Porter County 4-H - Purdue Extension

10/14/2026

🎥 A message from the Purdue 1 crew to Indiana fifth graders!

Purdue alum Jason Williamson will fly aboard Purdue 1, Purdue’s all-Boilermaker suborbital research spaceflight — and he wants to hear from Hoosier fifth graders.

Through the Purdue 1 Indiana Essay Competition, fifth graders are invited to write about how they could use a favorite school subject, hobby or skill to help a space mission crew succeed. One winner from each of Indiana's 92 counties will receive a personalized Purdue 1 mission patch, and if mission conditions permit, winners' names will fly with the crew.

Teachers and parents: Share this video with a fifth grader you know! Essays are due Nov. 30: https://bit.ly/purdue-1-essay

10/09/2026

Cook It Forward with Jasper County 4-H!

Youth in grades 3–8 are invited to roll up their sleeves and build their cooking skills during this four-session, hands-on cooking and service program! Participants will learn kitchen safety and cooking basics, discover where food comes from, plan a balanced meal and then put those skills into action by preparing a meal to give to others.

November 9, 10, 16 & 17
5–6 p.m. CST
Jasper County Fairgrounds Community Building
Registration is FREE, thanks to the Jasper Newton Foundation!



Register here:
https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1UkSgqHRjtFTofI

10/09/2026

📢 Junior Leader Meeting Cancellation

Unfortunately, due to a low number of RSVPs, we will be canceling the Junior Leader meeting on Saturday, October 10 at the Porter County Museum in downtown Valparaiso.

We hope to see more participation at future Junior Leader events! Be sure to keep an eye on this page for upcoming opportunities and announcements.

Thank you for your understanding!

10/08/2026

Help us shine a light on all the mentors, educators, and volunteers who are making positive impact on young people’s lives in 4-H. Share who you’re thankful for and celebrate how they are making a difference on TODAY! Share your ‘Thankful’ story on social, tag others in your 4-H community, tag National 4-H and use:

10/07/2026

🍀 Liberty Sunsetters 4-H Club Needs Your Help! 🍀

We are looking for new adult volunteers to help lead the Liberty Sunsetters 4-H Club.

💚 We would love to see this club continue for the upcoming 4-H year! In order for Liberty Sunsetters to remain an active 4-H club this new program year, we need a few parents or adults willing to step forward and help.

You do NOT have to do it alone! We are hoping several parents will come together and share the responsibilities of leading the club. There are many ways to help, and the Extension Office is here to support you along the way.

If you are willing to consider becoming a club leader—or simply want to learn more about what is involved—please reach out to Jen at 📧 [email protected]

Your willingness to step up could make a tremendous difference in keeping this opportunity available for our Liberty Sunsetters youth. 💚🍀

Thank you for considering supporting our club and 4-H members during this transition. We truly appreciate our 4-H families and volunteers!

10/07/2026

🚀 Launching the Purdue 1 Indiana Essay Competition!

Purdue University invites Hoosier fifth graders to explore how they could use a favorite school subject, hobby or skill to help a space mission crew succeed. One winning essay will be chosen from each of Indiana's 92 counties, and every county winner receives a personalized Purdue 1 Indiana mission patch.

If mission conditions allow, winners' names will even travel to space aboard Purdue 1, the university's upcoming all-Boilermaker suborbital research spaceflight!

Submissions open today and run through Nov. 30. Learn more: https://bit.ly/purdue-1-essay

10/06/2026

📣 Junior Leaders – Save the Date! 🍀

Our next Porter County 4-H Junior Leader meeting will be held on Saturday, October 10th at the Porter County Museum at 2 pm.

To help us plan a great meeting and make the best use of our adult volunteers’ time, RSVP is expected by October 8th. Please be sure to contact the Purdue Extension Porter County office with your intent on attending or not at 219-465-3555.

We’re looking forward to seeing our Junior Leaders and getting started on another great year of leadership, service, and fun!

09/29/2026

Shout out to two fabulous 4-H community members - April Fifield (wearable art superintendent) and Miss Sadie, 4-H member!

Third grader,Sadie, was busy today! She saved 100 tickets to earn a special day as Mrs. Fifield’s helper. She did a fantastic job and was such a big help! ⭐️

09/25/2026

Congrats to one of our fellow 4-H'ers, Randi Colbert, who qualified for World Finals in youth riding with her belgians.

🏆 Recognizing Our Qualifiers

Qualifying for the World Finals is an accomplishment worthy of recognition. While some of our qualifiers will not be joining us in Kansas City this year, we want to take a moment to celebrate the dedication, hard work, and horsemanship that earned them their invitation.

Congratulations to these qualifiers, and thank you for being part of the NASHHCS! Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and we’re proud to recognize your accomplishments.

09/25/2026

Message from Indiana 4-H
Dear 4-H Families,

Purdue Extension is excited to support another great year of 4-H programs in Indiana and looks forward to welcoming returning and new members alike.

Please note that enrollment for the upcoming 2026-2027 4-H program year will open on November 1. As we prepare for the new year, we are taking additional time to ensure all systems and resources are ready to support a successful enrollment experience.

We appreciate your patience and understanding. Additional information about enrollment and important program dates will be shared as we approach the November 1 opening.

We look forward to another year of learning and growth together.

Send a message to learn more