Garrett County Sponsored Opportunities
4-H All Stars
4-H All-Star is an honor/service organization. Membership in the 4-H All-Star is the highest recognition that a 4-H'er can achieve. 4-H All Stars is service-oriented and volunteer-operated. The All-Star's goal is to contribute to positive youth development through "service" to the 4-H program. The 4-H program becomes the springboard from which an All-Star jumps to other service areas for people throughout their lifetime. The 4-H All-Star organization strives for a cooperative effort with the 4-H program in all areas.
4-H All Stars Financial Assistance Guidelines and Application
4-H All Stars Financial Assistance - Proof of Attendance or Diamond Clover Letter
2024 Awardees
- Leah Fratz (State Event-MD 4-H Public Speaking Contest)
- Laura Huelskamp (State Event-MD State Fair)
2023 Awardees
- Preston Miller (Diamond Clover 6)
- Cole Kepple (Diamond Clover 6)
2022 Awardees
- Hannah Frazee (National 4-H Congress)
- Jaryn Teets (Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup)
- Revie Miller (State Event - Livestock Skillathon)
- Brenton Gnegy (State Event - State Public Speaking Contest)
- Laura Huelskamp (State Event-State Championship Robotics Tournament)
- Hannah Frazee (State Event-State Championship Robotics Tournament)
- Elisa Frazee (State Event-State Championship Robotics Tournament)
- Caleb Yoder (State Event-State Championship Robotics Tournament)
- Laura Huelskamp (Diamond Clover 6)
- Preston Miller (State Event - Tractor Competition State Fair)
- Hannah Frazee (National Event)
2020 Awardees
- Jaxson Corbin
2019 Awardees
- Kolten Mason
- Morgan Qualls
- FIRST Tech Challenge team 2818 G-FORCE~~FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship
- Madison Glover
- Jesse Harman
2018 Awardees
- Jaxson Corbin
- Kolten Mason
- First LEGO League & NeXT GEN Team
Achievement Program
The Achievement Program celebrates the success of 4-H members, as reported in their record books. Volunteers are recognized for reaching milestones in their years of support to the 4-H program. It was a great year for 4-H. We have a lot to celebrate!
On behalf of the Garrett County 4-H Office, we would like to invite all of our 4-H members and volunteers to join us Sunday, April 7, 2024, at 2:00 pm as we recognize all the volunteers and youth that make our program in Garrett County a huge success. This event will take place at the AG Heritage Hall at the Garrett County Fairgrounds.
Achievement Program Forms
4-H Clubs have the opportunity to nominate adults, organizations, or businesses for the following awards to be presented during the annual Achievement Program. All forms are due to the Extension Office by March 1st. Details are included on the nomination form.
Garrett County Club Family of the Year Award
Broiler Program
Broiler Project Available To 4-H Youth!
The Broiler Project will be available this Spring to any interested Garrett County 4-H youth.
Bruceton Ag Service (Grantsville Branch) will provide 10 broiler-type chicks to each participant to raise. The chicks should arrive the week of April 1st at the Grantsville Branch. We will call you when they arrive and they will need to be picked up that day by store closure.
The Broiler Show will be held on June 5, 2024, at the University of Maryland Extension Garrett office. Youth are required to exhibit two dressed birds and complete their record forms.
Orders are due by February 23, 2024
Please note that orders after 2/23/2024 @ 4:30 pm will not be accepted.
Youth will need to furnish feed, housing, heat, and “tender loving care” for the chicks. Information on raising broilers will be provided to those registering. This is an excellent short-term learning project for youth and it helps to provide food for the family. For more information call the office at (301) 334-6960. If you would like to participate in the Broiler program, please complete the order form and return it to our office before February 23rd.
Camp Algawa
4-H Camp Algawa is a leadership development program with young people returning to camp over the years and progressing into leadership roles. If you would like to learn more about 4-H Camp Algawa, please call 301-334-6960.
Engineering Contests
Maryland 4-H has a long history of offering in-depth and hands-on experiences in engineering. Garrett County offers the following engineering events in July for the Bicycle Safety, Electricity, and Small Engines. The Lawn Tractor and Farm Tractor events are held during fair week. These events will be announced in the 4-H Partyline newsletter.
Garrett County 4-H Engineering Event
Do you enjoy working with tractors, lawnmowers, or bicycles? If so, you might want to participate in one of the engineering events. There are five separate events: Bicycle, Small Engines, Electricity, Tractor, and Lawn & Garden Tractor. Each contest has various components such as driving, parts identification, and visual presentations. You may enter as many of the contests as you like.
If you should have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the office at 301-334-6960. The following will be held at the GEARS Building in Accident:
July 12, 2024
· 9am to 11:30am - Bicycle
· 11:30 am to 12:00 pm Lunch Break (Bring packed lunch or purchase at a nearby restaurant)
· 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Electricity
· 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Small Engines
Lawn Tractor and Farm Tractor Events will be held at the fair.
