4-H is a youth development leadership program for ages 6-21 from urban & rural areas learning about health, environment, agriculture, food & communication in a hands on learning atmosphere delivered by screened & trained 4-H volunteers to become contributing citizens in their communities all while creating lasting friendships.
Our local volunteers, who are screened and trained, ensure the very best experience for our participants. Each club must have at least two screened and trained volunteers.
Come have some fun with us!!
Volunteers are always welcome!!
In 2025, 4-H Ontario celebrates a milestone — 110 years of providing positive youth leadership and community building across the province.
Age of participant for membership & opportunities is based on age as of December 31
Does the 4-H participant need to live in the country or on a farm? No, any youth between the ages of 6-21 can be a 4-H participant
What are the four H’s? Head, Heart, Hands, Health
If the 4-H participant wants to participate in an animal project (Swine, Beef, Dairy), do they need to have their own animal? No, the 4-H club volunteer will support the 4-H participant to get the required animal for the project.
EVENTS
Oxford 4-H Judging/Critical Thinking Event–(organized by Oxford Beef 4-H Club for 2025)
Go For The Gold–(organized by Brooksdale 4-H Club for 2025)
Oxford Dairy 4-H Show–at Woodstock Fair Aug 23, 2025 (organized by Bonds Dairy 4-H Club)
4-H Fair Classes at Woodstock Fair–Aug 22-24, 2025 (organized by Hickson 4-H Club)
Ingersoll Harvest Market 4-H Booth–Aug 23, 2025 at Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum (organized by Thamesford 4-H Club)
Oxford County 4-H Association Special Class Create three different thank you cards for 4-H, leave inside blank, no larger than 4” x 6”, include on the cover something representing 4-H. Cards will be kept to give to hosts, guests or sponsors by Oxford 4-H. Prizes 1st $15.00, 2nd $12.00, 3rd $10.00, 4th $8.00, 5th $5.00. Entries can be done at all Oxford Fairs–Tillsonburg, Woodstock, Tavistock, Embro and Drumbo
Oxford 4-H Awards Night: Friday November 21 at Embro Community Centre–(organized by North Oxford Dairy and Oxford Swine 4-H Clubs for 2025)
CLUBS
Cloverbuds is a year-long program for youth ages 6-8 (those turning 7, 8 & 9 of the current year) to introduce them to all the fun that 4-H Ontario has to offer. It uses the same hands-on learning style of traditional 4-H but adapts it in a way that is fun and engaging for younger kids.
Oxford Cloverbud 4-H Club-1 (usually meet last Sunday of month–full registration for 2025)–contact Shonna wardshonna@hotmail.com–next mtg March 30
Oxford Cloverbud 4-H Club-2 (usually meet first Sunday of month)–contact Shonna wardshonna@hotmail.com— next mtg April 6
A 4-H member is an individual between the ages of 9-21 (turning 10 through to 22 of the current year). You can join the various 4-H clubs within Oxford 4-H , other 4-H Associations and 4-H Ontario virtual programs. The clubs will complete various project topics and you can complete as many projects as you like. Below is a list of 4-H clubs in the Oxford 4-H program. A project consists of 12 hours of meeting time plus an Achievement Program. Youth must attend 2/3 of the meetings and participate in the Achievement Program. Projects may be offered as in-person or virtual.
Brooksdale, Hickson, Mt Elgin, Oxford Centre & Thamesford 4-H Clubs do various lifeskill projects throughout the year. Please contact the person whose email is with each club to find out what project they are doing. Can you join all 5?–Yes, you can. Do I have to complete all of their projects?–No, you can pick and choose which projects you would like to complete. When do these clubs meet? Please contact the club, as clubs meet at various times of the year.
