Growing the Spark
4-H Youth Development
When you join Lincoln County 4-H, you are part of the broader Colorado 4-H youth development community, which includes 10,000+ volunteers and more than 100,000 youth. This gives you opportunities to participate in clubs and other local programs, as well as opportunities at the state and national level.
How to get started:
- Review the FAQ section for step-by-step instructions on enrolling
- Explore local projects and find what sparks your interest!
- Contact your local Extension office to pay fee(s) and complete the enrollment process
FAQs
4-H is America’s largest youth development organization—empowering millions of young people across the U.S. with new skills and learning experiences. 4‑H serves youth through a network of caring adult volunteers, hands-on projects and programs, and meaningful leadership opportunities.
Youth who are 8-18 years old are welcome to join 4-H. A youth’s “4-H age” is determined by how old they are on December 31 of the current school year.
4-H community clubs serve as a home base for youth in 4-H. In their meetings, youth make new friends, plan community service activities, have business meetings, and learn leadership skills. Club leaders are trusted adult volunteers who support youth in learning life skills and building a sense of belonging in the community.
A 4‑H project is a structured, hands-on learning experience that a 4‑H member chooses to work on, in depth, over time, guided by caring adults and built around real‑world skills. In addition to the project itself, youth share what they’ve learned through demonstrations, exhibits, presentations, or community service. 4-H projects help young people gain knowledge, skills, and confidence by actively exploring a topic they care about. All members must complete one project and record book, one community service activity, and one demonstration each year for annual completion. Failure to do so results in a one-year suspension for the project not completed.
Key features of a 4‑H project include:
- Youth‑chosen: Members select topics that match their interests.
- Experiential: Youth learn through doing, practicing, and reflecting—not just listening.
- Goal‑oriented: Projects involve setting goals, keeping records, and working toward improvement.
- Skill‑building: Projects develop technical skills as well as life skills like responsibility, problem‑solving, leadership, and communication.
- Ongoing: Projects are typically worked on over several months or a year, with increasing levels of challenge.
For information on types of projects, see 4-H Projects and Programs.
Contact the Extension office to determine county eligibility, go over general 4-H participation opportunities and expectations, and ask questions at 719-743-2542.
Lincoln County 4-H Clubs
The Lincoln County area has several community clubs that coordinate events and help mentor youth members through a variety of 4-H projects. Most clubs meet once a month.
Explore 4-H Projects and Programs
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2026 Lincoln County Fair
Fair Dates: July 29-30 and August 1, 3-8
Explore the full schedule of events, download forms, and more.
Youth Leadership
Building leadership skills is a core component of the 4‑H experience. Members have multiple opportunities to grow as leaders, including:
- 4-H Club Officers – Each club elects officers who help run meetings and guide club activities. Common officer roles include President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
- 4-H Council Officers – These youth leaders represent all 4‑H clubs in the county as part of a unified council. They make decisions that shape the local 4‑H program.
- 4-H Committee Members – Youth representatives provide a youth perspective on groups and help organize events such as clinics, awards nights, and more.
- 4-H State Officer – Senior 4‑H members interested in travel, teamwork, and advanced leadership development can run for District or State officer positions.
4-H Volunteers
Volunteers help make up the core of 4-H and are critical to the success of youth members. In Colorado, there are more than 8,000 volunteers who give their time, skills, and talents to help youth.
These volunteers serve in a number of capacities. Some choose to help at summer camps, teach a workshop, or lead a club. Others chaperone events, lend their professional skills, develop lessons, or help at the county fair.
State 4-H Scholarships
Colorado 4-H and the Colorado 4-H Foundation offer scholarship opportunities to support members’ education goals. These awards recognize the hard work, leadership, and dedication that youth demonstrate through their 4-H experiences.