Ohio State - 4-H Pathways to the Future

03/06/2026

Today nearly 100 6th grade students spent the day on Ohio State - College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences campus exploring the world of food, agriculture, and environmental sciences through hands-on learning experiences.

Students rotated through four experiential stations across the Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Complex (CEARC) and the 4-H Center:

🌿 Behind-the-scenes tour of CEARC
🐞 Bug Zoo visit (always a favorite!)
🍓 Strawberry DNA extraction with CFAES staff
🚜 Career exploration highlighting pathways in food, agriculture, and environmental sciences

From pulling DNA out of strawberries to exploring insects up close, students were curious, engaged, and asking great questions all day long.

Experiences like this help young people see science in action and imagine the possibilities ahead.

A great day connecting curiosity, discovery, and future opportunities. 🌱✨

02/04/2026

Do you have a curious kid who loves food and asking “why?” 🍎🔬

This Little Foodie Science Camp, hosted by our colleagues in Ohio State - College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, gives youth the chance to explore the science behind what we eat through fun, interactive, hands-on activities.
Participants will dive into food science concepts, kitchen chemistry, and real-world applications—all while learning in university labs and spaces designed for discovery.

When: June 15–19; 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily
Where: Parker Food Science Building, The Ohio State University campus

Camp details and registration: https://web.cvent.com/event/092e3fc1-8828-46b1-96a8-bf324fc65b37/summary

Experiences like this help spark curiosity, build confidence, and introduce young people to the many science-based careers connected to food, health, and innovation.

01/28/2026

Hands-on learning has the power to connect curiosity to real-world impact. Through meaningful experiences across food, agricultural, and environmental sciences, students deepen their expertise while inspiring the next generation to explore what’s possible.

Through the Multidisciplinary Agricultural Learning Center (MALC) and the work of Ohio State University Extension and Ohio State - 4-H Youth Development young people are gaining experiences that help turn early interests into real-world learning and meaningful futures.

Excited for the impact ahead. 🌱

Writer(s): Tracy Turner Jan. 27, 2026 COLUMBUS, Ohio — Inside the Multispecies Animal Learning Complex (MALC), Ohio’s next generation of animal scientists, veterinarians and agricultural innovators will be suiting up — not just to learn, but to lead. Opening Jan. 29 at The Ohio State Universi...

01/20/2026

Know a high school student who's passionate about food security and tackling global challenges? 🌎

The Ohio Youth Institute, hosted in partnership with the World Food Prize Foundation may be the perfect opportunity for them!

01/06/2026

Attention College Students!
Are you looking for a summer internship? Look no further!

We are hiring summer interns to work with our program to plan and execute youth events for the 2026 Ohio State Fair. Come have fun with us this summer and gain experience in extension while networking with agricultural professionals from all over the state.

The deadline to apply is January 23rd!
Apply here:
Internal Link: https://www.myworkday.com/osu/d/inst/9925$342674/rel-task/2998$16774.htmld
External Link:
https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/Student-Assistant-1_R142829-1

Thank you!

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

01/05/2026

𝑻𝒓𝒚 𝑰𝒕. 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑰𝒕. 𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝑵𝒆𝒙𝒕.

Ohio 4-H SparkEXPO is a hands-on career exploration experience connected to Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, helping youth explore interests and imagine what’s next.

Participants also spend time at Ohio State ATI, experiencing college life and career-focused programs.

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍: June 10–13, 2026
𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄: Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐃?
Youth who:
☑️Will complete 8th or 9th grade by the end of the 2025–2026 school year
☑️Are willing to engage in in-depth, hands-on learning in specific interest areas
☑️Want to explore possibilities and feel more prepared for future choices

𝑁𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒. 𝑁𝑜 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑. 𝐽𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦.

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞: http://go.osu.edu/4hsparkexpo

12/17/2025

12/04/2025

🌍 𝐁𝐞 𝐚 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦-𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐎𝐡𝐢𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞!

𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕? The Ohio Youth Institute (OYI) is your chance to take on a global challenge, share your ideas at The Ohio State University, and earn the title of Borlaug Scholar.

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐮𝐬 for a powerful day of learning, leadership, and connecting with experts who care about the same issues you do.

Paper + registration deadline: April 1, 2026

Learn more: http://worldfoodprize.org/ohio

If you love STEM, agriculture, global issues, or stepping outside your comfort zone, this is your moment. Talk with your 4-H professional, advisor, or teacher to get started—they’ll help you find a mentor and guide you through the process.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫.
Step up, speak out, and see how YOU can shape the future.💡

09/20/2025

September is National Workforce Development Month and workforce development isn’t just about preparing for a job—it’s about preparing for a purpose.

Through 4-H Pathways to the Future, young people across Ohio are discovering their sparks, building skills, and connecting their passions to meaningful careers.

From hands-on experiences and mentorship to certifications and career exploration, 4-H Pathways helps youth become:
✅ Work-ready
✅ Life-ready
✅ Pathway-ready

Every step they take today lays the foundation for tomorrow’s workforce and stronger communities across Ohio.
Learn more 👉 go.osu.edu/4hpathways

Ohio 4-H believes that everything we do helps prepare youth to thrive. The Ohio 4-H Pathways to the Future approach meets 4-H youth where they are and provides awareness, exploration, and prepared experiences to help youth find their own career pathway. Being the college and career readiness program...