If you compete in at least three (3) contests, you will qualify for the overall engineering event trophy.
Please contact the Extension Office at 301-334-6960 to register before July 8, 2024.
The Maryland State Fair hosts statewide contests. For small engine events, individuals must enter through the online registration system at www.marylandstatefair.com by July 15th. Bicycle, lawn tractor, and tractor event entries are made by the 4-H Educator.
Bicycle Safety: This tests the youth's ability to operate, fix, and ride bicycles safely and effectively. The contest consists of a written test, Parts ID, and skills demonstrations by youth on to drive in a straight line, figure 8, on a city street, with double obstacles and double zig-zag obstacles.
Electricity: This event features a written test, parts ID, and visual presentation that will be used to evaluate the youth's knowledge of the physical theories behind Electricity and Energy and how to implement such safely and effectively into real-world projects.
Small Engine: This challenge evaluates youth knowledge of the safe operation and maintenance of small engines, present in many common devices such as lawnmowers, generators, tillers, and more. This is done through a written exam, and parts ID.
Lawn Tractor: This event is designed to offer 4-H youth an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the areas of lawn care, business management, tractor operation, maintenance, and safety. The day of the fair features a written exam, parts ID, a safe operation course, and a tractor driving course.
Farm Tractor: This event is designed to give 4-H members an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of tractor maintenance and skill in operation, and compete with other 4-Hers in so doing. Safety will be stressed throughout the contest.
Fashion Revue
In the fashion industry, the runway show is the means designers use to introduce new fashion collections as a form of visual merchandising. The art of coordinating an outfit to fit your body, lifestyle, budget, and wardrobe will help as you dress for a lifetime. The fashion revue contest provides 4-H youth an opportunity to develop interview and personal presentation skills through judge interaction. A public-style show, the culminating event, showcases youth’s creativity and style.
The Fashion Revue will be held on Monday, July 29, 2024. Interview judging will begin at 4:30 pm and the show will be held at 6:00 pm at the 4-H Building/Outdoor Stage. Information has been sent to all members enrolled in sewing projects but everyone is welcome to participate.
Call the Extension Office for additional information.
Public Speaking
Join us this year for the Garrett County 4-H Public Speaking Contest, to be held on Thursday, March 4th, 2024 from 4 pm-7 pm (by appointment time) at the 4-H Extension Office. The Public Speaking Categories include Demonstration (New), Visual Presentation (New), Prepared, Extemporaneous, Interpretation, and Radio Spots. Please only select 2 categories. County winners for each category will be invited to participate in the Maryland State Public Speaking Contest scheduled to be held on TBD at the University of Maryland, College Park. Call the Extension Office at (301) 334-6960 for more information.
Please register at: https://forms.gle/7FZ2bsUjqmaDwtebA
The registration deadline is February 20, 2024.
Learning to be an effective public speaker is one of the skills most valued by graduated 4-H members. Don't miss this chance to have fun and improve your skills. Garrett County 4-H hosts an annual event in the Spring. This event will qualify you to participate in the Maryland 4-H State Public Speaking Event. All 4-Her's are encouraged to participate.
Members may compete in the following four categories:
1) Prepared: Contestants may speak on any topic. It may be wise to discuss topics that could be considered controversial with your 4-H Leader or Educator before the contest. The speech may be written for a specific audience such as a 4-H Club, PTA, or a Rotary club. Notecards containing a keyword outline are permitted. Only Juniors may use a complete script. Memorization is not encouraged.
- Junior: 3-5 minutes
- Intermediate & Senior: 4-6 minutes
2) Extemporaneous: Speakers will draw three topics and choose one topic to use. Contestants may use index cards to write their keyword outline. Extemporaneous speakers will be shown color time cards at correctly timed intervals indicating "1 Minute", "30 Seconds" and "Stop".
- Junior & Intermediate: 2 to 3 minutes (maximum 30 minutes to prepare).
- Senior: 3 to 5 minutes (maximum 15 minutes to prepare)
3) Radio Spots: Should be exactly 30 seconds in length and may include a musical or sound effect introduction and/or background, but may not include a spoken introduction or "tag" by anyone other than the contestant. If music or sound effect is used, the contestant must provide and operate the sound-making device. The contestant will provide a complete written script (including notations about music/sound effects) to the timekeeper to aid in timing accuracy. Musical/sound effect introductions and endings are considered a part of the radio spot and must not cause the 30-second time limit to be exceeded. The spot should relate to 4-H, be original, and be created by the contestant.
- All age divisions: 30 seconds
4) Interpretation - 3 Types: Dramatic Interpretation: Oral interpretation, memorized by the speaker or selection of narrative or dramatic literature. Monologues are acceptable. Poetry Interpretation: A memorized interpretation by the speaker. Humorous Interpretation: A memorized oral interpretation of a humorous selection by the speaker. Cuttings may be taken from published plays or prose. Visual aids are not permitted. Appropriate gestures are encouraged. For Dramatic Interpretation, contestants may opt to sit for the presentation. Podium use is optional. Contestants are to bring two (2) copies of the script including references.
