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

Jan 26

Building Strong Adolescents Webinar Series January-February 2026

January 26, 2026 – February 23, 2026 7:00pm-9:00pm ET online

Building Strong Adolescents is a FREE online course for parents of adolescents ages 9-16 to learn strategies for helping teens develop the skills and supports they need to be successful.
Feb 19

Online Guiding Principles for Highly Successful Parenting Webinar Series - February 2026

February 19, 2026 – March 19, 2026 11:30am-1:00pm ET online

Guiding Principles is a FREE online course for parents of toddlers to teens to learn strategies for helping children, parents and families be successful.
Feb 21

Agriculture Learning Series - Isabella County

February 21, 2026 11:30AM – 1:30PM Isabella County Commission on Aging, 2200 N. Lincoln Rd., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858

Feeding Your Ruminant - learn about basic ruminant anatomy and development, diseases, basic nutrients, hands-on exploration of the ruminant stomach compartments, and more!
Feb 23

MI Ag Ideas to Grow With

February 23, 2026 – March 5, 2026 Zoom

Unique virtual experience encompassing many aspects of the agricultural industry
Feb 24

Hay Production 101

February 24, 2026 7:00PM – 8:30PM Online

Join our team of MSU Extension specialists and educators online in February and March 2026 to learn the ins and outs of growing, harvesting and marketing your hay crop. The Feb. 24 topic is "Hay Industry Overview; Matching Hay Species to Farm Goals."