NEW! All recent project information can be found below.

Fast and Fancy Frosting : A beginner's guide to cake decorating including supplies needed, types of icings, baking and icing the cake, icing bags, basic tips, themes for cakes, writing and borders. Includes special patterns to use on your own cakes!
Avian Science Leaders Manual : Informative organizational guide to the avian science project.
Care and Handling of your Horse : Parts of the horse, feeding your horse, health and care, caring for tack and equipment, body colors, patterns, and marking, and knot-tying.
Ceramics as a 4-H Project : Enter the world of ceramics - lists standards, how-to, and fun activities included.
Home Economics Standards : The complete guide to clothing, foods, food preservation, home furnishing, and place settings. Special section for beginning girls!
Wheat Project Manual : Gain knowledge on preparing soil, fertilizing, planting, irrigation, pest management, harvesting, and milling and baking.
Sugar Beet Project : Capture information on how sugar beets grow and how to market and process them.
Quick, Easy Jam and Jelly : Step-by-step guide to canning beginning with washing jars, preparing fruit, and measuring ingredients, all the way to making the jelly and sealing the jars.
Origami 4-H Clover : Cute, fun arts and craft project.
Judging Made Easy : Describes overview of a judging contest (registration, cards, classes), placing the class, delivering reasons, and gives sample classes to begin putting it to use!
Guide to Good Speaking : Guide to preparing for a speech, organizing your thoughts, delivering, and rehearsing.
Craft Dough Recipes : Every kid's dream - learn to make play dough!
Fitting and Showing Cattle : Learn to fit and show your beef cattle - grooming, clipping, and show day preparation all included.
Easy Halter for Sheep : A "how-to" guide to making a simple rope halter for your lamb.
Choosing The Right Wood : Gain an understanding of the characteristics of wood to better your woodworking projects.
Chicken and Rabbit Word Searches : Perfect for primary members!
Breadmaking-in-a-Bag : Fun activity for first-year Foods and Nutrition members! Make Honey Whole Wheat in a bag in a few, simple steps.
4-H Poultry Showmanship : Leds members through selecting, training, and maintaining a bird. Gives scenarios and step-by-step procedures for poultry showmanship.
4-H Aerospace Program : Introduces the objectives and role of the 4-H aerospace leader, gives an outline for where to get started, and provides project activities perfect for each of your monthly meetings.
Judging Guidelines : Teaches the basic priniciples of judging

Looking for video resources to use in your project group? Click on the following list: Video Resource List to see what we have available. To use any of our DVDs listed, contact Melanie Curtis.

ARTS AND CRAFTS

The Palette of Fun with Arts and Crafts links crafts to all aspects of life - careers, technology, communication, community, culture, and science. The guide includes great activities for each member such as cutting and pasting, drawing, painting, sculpting, printing, and 3-D construction.

A Palette of Fun with Arts & Crafts: A helper's guide for children's art activities (grades K-6) 
*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

BEEF CATTLE PROJECT

Bite Into Beef (Level One)*
Youth identify breeds, locate parts, judge, halter break a calf, fit a steer, show a calf, recognize a healthy animal, select feed ingredients and shop for beef and beef by-products.

Here's the Beef (Level Two)*
Challenges youth with activities related to leg structure, oral reasons, feed ingredients, behavior, nose printing, parasites, fitting, ethical issues, beef carcass composition and retail meat cuts.

Leading the Charge (Level Three)*
Selection and judging, feeds, careers, health, reproduction, and meats and marketing encourage more in depth learning.

Beef Helper's Guide: Beef Group Activities*
Skillathons, quiz bowls, games, presentations, Beef Bingo and several management skill activities for groups are featured.

*Available for leaders to check-out at Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

CITIZENSHIP PROJECT

Public Adventures: Adventure Kit*
Designed to engage youth in changing a piece of the public world, discovering the possibilities of democratic citizenship and building a commitment to taking action in new and exciting ways. Youth plan a project that will create, change, or improve.

*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H office.

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

Agents of Change (Level One): Activities for Middle School Youth*
Youth become "Special OPPortunities Agents," as they follow a series of exciting activities that engage youth in their community and allow them to reflect on their experiences.

Raise Your Voice (Level Two): Activities for High School Youth*
A no-nonsense guide for older youth introduces service learning as an empowering learning vehicle for young leaders. Voices of real young people engaged in service inspire and enable youth to identify with others.

Service Learning Helper's Guide: Group Activities*
This exciting guide for leaders offers group service learning activities like community mapping, identifying group roles and teaching journaling. It offers advice tailored to help mentors seeking to lead youth through enriching learning experiences.

