LEBANON, Ohio — With all the sports programs attracting youth, there is one non-sports organization in Ohio that has a pulling power all its own.

“With six million participants nationwide, in 2014 more than 216,000 young Ohioans participated in traditional 4-H clubs, camps and school enrichment programs, and in other extension youth groups and educational activities, and nearly 18,000 Ohioans volunteered with Ohio 4-H,” said Kara Colvin, 4-H educator at the extension office in Lebanon.

“There are 200 different 4-H projects available through the Warren County 4-H alone.” According to Colvin, with 4-H there is no age segregation, as there may be 8-year-olds working alongside 19-year-olds in the same group. Clubs can consist of both boys and girls. These clubs can offer a particular project or several projects.

“It’s possible to have 20 kids in a 4-H club and have 14 different projects,” she said. “You can have one club with kids doing cooking, working with rockets or pigs. You might have a lot of individual projects rather than all doing just one subject.”

Projects vary and include food and nutrition, money management, goats, swine, horses, poultry, animal science, dogs, vet science, creative arts, natural resources, llamas, alpacas, clothing and more.

“We have a lot of children who take on special projects and topics,” Colvin said. “Some take on photography, model rockets and even creative writing. Rockets were popular for a while, but it backed off a bit. Radio-controlled vehicles and robotic projects using LEGOs is huge. The only restriction comes with shooting sports, as they require a certified volunteer.”

“The two largest clubs in the county involve horses and pigs,” added Tonya Adkins, of the same extension office, “but we have quite a few kids to do poultry and a lot who get involved in general projects.”

Membership in Ohio’s 4-H club program is open to youths who are at least age 8 as of Jan. 1 and in the third grade, until Dec. 31 of the year they reach age 19. The youngest members are Cloverbuds, which is a non-competitive program for youths who are 5 or older and in kindergarten (eligible until they reach age 8 and in third grade).

No animals? No problem. “If the kids don’t already own a horse, alpaca or llama, they can lease one,” Colvin said. “When it comes to chickens the kids simply purchase those as a group and get a lot of chicks. We do this with the turkey projects, too. They normally get them through a hatchery.

“Kids do not have to live on a farm to have animals. We oftentimes have 4-H alumni who live on farms or small acreage who will allow some animals on their property and help take care of them. And, we’ve had kids in 4-H for 12 years (who) never took on an animal project.”

According to Colvin, Warren County has 1,000 kids in traditional 4-H and fair programs, with another 2,500 involved in a school enrichment program called “Real Money, Real World.”

“The latter program is for students who are freshmen and sophomores and are for all schools in the county,” Colvin said.

Other counties in Ohio are feeling the 4-H enrollment surge. According to Miami County extension educator and 4-H Youth Development Director Demetria Woods, more than 2,000 young people and 200 volunteers are involved in 4-H activities in her county.

“The core benefits of 4-H rest in the hands-on learning experiences it offers, as well as in the teamwork, leadership and community service in which 4-H youths engage,” Woods said. “In addition, Ohio 4-H members are eligible to apply for college scholarships.”

Forming a specific 4-H club can be done by anyone, but it involves a few steps. First, there is a volunteer selection process that requires an application, three references and a background check. The new club must have at least five kids from three different families.

“Some clubs have 80 children involved, and that’s a lot of paperwork,” Colvin said. “Between 15 and 20 is the average enrollment for most clubs. We have several with 30 members and two with about 50.”

Ohio 4-H Week culminates with the Ohio 4-H Conference March 14 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. This year, nearly 1,400 are expected to attend, including 55-year volunteers Bob and Norma Karnehm of Miami County, who will be receiving State Meritorious Service Awards. At the conference, 4-H teens and volunteers participate in workshops to hone their skills, learn about 4-H projects and find out about additional opportunities 4-H offers.

The roots of 4-H date back to 1902 when A.B. Graham started a youth program in Clark County, Ohio; his efforts are considered the birth of 4-H in the United States. The first club was called “The Tomato Club,” located in Douglas County, Minn. Jessie Field Shambaugh developed the clover pin with an “H” on each leaf in 1910, and by 1912 they were called 4-H clubs.