Staff photo / Bob Coupland Kinsman Busy Bees 4-H Club members Jackson Lehmann, 8, left, and Evie Lehmann, 11, both of Kinsman, take part in an activity at the Trumbull 4-H kickoff night Monday at Trumbull Career & Technical Center in Champion.

CHAMPION — Youth interested in 4-H programs will find many varied opportunities that go beyond those clubs that raise animals.

The Trumbull County 4-H night was Monday at the Trumbull Career & Technical Center, where children ages 5 to 18 could meet with different 4-H groups and learn what being a member entails.

Ashlee Meardith, 4-H youth development coordinator and Ohio State University Extension educator, said a goal for 2026 is to reach 600 youth to be part of traditional 4-H clubs. She said the summer camp season was successful this year with more than 140 youth from Geauga and Trumbull counties participating. She is hoping to continue that success in summer 2026.

“The kickoff open house offers ways that youth can get involved with 4-H. They learn there are traditional 4-H clubs, enrichment programs, camps, STEM programs,” Meardith said.

She said enrichment programs involve going into school classrooms where a curriculum and lessons are followed. Meardith said classes include Agriculture 101, where students learn where food comes from that ends up on the table at their home. There also is a financial literacy program for older students.

At the kickoff event, members and advisers of the different 4-H groups showcase what they do and recruit new members.

In addition to the traditional 4-H clubs that involve raising animals or birds, there are shooting sports clubs that focus on archery, rifles and shotguns. Meardith said there are also local history groups, domestic arts such as sewing and cooking, and creative arts.

She said youth can be in multiple 4-H Clubs if they have interests in more than one field.

Meardith said youth get to showcase at the Trumbull County Fair what they have learned and accomplished in the past year.

Walking around at the event was Camden Fisher, 11, of Champion, who was named the 2025 4-H Prince at the 2025 fair.

“Being in 4-H has always been fun. You get to spend time with your friends. I have raised chickens and ducks and then sell some of them at the fair,” Camden said.

Abba Kibler, a senior at Lordstown High School, said she is part of Happy Hams, which involves raising pigs that are sold at the fair.

While Monday evening’s weather was too cold to bring any pigs to the event, Kibler brought her dog Maggie, who was an attention getter and brought people to the Happy Hams display table, which had drawings and photos of pigs and hogs.

The Hare Raisers table included different rabbit species, including a Flemish giant rabbit named Bugs, who weighs 17 pounds.

Children and adults had the chance to pet the large rabbit and others displayed for the event.

For information on 4-H programs, email Meardith@osu.edu.