San Benito County

Join 4-H Today!

Welcome to San Benito County 4-H Program 
 4-H Video

4-H offers youth limitless opportunities for friendship, growth, fun, and life skills.  By engaging youth and adults in a meaningful partnerships, 4-H helps youth to reach their full potential as competent, confident, leaders of character who contribute and are connected to their communities.  To learn more about what the 4-H program has to offer our youth, check out the 4-H New Family Handbook. 

 The Fair livestock show - Agreement between 4-H, Grange, FFA & Independents

Livestock Exhibitors showing at county and state fairs will have to complete the YQCA training as a fair requirement.  The training can be complete at yqcaprogram.org. 

4-H age age 5 to 18 years old as of December 31st the year of participation

Example of 4-H age for showing livestock at the 2026 county fairs: 

2026-2027 4-H year starts on July 1st ends June 30th.  If the youth is going to be 9 years old by January 1st then the youth can show livestock at 2026 fairs: 

In 2026-2027 4-H enrollment year your child will meet the 4-H fair ownership rule plus the 4-H age rule since the new 4-H year starts on July 1st as of age 9 by December 31st.
 
Ownership of 60 day prior to be eligible to show livestock at the follow fairs rule: 
 
Monterey county fair ownership of large livestock except cattle is July 4, 2026.
The Monterey county fair dates are September 2, 2026, to 7th, 2026. 
 
Santa Cruz county ownership of large livestock except cattle is July 15, 2026. 
The Santa Cruz county fair dates are later this year starting on September 14, 2026, to 20, 2026.
 
San Benito county fair ownership of large livestock except cattle is July 30, 2026. 
The San Benito county fair dates are September 29, 2026, to October 4, 2026.

For clarification on 4-H age click this tab. 

4-H enrollment system is OPEN year round.  4-H year is from July 1st to June 30th.  

Youth will need to complete their 4-H online enrollment & pay their enrollment fee to show at county fairs by August 31st!  
4-H adult Leaders will need to complete their 4-H enrollment & online 4-H leader training by August 31st. The youth are counting on you for your guideance and support at our county fairs. 
See the 4-H enrollment informaion below. 
If you have any questions call your 4-H office at (831) 205-3180 or email Julie Katawicz at jkatawicz@ucanr.edu for assistance. 

4-H enrollment fee for 2025-2026

$80.00 per youth member

Adult volunteers enrollment fee is covered by 4-H council. 

4-H year is from July 1st to June 30th.

Paper enrollment forms available to complete and submit to the 4-H office or your 4-H community leader.  For more information contact the 4-H office at 831-205-3180 or email jkatawicz@ucanr.edu.

San Benito County 4-H Participation  Guidelines  Requirements 
 

4-H Zsuites enrollment system opens July 15th: 

   STEP 1: CHOOSE A 4-H CLUB

List of San Benito County 4-H Clubs

Countrywide projects:

Countywide Project register are listed with the 4-H club hosting the county wide project.  You can enroll with your primary club but take a countywide project with another 4-H club. 

Lead by Bitterwater 4-H: Horse, Poultry, Rabbits, Vet Science, Cavies, Entomology, & swine 
Lead by Fairview 4-H: Aerospace & Rocketry, Cloverbuds (age 5-8), Poultry
Lead Santa Ana: Dairy Goats 
Lead by Union 4-H: Arts & Crafts, Beekeeping, Book club, Cooking (baking), Leadership, Outdoor Adventures,
Poultry, Public Speaking, Rabbit (Meat & Breeding), & Sewing

4-H ZSuite enrollment on-line help sheet system "ZSuite Enrollment Tip-Sheet"

STEP 2:

  • YOUTH ENROLL in 4-H on-line Zsuite registration.
  • YOUTH PAPER ENROLLMENT FORMS.
  • ADULT ENROLL IN 4-H on-line ZSuite registration.
  • ADULT PAPER ENROLLMENT FORMS.
  • COMPLETE LEADER ON-LINE TRAINING - Extension
    • Returning leaders complete the training course:
      • 2025-26 California 4-H Returning Volunteers
    • New leaders will need to complete 4 items
    • New Leader interest survey will need to be completed on-line
    • New leader training courses in Extension:
      • 2025-26 California New Volunteers
      • Enrollment key: SanBenito
    • .On-line enrollment registration in Zsuite.
    • Complete the Live Scan request form after all steps 1 through 3 have been completed
    • Live Scan form request survey
    • Once the live scan request is completed the 4-H office will send you the form
    • NEW LEADERS ALSO COMPLETE LIVE SCAN.
    • Live scan locations
  • After all the step are complete then the 4-H office will review your enrollment.  You cannot work with the youth until your enrollment as an adult leader has been completed and approved by 4-H staff.

STEP 3: Youth PAY REGISTRATION FEES 

July 2025- June 2026

4-H Youth Members 

$80 per youth member 

No adult leader fee (covered by 4-H county council)

Payment options: 

  • CASH/CHECK DISCOUNT -Pay directly to your 4-H community club leader.
  • ON-LINE payment survey system! - Additional $4 processing fee will apply for credit card transactions. 

Fee waiver assistance is available for families to cover the 4-H enrollment in financial need.  A family will need to complete the 4-H fee waiver form.  After completing the 4-H fee waiver form, turn it into your 4-H community club leader or 4-H office staff. 

Just a reminder to all youth, parents and leaders. A 4-H member needs to be in good standing to be eligible to show livestock at the county fairs and state fair! A member in good standing is current 4-H enrollment, 4-H registration paid, minimum of 6 hours completed in project plus 80% of the additional meeting required by project leader, members APR (Annual Project Report) completed.