*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

DAIRY CATTLE PROJECT

Dairy 1 Cowabunga!: Dairy Project Youth Activity Guide*
Youth explore dairy cattle breads, select calves, identify body parts, recognize desirable traits, pack a show box, groom and show a calf and identify stages of calving and care.

Dairy 2 Mooving Ahead: Dairy Project Youth Activity Guide*
Judging, identifying, ethical decision making, keeping animals healthy, parasites, behavior, housing, hay quality, milking, food safety and careers are featured

Dairy 3 Rising to the Top: Dairy Project Youth Activity Guide*
Advanced youth practice body condition scoring, selecting through records, mastitis detection, balancing a ration, pregnancy detection, delivery of calf, promoting dairy products and exploring career opportunities

Dairy Cattle Helper's Guide: Dairy Project Group Activities*
These activities will bring any meeting to life. Youth will play Dairy Bingo, and participate in dairy quiz bowls, dairy pyramid game and a dairy skillathon!

*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

DAIRY GOAT PROJECT

Getting Your Goat (Level One)*
Focuses on selection and judging, feed and nutrition, management skills, and fitting and showing goats for beginners.

Stepping Out (Level Two)*
Level two focuses on health and management, feed and nutrition, reproduction, milk and milking, and judging for intermediate members.

Showing The Way (Level Three)*
Advanced members in level three will be able to learn about health and management skills, genetics and reproduction, leadership, and grasp an understanding of national and international issues.

Goat Helper's Guide: Dairy Goat Project Activities*

*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

DOG CARE AND TRAINING

Wiggles and Wags (Level One)*
Activities relate to body parts, selection, correcting behavior, house breaking a puppy, body language, controlling fleas, health care, grooming and how to train a dog to respond to seven basic commands.

Canine Connection (Level Two)*
Youth explore dog web resources, breed origins, safety, locating a missing dog, socializing a dog, showmanship, tricks, health, feeding and controlling parasites.

Leading The Pack (Level Three)*
Experienced youth will learn how to plan and conduct a dog show, a showmanship clinic, a puppy training class and a skillathon as well as research zoonosis diseases, administer emergency first aid, explore dog laws and dog related careers.

Dog Helper's Guide: Dog Project Group Activities*
Thirteen pages are devoted to helping teach 23 basic and advanced obedience training exercises. Group activities include fun dog games, Canine Good Citizen, skillathons, pet therapy sessions, Dog Pyramid, dog quiz bowls and glossary games.

*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

ENTOMOLOGY

Entomology 1 - Creepy Crawlies*
Youth can learn how to make an insect collection, where to look for insects and how to identify and classify insects as they practice the following life skills: learning to learn, critical thinking, and decision making.

Entomology 2 - What's Bugging You?*
Youth develop communication skills, identify insets to order, design insects, complete an insect collection table, plan an insect collection trip, rear meal worms, explore insect legs and collects insects with an extractor.

Entomology 3 - Dragons, Houses and Other Flies*
Youth keep an insect journal, determine the effect of food on mealworm larvae production, test ant food preferences, conduct honey bee learning experiments, organize an insect club, use an insect key, plan a butterfly garden, records insect observations.

Entomology Group Helper's Guide*
This guide provides practical tips, 14 group activities and supplementary information pertaining to the Entomology curriculum.

*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

FOOD AND NUTRITION PROJECT

Six Easy Bites*
This activity guide is divided into six major categories or "bites." Each bite is designed to give a general background of information followed by four different activities. Grades 3-5.

Tasty Tidbits*
Youth solve problems, acquire information (learn to learn), make decisions, keep records, and learn how to use resources wisely. Fun packed recipes allow choices for food preparation, such as pretzels, biscuits and lasagna. Youth learn proper food storage.

You're The Chef*
This activity guide is designed to help select healthy food, food preservation and preparation, and careers. Youth learn to evaluate fad diets, connect emotions to eating habits and to can foods. Youth enjoy making crazy casseroles, stir-fry vegetables, and much more!

Foodworks*
Foodworks is a more advanced way for older 4-H youth to expand their knowledge and skills. Some examples are how to alter recipes, plan menus and how to plan and cater a party. A great project for those youth who help around the kitchen. Grades 9-12

Fantastic Foods Helper's Guide*
The helper's role is critical in providing opportunities for youth to learn and grow in a caring and supportive environment. This guide provides the helper with exciting and fun activities, ideas, and content to help with this challenging and exciting role.