- Junior & Intermediate: 2 to 3 minutes
- Senior: 3 to 5 minutes
5) Demonstration: A presentation is where the contestant shows step-by-step how to do or make something. Some examples include: how to groom a rabbit for the show, how to make a corsage, how to make balloon animals, etc. The contestant would prepare and bring all the supplies needed for their “howto” demonstration. Supplemental materials such as posters with instructions, take-home directions, and samples for taste testing, etc. are encouraged.
- Time Limits - Juniors, Intermediates & Seniors: 3-15 minutes
6.) Visual Presentation: A Visual Presentation is a presentation using props (such as charts, PowerPoint slides, posters, animals, etc.) that help illustrate and accentuate the presentation. The props allow the audience to see and understand the facts and concepts shared in the speech. Contestants should construct a speech like they were doing a prepared speech, including pauses/breaks to point to a prop, hold up a poster, show slides, etc. These pauses should be factored into the overall time of the presentation. The contestant must provide all necessary props/equipment.
- Time Limits – Juniors: 3-5 minutes; Intermediates & Seniors: 4-6 minutes
Skillathons and Bowls
Competition in Bowls & Skillathons encourages members to develop a more complete knowledge of animals and related subjects. These contests provide an educational program for all project members, including those who may not own a project animal, and provides a way to develop self-confidence.
Skillathons
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Livestock Skillathon-this contest is made up of a written quiz and learning stations such as breed identification, feed identification, equipment identification as well as some team activities such as demonstrating evaluation skills.
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4-H Dairy Skillathon-this contest provides an opportunity for youth enrolled in 4-H to demonstrate the breadth of their knowledge and understanding of animal science and management in a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail. The practical application of the contestants’ knowledge and skills is emphasized. The contest’s coordinators strive to provide an educational experience for participants and spectators as well as an opportunity for the creation
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Dog Skillathon-this contest provides an opportunity for youth enrolled in 4-H to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of animal science and management related to dogs in a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail. The Skillathon offers age-appropriate quizzes and stations that are designed to test youth knowledge of dogs; youth move from station to station. Some stations may include visual diagrams or equipment, or hands-on activities to demonstrate a dog-related technique.
4-H Bowls
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4-H Dairy Bowl-this is a quiz competition where all the questions are about dairy related topics and students use a buzzer in order to answer the questions. Teams compete in a double-elimination format by giving oral answers to questions posed by a moderator. Each match has both an individual and toss-up question round.
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4-H Dog Bowl-this contest provides an opportunity for youth enrolled in 4-H to demonstrate their knowledge of the canine-related subject matter in a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail. These contests should provide an educational experience for both participants and spectators.
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4-H Horse Bowl-this is a quiz competition where all the questions are about horse topics and students use a buzzer in order to answer the questions. Teams compete in a double-elimination format by giving oral answers to questions posed by a moderator. Each match has both an individual and toss-up question round.
Weigh-In/Shows/Fairs
2024 Beef Fall Weigh-In-November 2, 2024
Weigh In Letter
2025 Guidebook for 4-H/FFA Market Animals
2024 Western Maryland District Show Book
2024 Spring Weigh-In Letter
Maryland 4-H Animal Husbandry & Quality Assurance (AHQA)
Click here to start the program: AHQA
The site will open in March and remain open through August 10th. Completing this program is required to show your project animal(s) in County and State 4-H Shows. For Garrett County 4-H members, the deadline to complete the training is July 1st. Click here for Program Guidelines and Tips.
Garrett County Agricultural Fair
July 26, 2025-August 2, 2025
2024 GC Fair Sale Bill
Livestock Sale Information
2024 Poultry Testing
Poultry Exhibitors—Testing Date: All poultry, both in-state and out-of-state poultry, must be tested for Avian Influenza within 30 days prior to entry or originate from an NPIP Avian Influenza Clean or Monitored flock (or 21 days for out-of-state birds). Avian Influenza testing will require 15 birds or all birds in the flock if fewer than 15 birds from the exhibitor flock. Those individuals planning to bring poultry to the Garrett County Agriculture Fair are reminded that all poultry for exhibition must meet the Maryland Department of Agriculture requirements. To assist with this process, arrangements will be made for the testing to be done on July 9th from 4:00 pm—7:00 pm at the Garrett County Fairgrounds in the rabbit barn. The cost for the testing is $25.00 per flock, which will be paid at the time of the testing.
Information needed:
1. Source of birds-hatchery, raised or other. 2. The age of the birds. 3. The number of birds in your flock. Leg bands will be affixed upon testing. Please call 301 334-6960 to register for the testing by July 4, 2024.
Demonstrations