Brooksdale 4-H Club–contact Kaitlin kait.mckay12@gmail.com —Milk Makes It Better 4-H project next mtgs Mar 22, 29, Apr 5, 12, 26
Hickson 4-H Club–contact Shonna wardshonna@hotmail.com –Denim Quilt next mtg TBD
Hickson 4-H Club–contact Shonna wardshonna@hotmail.com–-Trash to Treasure 4-H project next mtgs Achievement Program Mar 19
Mt Elgin 4-H Club–contact Carolyn crwilsonj@xplornet.ca Community Involvement next mtg TBD
Mt Elgin 4-H Club–contact Carolyn crwilsonj@xplornet.ca—Paint 4-H project next mtg dates March 20, 27, April 3, 10, 17, 24
Oxford Centre 4-H Club–contact T-J tj_hargreaves@yahoo.ca–for next project
Thamesford 4-H Club–contact Christy c_brekelmans@hotmail.com —Cake Decorating 4-H project next mtgs Mar 17, 24, 31
Community, Oxford Quilting & Square Dance 4-H Clubs run throughout the year. Please contact the club to receive more information. Can you join all 3?–Yes, you can. Do I have to complete all of their projects?–No, you can pick and choose which projects you would like to complete. When do these clubs meet? Please contact the club, as clubs meet at various times of the year.
Community 4-H Club–contact Shonna wardshonna@hotmail.com for future project Club does fundraising throughout the year to donate to the Canadian Cancer Society through the Relay for Life. They have community garden boxes at Hickson Park and they complete a social recreation project May/June. starts April 23, Relay My Way June 13
Oxford Quilting 4-H Club–contact Linda oxfordquilting.4hclub@gmail.com—Sewing: Small Projects next mtgs 18, 25
Square Dance 4-H Club–contact Jane jjdanen@netflash.net–for next project
Oxford Beef and Oxford Swine 4-H Clubs run at specific times during the year. Please contact the club to receive more information. Can you join both?–Yes, you can.
Oxford Beef 4-H Club–contact oxford4hbeef@gmail.com—2025 Beef project next mtg April 4 Club runs from March to August. You will learn about beef animals & beef industry, do judging and train a beef animal for Achievement Day in late August.
Oxford Swine 4-H Club–contact Christy c_brekelmans@hotmail.com—2025 Swine project Topic: Housing & Barn Design next mtgs Mar 26, Apr 16, May 7, June 4 Club runs from March-June. You will learn about a specific topic about pigs each year and do judging. You will participate in the Achievement Day at Baconmaker Classic in Stratford in late June.
Bonds, Ingersoll Kiwanis & North Oxford Dairy4-H Clubs run from April to September. You will learn how to care for a dairy calf, do judging and learn how to train a calf for the Achievement Day and various other dairy shows available. You only join ONE of the dairy clubs.
Bonds Dairy 4-H Club–contact T-J tj_hargreaves@yahoo.ca–project completed for 2024
Ingersoll Kiwanis Dairy 4-H Club–contact Karen kkarn@xplornet.com–project completed for 2024
North Oxford Dairy 4-H Club–contact Jack jjdanen@netflash.net–project completed for 2024
Other Club–
4-H Regional Dairy Judging 4-H Club–contact Kim DeKlein zesklein@execulink.com, Geoff Innes ginnes@xplornet.ca or Val Jones jorenholsteins@gmail.com—starts April 14, other mtg dates April 28, May 12, June 9, June 16, July
Have more questions about the 4-H program–email oxfordcounty4h@gmail.com.
How do I register–
Facebook pages: Oxford County 4-H and Oxford Clover Buds
Oxford 4-H Communications Coordinator — Shonna Ward email/phone — oxfordcounty4h@gmail.com or 519-854-6919
Oxford County 4-H Association meetings (2nd Wednesday of each month), next mtg April 9, 2025 — in-person with zoom option; contact Oxford 4-H Communications Coordinator for details
Chairperson: Christy Brekelmans
Vice Chairperson: Melvin Bergsma
Treasurer: Jack Danen
Assistant Treasurer: Sarah McIntosh
Secretary: Shonna Ward
Assistant Secretary: Kirsten Dill
Livestock Coordinator: Amy Reinhart
Association Rep: Kirsten Dill
Oxford 4-H Awards Coordinator: Shonna Ward
Dairy Classic Coordinator: Geoff Innes
Beef Royal Coordinators: Terri Muir & Sarah Pletsch
Other Directors: Deb Bailey, Dwight Hargreaves
O C Constitution signed Jan 2025
Memorial donations & other donations to Oxford 4-H can be made with the Treasurer at oxford4htreasurer@gmail.com