*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

Safe steps in food handling, cooking, and storage are essential to prevent foodborne illness. Following four basic steps - clean, separate, cook, and chill will keep your food safe.

USDA has some great resources to help the public learn about food safety.  Click here for more information.  You will find educational materials for young children, teens and adults.  Check out their entertaining and educational Food Safety Game for Youth.

Safety Guidelines for all 4-H projects: http://www.ca4h.org/projresource/curriculum/safety/

HORSE & PONY PROJECT

Giddy Up and Go! (Level One)*
Activities include horse body shop, human cues and group relay knot. Also includes learn-by-doing activities that explore breed identification, horse body parts, selection, grooming, saddling and bridling, design the perfect horse, safety and equipment.

Head, Heart, and Hooves (Level Two)*
Youth learn horse behavior, anatomy and basic care practices. Activities include pony up to the salad bar, body condition scoring, bad hair day and long in the tooth.

Stable Relationships (Level Three)*
Keeping horses healthy and practicing basic care techniques are emphasized in this activity guide.

Riding The Range (Level Four)*
Beginning riding skills and everything youth need to know before they get on a horse for the first time are covered in this book. Some of the activities are round pen workout, bridle in a bucket, saddle up, where do you ride and basic riding.

Jumping to New Heights (Level Five )*
Youth experience the ins and outs of a horse. Activities include quarter system, showmanship, self-rating sheets, goal selection and winning isn't everything.

Horse Project Helper's Guide*
Provides supplemental materials that help volunteers facilitate learning situations for youth. Group activities are included to help youth develop essential life skills as they pursue their interest in riding and showing horses.

*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

Fresno County 4-H Horse Policies
Fresno County 4-H Horse Calendar
Statewide 4-H Horse Website

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The Step Up To Leadership series covers age-specific leadership topics centering around relationship building, communication, planning, organizing, and studies working in groups.
Step Up To Leadership: My Leadership Workbook (for grades 3-5)*
Step Up To Leadership: My Leadership Journal (for grades 6-8)*
Step Up To Leadership: My Leadership Portfolio (for grades 9-12)*
Step Up To Leadership Mentor Guide (for grades K-5)*
Step up To Leadership Mentor Guide (for grades 6-12)*

*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

LIVESTOCK PROJECTS

The Real Purpose of 4-H Livestock Projects
Fresno Fair Market Chicken and Turkey Project Order Form

MEAT GOAT PROJECT

Just Browsing (Level One)*
Youth will enjoy planning a program, completing project records, developing a management calendar, completing a meat quality assurance program, participating in a quiz bowl, skillathon and tour, giving a presentation and exploring goat related careers.

Growing With Meat Goats (Level Two)*
Youth will explore goat body parts, goat selection, breeds, record keeping, meat goat and dairy conformation, show preparations, sportsmanship, goat health, feed selection and several management skills. Grades 3-5.

Meating The Future (Level Three)*
Youth discover how to control parasites, practice bio-security, conduct a judging clinic, judge goats, give oral reasons, select sires, balance a ration, compare forage samples, practice sound ethics, prevent diseases & more. Grades 9-12

Meat Goat Helper's Guide: Group Activities for Ages K-12*
Packed with activities that involve the entire group. Youth will enjoy planning a program, completing a project records, developing a management calendar, completing a meat quality assurance program, participating in a quiz.

*Available for leaders to check-out at Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES PROJECT

Hiking Trails (Level One)*
Hiking Trails includes shelter selection; Leave No Trace camping skills; outdoor cooking and environmental awareness and appreciation. Grades 3-5

Camping Adventures (Level Two)*
Focuses on hiking for a day. It will include clothing needs; packing daypack; reading topographic maps and orienteering skills.

Backpacking Expeditions (Level Three)*
Focuses on being on the trail for extended periods of time. It includes clothing needs; tent setup; using backcountry stoves; basic nutrition; menu planning for multi-day hikes; personal hygiene & basic first aid

Group Activity Helper's Guide: Outdoor Adventures Group Activities*
Enables helpers to facilitate the teaching of the curriculum. Utilizing the experiential learning model, the guide targets technical, organizational, problem solving, safety and communication skills. Activities include risk management, trip planning.

*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

PUBLIC SPEAKING PROJECT

Picking Up The Pieces: Communications Activities for Youth (Level 1)*
What are the pieces needed to become a successful communicator? Youth discover how to put together a communication puzzle through nonverbal, verbal, and written activities that stretch and strengthen personal communication skills.

Putting It Together: Communication Activities for Youth (Level 2)*
Stimulating activities provide opportunities for youth to practice and gain confidence in communicating in a variety of situations. Watch them unfold as strong communicators in front of your eyes while they present oral reasons, plan and present speeches.

