Skip to main content

The first step to start your year in 4-H is to choose a project!

The first step to start your year in 4-H is to choose a project. Learning new skills, making things and visiting places with friends are all a part of a 4-H project. Members can take one project or many projects. For first-year members, one project is probably enough.

Give some thought to the projects you would like. Talk to your parents and 4-H leaders! They can help you choose a project that matches your interest, ability and resources.

Members choose between a variety of Life Skills projects like Sewing, Crafts, Photography, Heritage, Scrapbooking and Livestock projects such as Dairy, Beef, Light Horse, Sheep, Dog Obedience, Poultry and Goat.

Each project has its own requirements and every member receives a project newsletter. Life Skills projects usually begin in late fall, while Livestock projects typically start later in the 4-H year in the spring/summer months.

How to choose a project...

Here are some questions to help you choose a project:

  • What interests you most in school?
  • What are your favourite hobbies and books?
  • What do you and your family and friends like to do when you are together?
  • What do you like to do in your spare time?
  • What have you seen at a 4-H display, fair, or show that you thought might be fun to make or do?
  • Are you interested in livestock/animals and/or life skill projects?
  • What would you like to learn more about?

After you’ve answered these questions, look through the projects below and list the ones that interest you.

Think about the projects on your list. Do they match your abilities? Do you have the time, money, and equipment to complete the project?

Talk to your parents and 4-H leaders; they can help you choose a project that matches your needs, ability and resources.

In 4-H projects, each project consists of numerous sections that a member may take. Some are progressive in nature; others are specific to the animal or skill being learned.

The variety of project areas means there is lots to learn and lots of challenge for both younger and older members. As part of each project, 4-H members keep records of their work throughout the year.

Clubs also plan activities such as demonstrations, judging, building educational displays, public speaking, camping, fund-raising or just having fun!

Projects

Beef

Learn about commercial beef production

Beef

Building Blocks

Develop conceptual & technical construction skills

Building Blocks

Cake Decorating

Learn basic and advanced cake decorating techniques.

Cake Decorating

Cavy

Pets offer a great intro to livestock projects.

Cavy

Computer

Discover programming, the parts, and building computers.

Computer

Crafts

Complete articles using different techniques.

Crafts

Dairy

Learn to pick a calf, nutrition, grooming, health and more!

Dairy

Dog Obedience

Learn a variety of commands and behaviours.

Dog Obedience

Draft Horse

Learn about raising and showing draft horses

Draft Horse

Exploring 4-H

Are you new to 4-H?

Exploring 4-H

First Aid

Based on St. John Ambulance training guidelines

First Aid

Foods

Learn proper food preparation techniques

Foods

Goat

All about goat breeds, care, feeding, showmanship, and conformation.

Goat

Grade 10 Credit

Personal Development Credit

Grade 10 Credit

Great Outdoors

Learn about trees, plants, hiking, wildlife and more.

Great Outdoors

Heritage

Exploring history, traditions & community

Heritage

Horse Basics

Learn about horse breeds, showmanship, general care, grooming, and more

Horse Basics

Horticulture

Grow, maintain, and harvest your own garden.

Horticulture

Junior Leader

For senior members who are looking for a challenge.

Junior Leader

Light Horse-Western/English

Learn about horse breeds, showmanship, riding, and more!

Light Horse-Western/English

Market Goat

Learn about raising, fitting, showing and selling goats

Market Goat

Market Lamb

Learn about raising, fitting, showing and selling lamb

Market Lamb

Market Steer

Learn about raising, fitting, showing, and selling steer

Market Steer

Market Turkey

Learn about raising, fitting, showing and selling turkey

Market Turkey

Mini Horse

Learn about feeding, care and showing miniature horses.

Mini Horse

Non-Recognized

Create a project from an idea of your own

Non-Recognized

Photography

Say cheese!

Photography

Poultry

Purchase chicks to raise or hatch your own!

Poultry

Rabbit

Rabbit breeds, care, feeding and conformation

Rabbit

Scrapbooking

Organize favourite photos into a special scrapbook

Scrapbooking

Sewing

Make the garment of your choice!

Sewing

Sheep

Learn nutrition, housing, management and clipping.

Sheep

Small Engines

Have you ever wondered how engines work or how to fix them?

Small Engines

Tractor

Find out about types of tractors and how they work.

Tractor

Veterinary Science

Learn about caring for animals

Veterinary Science

Waterfowl

Purchase chicks to raise or hatch your own!

Waterfowl

Welding

Equipment, safety, and how to make different types of welds

Welding

Woodworking

Learn to build cool things with wood

Woodworking

Competitions

4-H Ambassadors

Youth representatives for 4-H Nova Scotia

4-H Ambassadors

Beef Clipping Competition

Beef Clipping Competition

Building Blocks Competition

Building Blocks Competition

Cake Decorating Competition

Cake Decorating Competition

Craft Competition

Craft Competition

Dairy Clipping Competition

Dairy Clipping Competition

Demonstrations

Prepare a demonstration on a topic of your choice

Demonstrations

Entertainment

Showcase your skills at your county rally

Entertainment

Fashion Show Competition

Fashion Show Competition

Floral Arranging Competition

Floral Arranging Competition

Food Preparation Competition

Food Preparation Competition

Giant Vegetable Competition

Grow the giant vegetable of the year!

Giant Vegetable Competition

Goat Clipping Competition

Goat Clipping Competition

Judging

Learn how to make good decisions

Judging

Life Skills Market Competition

Show us your projects!

Life Skills Market Competition

Orienteering Competition

Orienteering Competition

Photography Competition

Photography Competition

Poster Competition

Show off your artistic talent

Poster Competition

Public Speaking

Complete a speech or a demonstration at Club Rally

Public Speaking

Record Keeping

Does your record keeping stand the test of time?

Record Keeping

Recycling Competition

Show off your projects made primarily of recycled materials

Recycling Competition

Scrapbooking Competition

Scrapbooking Competition

Sheep Clipping Competition

Sheep Clipping Competition

Theme Contest

Design a theme to reflect this special year

Theme Contest

Tractor Driving Competition

Tractor Driving Competition

Tug-of-War

Send your Tug-of-War team to Provincial Show

Tug-of-War

Vegetable Preparation Competition

Vegetable Preparation Competition

Lumbersports

Open to Junior Lumber Sport teams from across Nova Scotia

Lumbersports

Woodworking Competition

Woodworking Competition

Wool Competition

Competition for your projects made entirely of wool

Wool Competition

Young Speakers for Agriculture

Share your enthusiasm for agriculture with an audience

Young Speakers for Agriculture

Print Friendly, PDF & Email