National 4-H Week and Paper Clover Campaign

For the 78th consecutive year, millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni across the country will celebrate National 4-H Week from October 3-9. This year's theme, Find Your Spark, is a campaign that will give kids more opportunities to discover career paths and empower youth with the skills they need to succeed in life and career.

4-H was founded on the belief that when kids are empowered to pursue their passions and chart their own course, their unique skills grow and take shape, helping them to become true leaders in their lives, careers and communities. As an early kickoff to National 4-H Week, the local program plans to have a presence at the First Friday event on October 1 on the courthouse square. Come out and see us!

Once again, the 4-H enrollment window for all of Indiana’s grade 3-12 youth will occur between October 1 and January 15 to assure the availability of all project activities. One may enroll by going to in.4honline.com and additional information will be posted during the month on the local Purdue Extension Putnam County website. Specific exhibit details will be provided by January. Additionally, Extension staff will be conducting school visits to all third-grade classrooms throughout the county in October and November.

Also, in conjunction with National 4-H Week, like all Tractor Supply Stores (TSC), locally the TSC store will host the Fall Paper Clover event in the store and online during October 6th through October 17th! The Putnam 4-H program thanks the local store management for this ongoing promotion and the funds that support local 4-H youth! Customers for $1 may purchase a paper clover and place names, etc. on the clover to be posted in the store. As a reminder, 90% of the funds raised are returned to the local 4-H program to support youth/teen participation in leadership or camping opportunities. These include Teens as Teacher training, 4-H Camp, 4-H Roundup, 4-H Academy and other statewide 4-H activities and can include transportation expenses.

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. Office hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm. Evening and lunch appointments are available, upon request. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. All times listed are Eastern Time. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

Upcoming events

September 21, 28 – Fall Walking Group, 9am, Big Walnut Sports Park, register at
                                765-301-7641

September 22 – Recognizing Hazards Around the Farm webinar, 12 pm register at
                           https://tinyurl.com/WIAWebinars21

September 27 – ServSafe 1-Day Class and Online Exam, 9am-4pm, Fairgrounds, register
                at https://purdue.edu/servsafe/workshops

October 5, 12, 19, 26 – Fall Walking Group, 9am, Big Walnut Sports Park, register at
                           765-301-7641

October 11 – Extension Office Closed for Columbus Day county holiday

October 19 – Medicare & Diabetes, Fairgrounds, 2 pm, register at 765-653-8411

October 19 – Pork: The No Hogwash Protein webinar, 12 pm register at
                      https://tinyurl.com/WIAWebinars21