The Perfect Fit: Communications Activities for Youth (Level 3)*
How can youth find a perfect communication fit to pave the way for their future? Youth enrich and polish their communication skills and develop a public presence by speaking in public, exploring communication careers, writing resumes and cover letters.

Communication Helper's Guide: Group Activities*
Youth reinforce communication concepts as they develop skillathons, play communication games, trace the history of communication technology, plan demonstrations, and create advertisements while youth interact, broaden their understanding of communication.

*Available for leaders to check out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

RABBIT PROJECT

What's Hoppening? (Level One)*
Youth will discover how to identify breeds, handle and show rabbits, identify rabbit parts and equipment, recognize a healthy rabbit, read a pedigree and kindle a litter. Grades 3-5

Making Tracks (Level Two)*
Youth will recognize body types, judge and show rabbits, tattoo a rabbit, keep records, identify diseases, administer medication, record growth rates and market products. (40 pages) Grades 6-8

All Ears (Level Three)*
Older youth will develop a breeding program, design a rabbitry, cull based on production, prevent diseases, develop sportsmanship and develop a marketing plan. (40 pages) Grades 9-12

Rabbit Helper's Guide*
The Helper's Guide features group activities and answer keys. The Model Rabbit Pattern is an excellent tool for identifying parts, determining sex, practicing handling, trimming nails and other management practices. (40 pages) Grades 3-12

*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

SHEEP PROJECT

Rams, Lambs & You (Level One)*
Sheep 1 introduces youth to a wide variety of fun and challenging activities including identifying parts, selecting a project lamb, preparing for lambing, identifying lamb cuts, feeding and showing a sheep. (40 pages) Grades 3-5

Shear Delight (Level Two)*
In Sheep 2 youth will practice presenting oral reasons, determine yield grades, compare digestive systems, explore a feed tag, practice management practices, deliver a lamb, treat parasites and discuss ethical decision making. (40 pages) Grades 6-8

Leading The Flock (Level Three)*
Sheep 3 features activities related to judging, budgeting, web surfing, reproduction and genetics, surveying consumers, career exploration, marketing products and teaching others. (40 pages) Grades 9-12

Sheep Helper's Guide: Sheep Group Activities*
Instructions for skillathons, bingo, pyramid, developing management calendars and more activities.

*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.

SHOOTING SPORTS

 

Effective April 1, 2001 all 4-H Shooting Sports leaders must have certification approved by the State 4-H Office.  Certification can come from National or State 4-H certification courses and certain outside agencies approved by the State.  There are three types of certification for California shooting sports leaders:

1)      State 4-H Instructor: This level of instructor teaches classes for the State and can only be acquired by attending a National 4-H Shooting Sports Conference.

2)      State 4-H Leader Trainer:  This level of instructor teaches classes for the County and can only be acquired by attending a State 4-H Shooting Sports Workshop.  This is the type of training session, which this course will cover.

3)      Certified 4-H Project Leader:  This level of certification allows a 4-H leader to be a shooting sports project leader.

If you hold any of the three titles listed above, you may be a project leader in the discipline for which you are certified.

There are six disciplines in the California 4-H Shooting Sports program: archery, black powder firearms, hunting, pistol, rifle, and shotgun.

WOODWORKING

Woodworking Wonders - Measuring Up*
Youth will develop skills that wood-workers use, such as measuring, squaring & cutting a board, driving nails, and using clamps and screws. It is suggested that all youth begin with this guide to be grounded in the basics of woodworking. Grades 2-4

Woodworking Wonders - Making the Cut*
Youth will measure, cut, sand, drill, use advanced hand and power tools, apply paint, and use bolts and staples. Grades 4-6

Woodworking Wonders - Nailing It Together*
Youth will practice measuring angles, cutting dado and rabbet joints (page 12); use a circular saw, a table saw and a radial arm saw; smooth lumber with a hand planer (page 17); and learn to sand and stain wood (page 24). Grades 6-8

Woodworking Wonders - Finishing Up*
Specific woodworking skills include using a router, portable planer and jointer; making a blind mortise and tenon joint; making dovetail joints; and experimenting with adhesives and various chemical wood strippers. Grades 9-12

Woodworking Wonders - Helper's Guide*
This guide provides the helper with a variety of group activities that will help youth broaden their understanding of the basic woodworking concepts. A number of ideas for additional woodworking activities are included.

*Available for leaders to check-out at the Fresno Co. 4-H Office.