The Porter County Fair is about to showcase something truly special: 1,003 young people ready to demonstrate skills, creativity and leadership that extend far beyond what many expect from 4-H.
Porter County's 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator Jennifer Myers is proud that the organization continues to expand while staying true to its 123-year mission of empowering youth through hands-on learning.
"4-H has been around since 1902," Myers said. "We are focused on getting Porter County youth engaged and providing a positive place for them while also offering hands-on experiences."
What many community members don't realize is that today's 4-H extends far beyond traditional agriculture. With more than 90 project categories available, young people are pursuing everything from aerospace engineering to photography, or crafting to computer science.
"A lot of people think you have to have livestock to be in 4-H, but that's not the case," Myers said.
Myers discovered her own passion through 4-H photography, inspired by a neighbor who worked as a professional photographer.
"That really sparked it for me,” Myers said. “Once I realized I could do that in 4-H, I was hooked."
The diversity of today's projects is remarkable, and it presents a wide range of opportunities for everyone.
The Porter County program has flourished since the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, growing from 877 participants when Myers started to an impressive 1,003 young people currently enrolled. This growth reflects both the program's appeal and Myers' dedication to year-round engagement.
"My goal is to continue to grow and to get more kids involved year-round," Myers said. "People think nothing happens between sign-ups in October and the fair in July, but that's just not true."
As part of Purdue University Extension, 4-H operates in all 92 Indiana counties and offers comprehensive youth development year round.
The upcoming fair represents both a celebration of achievement and an invitation for the community to discover what 4-H truly offers. Myers encourages fair visitors to engage directly with the young participants.
"Ask questions when you go through the livestock barns," Myers said. "When you walk through the exhibit building, we hope people are impressed with all the projects with everything from aerospace to crafting."
Myers hopes fair visitors will leave with a new understanding of 4-H's impact on young lives.
"There's so much more to 4-H than meets the eye," Myers said. "It's not just about animals — it's about giving kids a safe place to grow, explore interests and feel seen."
The upcoming fair will showcase not just projects and livestock, but the bright future that nearly 1,000 young people will be representing.
For updates and fair event information, visit the Porter County 4-H Purdue Extension Facebook page, where several competitions will be livestreamed during the fair.
To learn more about the Porter County Government, please visit portercountyin.gov.
