4-H Membership

4-H offers many options for participation and club membership. Your local county Extension office or county 4-H staff can help you select just the right fit for you!

Types of Memberships
For a step by step on how to join 4-H, see Get Involved.

4-H Community Clubs
Youth enroll in projects and participate in group activities and meetings. The club elects officers and plans an educational program of business, community service and learning together.  A volunteer club leader and volunteers organize and support the group.

4-H Single Project Clubs
Youth select a single project or interest area, for example rocketry, and participate in group activities and meetings.  The club may also elect officers.

4-H Family Clubs
A family may form a 4-H club in cases where a local 4-H club is not accessible or convenient, or where there is a special topic of interest to the family.  Leadership for the unit comes from within the family.

4-H Independent or Individual Membership
Independent membership is for youth who cannot meet with 4-H club units due to distance or who have conflicts with school, work or other obligations or who have a highly specialized interest.  Individual members complete a plan using the Individual 4-H Member Comprehensive Plan (Word) or (PDF), and file it with the local University of Missouri Extension center.-

4-H Clover Kids Club
The 4-H Clover Kids Club program is designed to introduce 5- to 7-year-olds to a variety of 4-H experiences. 4-H Clover Kids will be involved in activities led by an adult.  With the excitement of the Clover Kids experience, this age group will want to move into the 4-H Community Club groups!  Clover Kids do not participate in competitive events, contests or show.

4-H In the Classroom
Meeting during school time and using curricula supplied through 4-H, these groups are coordinated by partnerships of 4-H, Extension and school personnel.

Afterschool Groups
Afterschool clubs meet before, during or after school or during the summer months.  Clubs often focus on a single subjects such as computers or arts.  The amount of time the groups meet varies from a short period of time to a full 4-H program year.  The club may also elect officers. 

Age Requirements

• Clover Kids - 5-7 years old
• Club Membership - 8-18 years old before January 1 of the program year
• In the Classroom and Afterschool groups - K-12 grades

Program Year
The 4-H program year runs from September 1 to August 31 annually.  Youth may enroll in county 4-H programs at any time during the program year.  There may be some state or local deadlines for participation in certain activities or programs.