Explore The Four H's of 4-H
With Cloverbuds!

Brown County 'Buds will meet 4 times a year.  At each meeting, we'll explore one of each of the 4 H's in 4-H, Head, Heart, Hands, and Health to Better Living, learn the 4-H flag pledge, and introduce the "buds to a list of project areas they can participate in as 4-Hers. Your Cloverbud will be given an age-appropriate Club Record book to keep track of what we learn.

We will also make group projects that the 'buds can enter at the Brown County Fair in August! Cloverbuds are NOT required to enter their projects at the fair, or complete a 4-H book, but are encouraged to participate as it helps to get into a flow of the 4-H year and navigate the basic calendar milestones.  We use a simplified version of 4-H process for the Cloverbuds including project interview judging that's just their size! It's fun to see the kids shine when they talk about what they did and what they learned about when they made those projects.

Cloverbuds can enter as many or as few projects as they would like to. We hope they explore the different project areas and learn new skills. Don't be shy!  Let them explore! Don't be discouraged when their photography projects aren't quite up to par yet, or their painting skills aren't like the big kids'. They're learning and getting hands on experiences! Here is a little bit more about the 4 H's and how we'll incorporate them into our program! 

November 22, 2024 @ 5:15 pm 
Brown County Courthouse Community Room

"HEAD" to
Clearer Thinking

 (life skill development through informal education)

 

Our first meeting objectives are to introduce 4-H, meet new members, explore project areas, emphasizing safety 1st when you are learning new things and trying out new projects.

We'll even make a craft that you can enter at the County Fair in August!

February 7, 2025 @ 5:15 pm 
Brown County Courthouse Community Room

"HEART" to
Greater Loyalty

(emotional development and positive relationships with screened, trained and caring adults)

In our second meeting, we discuss gratitude, citizenship, and being loyal to our clubs and communities by showing up and giving back.

We'll also make a fun craft that can be entered at the fair!

 

June 6, 2025 @ 5:15 pm 
Brown County Fairgrounds
4-H Office

"HANDS to
Larger Service

(growing compassion and civic responsibility through service to others)

4-H clubs in our county regularly do community service projects. In our 3rd meeting, we'll "get our hands dirty" by doing some community service at the 4-H office.

We'll learn about Horticulture and how to show off the things you grow! It feels good to help out! 

September 5, 2025 @ 5:15 pm 
Brown County Courthouse Community Room

"HEALTH" for
Better Living

(learning how to make healthy choices)


It's important to know how to make healthy choices for the things we put in or on our bodies.  In our 4th meeting, we'll make a healthy snack and talk about some of the different health and food project areas in 4-H.

We'll also talk through the process to enter your projects at the county fair, and how to turn in our Cloverbud 4-H books at the end of the year.


The 4-H Flag Pledge:

I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking, 

My HEART to greater loyalty, 

My HANDS to larger service, 

and My HEALTH for better living. 
 

For my CLUB, my COMMUNITY, my COUNTRY, and my WORLD. 

Lots of projects to explore! 

Visual Arts

Do you love Art? Visual Arts is a great project area for you if you like to create art with Chalk, Paint, Clay Pencil, Paper, Textiles and MORE! 

Photography

Photography is a fun project area in 4-H!
Pick your best photos to enter at the fair! Remember the rule of thirds! 

Horticulture

Do you grow a garden with your family? Horticulture is a great project to show off your very best produce! 

4-H Club Motto

"To Make the Best Better!"

Other South Dakota Online 4-H Resources: 

South Dakota State Fair Handbook

*The South Dakota State Fair Handbook is a full catalog of the project areas and the specifics for participating in each of them. 
Call the 4-H office, or Cloverbuds Leader if you have any questions! In most cases, specific requirements for entries in each category can be found here or will direct to other documents/resources that contain those requirements and are generally also found on the SDSU 4-H website.

SDSU 4-H Website

SDSU hosts the South Dakota State 4-H office. Their website has a lot of additional information about the 4-H Program with guidelines, educational standards, and an online catalog with project areas and how to get involved or enter those project areas competitively. 

We "learn by doing"

FAQ's

4-H offers a hands-on approach to learning new skills.  There is opportunity for group and individual activities to foster interest in a wide variety of project areas.

Who can join Cloverbuds?

Cloverbuds are kids who are ages 5-7 and are interested in learning more about 4-H. Cloverbuds is Jr. 4-H! 'Buds get to explore 4-H in an age appropriate format that's just thier size!

Do I have to join another 4-H club?

As a Cloverbud, no. You can choose to participate in Cloverbuds without attending regular 4-H club meetings, but it is good to attend and follow along! If you have older simblings that belong to a 4-H club, Cloverbuds are encouraged to particpate in club meetings and activities as much as possible. There are a lot of things that they can be involved in to help out the club!

If you need help finding a "home club" get in touch with the 4-H office & Becca can help you to find a club with members in your area with similar interests!

Some of our Cloverbuds like to bring coloring books/crayons when they attend regular club meetings to keep thier hands busy.

Cloverbuds are not required to fill out project cards for the fair, and can enter projects in open classes at the State Fair, but not 4-H quite yet. There are deadlines to follow for project entries, so let the office know if you need to get registered. We'll put those deadlines at the top of the page, too.  

There is a record book created just for Cloverbuds that is turned in with the regular 4-H record books in September, but they again, are age appropriate and are not required. Cloverbuds who DO turn in their record books for "judging" will get a special prize for completing thier 4-H year at the 4-H recognition event held in November. 

How can my Jr./ Sr. 4-H'er get involved?

One of the main goals of the growth of Brown County 'Buds is for the Cloverbud program to be member led with leader/advisors. Junior or Senior club members who would like to help with Cloverbuds are definitely invited to join us and should contact Nicole Volk for more information via email. 

We also need helpers. Cloverbuds often times need help tying knots, cutting string, and leaders love help with passing out materials, snacks, and leading parts of the meeting!  

Junior and Senior members can use the experiences they have assisting with Cloverbuds, in thier own project areas such as Child Development, Leadership, and Community Service. We'd love to have you plan, organize and execute a Cloverbud meeting!

What will we do in Cloverbuds?

Cloverbuds will meet 4 times a year, generally between the months of December to September. At each meeting we will explore one of the 4 H's, Head, Heart, Hands, Health and talk about some of the different project areas, while guiding new 4-H parents through how to navigate a typical 4-H year. We'll also make a few group projects that the 'Buds can enter in the county fair in August. 

Will each year be the same thing?

The concept for our 4 meetings will be the same from year, but we will not repeat any static projectes in those 3 years, so your Cloverbud will have different items to enter at the fair each year.

We will talk about different project areas from time to time to introduce the Cloverbuds to new areas they can explore such as Visual Arts, Photography, Home Environment, Horticulture, and Community Service. 

How do I join Cloverbuds?

We're glad to have you join us!  Please contact our leaders by filling out the contact form on our website! The steps to joining 4-H can be found [Here]. You can also call the 4-H office at (605) 626-7120, or send an email to Nicole Volk, Cloverbud Coordinator. We'll help you get started! 

Brown County 'Buds is part of Brown County 4-H in South Dakota. 

Cloverbud Coordinator: Nicole Volk
Assistant Cloverbud Leader: Kellie Tollefson
Brown County 4-H Educator: Becca Tullar

 

Interested in joining? Send us a message.

Animal Sciences

Animal Sciences are a popular project area in 4-H! Many of our 4-H families show different breeds of livestock in 4-H. From Bunnies to Steers, Cloverbuds can learn showmanship skills too! Call the 4-H office to find out what you need to do to show your animals in Cloverbud 4-H. 

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