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Series of trophies on display at a 4-H contest.

4-H

#TrueLeaders

4-H fosters an innovative, "learn by doing" approach with proven results.

Mission

South Dakota 4-H enables youth to be engaged in the following:

  • Partnerships with caring adults
  • Positive learning environments
  • Developing their fullest potential
  • Learning life skills

Values

Throughout the SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development program, we value:

  • Youth, families, and communities;
  • Partnerships and coalitions that work for the betterment of youth in our state, and combined strength of local programming in cooperation with the land-grant university, South Dakota State University;
  • Every child’s individuality and uniqueness;
  • An environment that assures all youth access to programming;
  • Caring adults who volunteer to work with, mentor, and teach youth;
  • The Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

Get Involved

Joining 4-H is easy! You can either visit your local 4-H county office or enroll as a new member online

As of January 1, potential members must be 5-7 years old in order to become a Cloverbud or 8-18 years old to become a 4-H member. 

Enroll in 4-H Today!

Start developing skills that youth can use now and throughout their lifetime.

ENROLL NOW

Find Local 4-H Information

Join the 4-H e-mail list

Don't miss out on 4-H developments, instead have them delivered to you.

SUBSCRIBE

Upcoming Events

4-H, Shooting Sports, Muzzleloading gun, Adolescent girl shoting a muzzleloading gun while 2 adolescent males watch
Jan 06

Virtual 4-H Shooting Sports Youth Development Training

SDSU Extension will host a virtual 4-H Shooting Sports Youth Development Training on January 6 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. CST via Zoom.

Group of youth competing in trap
Jan 08

Virtual 4-H Shooting Sports Youth Development Training

SDSU Extension will host a virtual 4-H Shooting Sports Youth Development Training on January 8 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. CST via Zoom.

Shooting Sports coach helping youth shooting shotgun
Jan 15

Virtual 4-H Shooting Sports Youth Development Training

SDSU Extension will host a virtual 4-H Shooting Sports Youth Development Training on January 15 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. CST via Zoom.

Group of 4-H youth with clipboards at a livestock judging event.
Feb 13

Youth Livestock Skill-A-Thon @ Watertown Winter Farm Show

SDSU Extension 4-H will host a come-and-go Livestock Skill-A-Thon during the Watertown Winter Farm Show at the Codington County Extension Complex in Classroom A (1910 W. Kemp Ave., Watertown, SD 57201) February 13-14, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CST.