Events and Opportunities

Achievement Night is our way of recognizing all of the hard work that our 4-H’ers and volunteers do every year! The ceremony is typically held on a Sunday in late April or early May at the Frederick County 4-H Camp and Activities Center, and is hosted by our Frederick County 4-H office. The awards given out at Achievement Night include:

• Outstanding Member Awards
• Record Book & Project Record Awards
• Diamond Clover Awards
• Volunteer Awards
• Youth Community Service Awards
• and more!

You will receive an invitation to Achievement Night if you are receiving an award, but everyone is more than welcome to attend to support their fellow 4-H’ers!

For information on Frederick County 4-H Camp, please visit our camp page.

Held in mid-September, 4-H members are invited to enter their 4-H projects and share their 4-H experiences. Information for youth exhibitors can be found on the Great Frederick Fair’s web page. 

Starting in January these programs/teams offer a positive opportunity for youth to learn about 4-H projects such as livestock, equine and small animals. Owning animals is not required to learn about the project areas and participate on the county teams at the state competitions. Youth can participate in the following teams/competitions:

• Livestock Judging
• Livestock Skillathon
• Rabbit Judging
• Poultry & Egg judging
• Egg Communications 
• Horse Judging 
• Horse Bowl
• Horse Communications
• Hippology Contest
• Robotics Team
• Horticulture Judging
• Dog Bowl
• Dairy cattle Judging 
• Dairy Cow Skillathon
• Sheep and Goat Skillathon
• Dairy Goat Judging

All "Judging" competitions will be held at the Maryland State Fair. All other competitions are typically held at various dates throughout the spring. Check the Maryland 4-H Animal Science page for current dates. Message the 4-H office if you would like more information on how to join any of the Frederick teams.

Throughout the year, single day project workshops are offered to provide members with hands-on experiences to learn about a new project of interest. Workshops can range from 1 hour to all day events. Workshops are often planned and led by a group of individuals including 4-H volunteers, members and the 4-H Educators. Upcoming workshops are shared in the 4-H newsletter.

4-H Presents is an opportunity for 4-H’ers to practice their public speaking skills by giving demonstrations. This program has not been held since 2022 due to low attendance.

Fashion Revue is the perfect opportunity for our seamstresses and 4-H fashionistas to show off their knowledge, skills, and creativity they have used to create their outfits! Model your outfit down our runway and impress our judges! Categories include:

• Original Garment - any piece/garment that was sewn by you.
• Ready to Wear - any outfit that you bought

One of the most valuable skills youth learn during their time in 4-H is public speaking. Each year, 4-H’ers participate in our Public Speaking Contest where they are able to practice and improve their public speaking skills. The contest location rotates around the Central Cluster each year.

The categories for the Public Speaking Contest are: 

• Extemporaneous:  Participants will draw 3 topics at the contest and select a favorite from the 3.  Then given an allotted amount of time, a participant will write the speech and practice prior to presenting to judges.  Extemporaneous presenters will draw for their speaking topics upon arrival at their scheduled time. Juniors and Intermediates have 30 minutes of preparation time and seniors will have 15 minutes preparation time. 
• Interpretations:  Youth memorize an oral presentation of a selected narrative from a published work.  Permitted works include dramatic or humorous plays, books or poetry.  A television script or show or any unpublished source is not acceptable. 
• Prepared:  Write a speech prior to the contest and bring the day of the contest.  The topic is the participants choice and is presented to judges during the allotted time slot.  Juniors may use a complete script. Note cards containing key word outlines are permitted for intermediates and seniors. 
• Radio Spot:  Create a 30 second radio commercial prior to the contest.  Present to the judges as if it is being broadcast over the radio.  Musical or sound effect introductions and/or backgrounds may be used.
• Clovers:  Clovers are welcome to participate in the prepared speech area only, reciting the American or 4-H pledge.

Ribbons will be given in each of the age categories for each county.

This is an excellent opportunity, whether a 4-H’er carries a public speaking project or not, to receive valuable tips and learn how to enhance their public speaking abilities. Champions will have the opportunity to participate in the State 4-H Communications Contest. 

Check out Public Speaking: Making a Great Speech for more information regarding the competition and worksheets to help plan your speech.

The Central MD Spring Livestock Show is usually held the second weekend in June.

The two-day event is open to 4-H’ers in the central MD counties as an opportunity to practice exhibiting their livestock (large and small animals)  and learn what to expect at the fair.  There is no cost to participate. Registration is available through 4HOnline in early April. 

Maryland Day takes place the last Saturday of April at the University of Maryland in College Park. Every year, the university hosts tens of thousands of visitors while providing over 450 events that showcase research, education, and fun activities. For more information about Maryland Day, visit UMD Maryland Day. 

The 4-H Awards Gala is a state-run award ceremony that recognizes youth from across the state! Usually held at the end of January, the Maryland 4-H Foundation gives out scholarships, awards members who are in level 5 or 6 of the diamond clover project, and recognizes some of 4-H’s most dedicated volunteers. To watch the 2022 Maryland 4-H Awards Gala, click here.

Held the end of August, 4-H members are invited to enter their 4-H projects and share their 4-H experiences. Registration for the event is through the Maryland State Fair’s webpage and opens early summer. Many annual 4-H competitive events are held in conjunction with the State Fair.