UF/ IFAS Alachua County 4-H

04/28/2026

Our UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County office features six unique program areas to serve the citizens of Alachua County! Check out our Extension agents and their programs!

04/10/2026

Save the Date!

The 2026 Alachua County 4-H Banquet & Silent Auction fundraiser will be held on July 24, 2026 at 6pm!

Be on the lookout for invitations soon!

03/11/2026

Be sure to add your comment to the original post and tag us!

🐄 Barnyard Bracket: Pet & Project Animal Parade🏀

Round two is on the court—let’s see those skills!

Today’s gifts are still matched dollar-for-dollar, and today’s challenge celebrates what 4-Hers do best in the Barnyard Bracket.

How to play:
📸 Post a photo or short video showing your animal or a skill learned in 4-H
🏷 Tag your Extension office (or just mention them!)
#️⃣ Use

How offices win:
Two Extension offices will be chosen at random to each receive $1,000 in bonus funds.

Big skills. Big impact. Help your office advance to the next round: https://bit.ly/40pORx1 🏆🐄

02/04/2026

Important information!

Are you planning to go for a species All-Around Award at the fair? Do you have a project to enter in Exhibit Judging? Have you signed up for the Public Speaking and Talent Showcase?

The deadline to register for Exhibit Judging and/or the Public Speaking and Talent Showcase at the fair has been extended to TONIGHT, 2/4/26 at 11:59pm. Visit alachua.fairwire.com to register.

Any youth planning to go for a species All-Around Award should be aware that public speaking scores are a new component to these awards, so be sure to sign up!

01/25/2026

Marketing Your Market Animal: Communications

What do buyers want to hear?

A person/business typically doesn’t choose to become a buyer because they want meat from a market animal - they are making a choice to support your development. Focus more on your personal and project goals rather than the details of your animal.

Going beyond a letter

Previous buyers have indicated that they are more likely to join an exhibitor’s buyer team if that exhibitor meets with them in person, either to hand deliver their buyer letter or in addition to sending a letter. Set aside some time to visit with your potential buyers to build that relationship.

When should you connect?

Don’t wait! Reach out early, and follow-up closer to the fair. Some buyers will want to plan their budgets in advance, and others will want the last-minute reminder to participate. You can cover your bases by planning for both!

What goes in a letter?

Date
Dear Mr./Ms. Name,

Who are you?
Why are you doing this project? What are your goals?
Why should this person/business support your goals?
How can this person/business join your buyer team?
How can you connect further beyond this letter?
This is an opportunity to offer to meet in person with this potential buyer to continue the discussion

Sincerely,
Your Name

01/24/2026

Marketing Your Market Animal: Identifying Buyers

Who do you know?

A buyer doesn’t have to be a business, and you don’t have to have just one! As your form your buyer team, consider family members and family friends who may be interested in contributing to your market animal project as a buyer.

Who do you give business to?

Work with your parents to make a list of local businesses that your family uses. Consider people like your plumber, insurance agent, mechanic, and others. Businesses are more likely to support youth whose families support them.

Who supports local youth?

Consider local businesses that support youth programs. If they sponsor other organizations, they may be inclined to join your buyer team if you communicate your goals and share how your project contributes to your future.

Who supports your goals?

Think about your personal goals and aspirations, and find local organizations, businesses, or individuals whose own goals align with yours. If someone is able to connect with your goals, they are more likely to support your project!

How can you grow your network?

As you work on your project throughout the year, have ongoing conversations with businesses and individuals about your project and your goals. By the time you send your letters, they should already have an idea of who you are so they can be excited to join your buyer team!

01/06/2026

Youth Livestock Workshop
January 24, 2026 from 8am to 12pm
Ag & Equestrian Center (FDACS Pole Barn) 23100 W. Newberry Rd., Newberry, FL 32669
Registration not required

*Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) Testing.
(Flat rate $20.00 per Coggins)
*OCVI's for livestock exhibitors - Livestock must be presented on Jan. 24. Fees for this service will be between exhibitor & Dr. Joe Guevara.
*FDACS will be offering official ID for swine and swine blood testing for SB and PRV at no charge. A signed waiver will be required by the owner/exhibitor before obtaining a blood sample and results will be emailed once testing is completed. Testing will be acceptable intrastate for 90 days.
*FDACS will be offering official identification and application assistance for exhibition cattle at no charge.
*FDACS will be offering official scrapie identification and application for sheep and goats at no charge.
*FDACS will be offering official PT testing for exhibition poultry at no charge. Testing will be acceptable intrastate for 90 days.

For more information call Dr. Cindy Sanders at (352) 955-2402

This is a free event for Youth Livestock participants.
Workshop is a partnership with FDACS and UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County State & Local Veterinarians will be present.

12/18/2025

Ben Wolking, Florida 4-H Youth Development Program alumnus from Micanopy, nearly drowned doing the sport he'd mastered his freshman year at Bates College.

Now a junior, he recently took the stage to present a TEDx talk on overcoming uncertainty and facing insurmountable odds – a skill he attributes to his workforce development training in Florida 4-H.

Read more about his medical journey and watch his presentation 🔗 go.ufl.edu/ris7rin

11/21/2025

Each year, Alachua County 4-H delivers Florida Agriculture in the Classroom's Ag Literacy Day programming to elementary schools all across the county. Over the past two weeks, our 4-H staff and volunteers reached over 700 youth in over 45 classrooms providing educational resources about peanuts and cotton. We are grateful for our Alachua County Public Schools partnership and all of the teachers who sign up for our 4-H In School programming throughout the year!

Florida 4-H Youth Development Program
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences