics and shooting sports. Usually meets the 1st Sunday of the month at the Fairgrounds.
- Leader: Nancy Roberts – nancyroberts1@aol.com
Horse Club:
- Members both young and older do projects such as the horse project and horseless horse. The goal of the horse project is to learn horsemanship skills both on the ground and in the saddle. Typically meets on Wednesdays October-March and weekly on Tuesdays April-August.
- Leader: Heidi Wingfield – heidiwingfield@gmail.com
- Leader: Rebecca Sheriff – rebecca.sheriff@colostate.edu
- Leader: Ellie Woodward – elliewoodward04@gmail.com
What are project workshops?
Project workshops are typically set up by Club Leaders or Project Leaders to focus on developing specific skills related to a 4-H project. For example, shooting sports 4-H members will meet more often to practice their shooting skills, and horse 4-H project members will ride in weekly practices. We are always looking for more Project Leaders to develop these workshops!
Interested in joining a club? Contact the club leader to learn more and come to a meeting!
