Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation & All Stars

Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation

The 4-H Foundation of Anne Arundel County (AAC-4H) is to support, promote, and enrich the 4-H program in Anne Arundel County. Their mission is to support and assist the Anne Arundel 4-H members, clubs, and the Extension Office by offering fundraising, club development, social activities, and volunteer services.

The Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation Inc. supports the county 4-H program by providing scholarships to county 4-H members and volunteers and hosting county-wide social events, like the 4-H Cookout and 4-H Ice Cream Social at the Anne Arundel County Fair.

Events:

4-H Variety Show
What's your talent? The AAC 4-H Foundation is once again sponsoring the annual Variety Show! Be part of a group or do your own thing. Be part of a group or do your own individual act. There's singing, dancing, skits, playing instruments, and much more. Join us as part of the show or an audience member. It's a family event so young and old alike will enjoy the presentations. Please check out the Variety Show Rules Folder for or information, registration, rules and judging forms. Blue, red and white ribbons awarded for each act. Champion & Reserve Champ Group Acts as well as the Champion & Reserve Individual/Duet Acts receive cash awards to their 4-H Club. Contact Mary Thomas at hackyt@aol.com for club acts.

AAC 4-H Cookout - Cookout flyer
The annual county-wide 4-H Cookout is held at Kinder Farm Park in Millersville in mid-August. The 4-H Foundation provides all the meats (hamburgers, hotdogs, vegan/veggie burgers), rolls, condiments, paper products, water and a limited variety of sodas. They request each family bring a side dish, salad, or dessert/snack to share, as well as other drinks of choice. Its always a fun afternoon!

Ice Cream Social at the Anne Arundel County Fair - Ice Cream Social Flyer
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! 4-H Members, volunteers and their families are invited to join The AAC 4-H Foundation under the dinner tent by the barns for FREE Ice Cream (with all the toppings) Friday evening! Please show your 4-H membership card for free admittance to this Annual event hosted by the AAC 4-H Foundation.

Garden Clean-up at the County Fairgrounds - Garden Clean-up Flyer
The AAC 4-H Foundation sponsors an annual garden clean-up at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds. Volunteers weed and mulch the Overstreet/4-H Gardens and help with general clean-up of the Fairgrounds. The 4-H Foundation graciously provides lunch and drinks.

Contests:

County Fair 4-H T-shirt Design Contest - T-shirt Design flyer, entry form and guidelines
Have you ever thought of a great design or slogan for the County Fair 4-H T-shirt? Now’s your chance to submit a design and share your artistic ability. The 4-H Foundation is accepting designs for the County Fair 4-H T-shirt Design Contest. The contest is open to all enrolled county 4-H members. In addition to a $25 cash prize to the artist, the winning design will be featured on the back of the T-shirt that each 4-H participant at the county fair receives compliments of the 4-H Foundation. Please see the attached entry form/contest rules for additional information and follow the guidelines on the use of the 4-H name and emblem.

Awards & Scholarships:

Terry Cooper Unsung Hero Award - Terry Cooper Unsung Hero nomination form
The Terry Cooper Unsung Hero Award was established in memory of Mrs. Terry Cooper, a dedicated 4-H volunteer who worked quietly behind the scenes doing whatever was needed to support the 4-H program. This award may be given to one adult and one youth who have made a significant contribution to the 4-H program, but who have received little or no recognition for their efforts.

John C. Kozenski, Jr. Kindness Award
A $50.00 cash award will be awarded in the 4-H Poultry Department at the Anne Arundel County Fair to the Anne Arundel County 4-H member who displays the quality of optimism and who is judged to possess positive and helpful attitude, always seeing the glass half full instead of half empty. This award is presented by the Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation, Inc. and will be limited to Anne Arundel County 4-H exhibitors only.

James R. Kahler Turkey Shoot Top 4-H Archer Award and Buz Meyer Turkey Shoot Top 4-H Marksman Award
The annual 4-H Turkey Shoot occurs on the first or second Saturday of November at 9am at the Meyer Station Nature Center. This is a free event for all ages, 4-H and non4-H, youth and adult, with special activities available for youth aged 5-7. Contestants may choose archery or riflery and shoot at paper targets. Entrants may bring but do not need your own equipment. Breakfast and Lunch refreshments will be available for sale.

The Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation sponsors cash prizes to top scoring contestants in both disciplines by 4-H age (Junior 8-10yo, Intermediate 11-13yo, Senior 14-18yo) plus adult male and adult female. Riflery contestants in Junior, Intermediate and Adult Women shoot a paper target at 25 yards, while Seniors and Adult Men shoot at the same paper target from 50 yards. Junior, Intermediate and Adult Women in the Archery contest shoot from 7 yards, while Seniors and Adult Men shoot from 10 yards.

The Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation generously donates a $20 cash prize to each winner, and sponsors two memorial awards presented at the completion of the event. The James R. Kahler Youth Top 4-H Archer Award certificate and $25 monetary prize is awarded to the highest scoring 4-H youth in the archery portion of the contest. The Buz Meyer Youth Top 4-H Marksman Award certificate and $25 monetary prize is awarded to the highest scoring youth in the riflery portion of the contest. No RSVP required. Reach out to friendshipoutdoorskills4h@gmail.com for more information. 4-H Turkey Shoot Flyer

Alumni gifts for members aging out of 4-H
Each year, youth 4-H members aging out of 4-H (when they are 19yo as of January 1st), receive a gift for their involvement in Anne Arundel County 4-H. This gift is often presented at the 4-H Cookout event described above. Recipients are notified that their achievement will be recognized in advance of the event so they can plan their attendance.

National Trip Scholarships
For more information about National Trip Opportunities, please visit our ‘Events & Opportunities’ webpage. The Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation Scholarship, Recognition and Awards Fund sponsors youth leadership opportunities based on available funds generated through various fundraising activities throughout the year. The AAC 4-H Foundation asks that potential recipients, after accepting a formal National Trip invitation, fill out a National Trip Scholarship Application to receive payment/reimbursement for their trip fees (the amount varies depending on the cost of the event and the number of scholarship applicants). Applications can be found in our National Trip Scholarship folder.

National Trips include but not limited to the following National Trip Opportunities for both Individual competitors and/or Maryland Team members:

National 4-H Conference (April)
National Leadership Trips:
- Camp Miniwanca National Leadership Conference (June)
- Virginia 4-H Congress (June)
- West Virginia Older Member's Conference (June)
- National 4-H Congress (November)
Eastern National 4-H Horse Round-up (November): Horse Judging, Hippology, Horse Bowl, Communications - Individual and Team Presentations and Public Speaking
North American International Livestock Exposition (November): Dairy (Dairy Bowl, Dairy Judge), Livestock (Livestock Judging, Livestock Skillathon), Poultry Judging
Shooting Sports (Archery or Shotgun National Competition)
Engineering National Competition
Horticulture National Competition
Other Scholarships and Financial Aid offered (based on available funds and opportunities) Please contact the Foundation directly for more information, aacounty4hfoundation@gmail.com:
- MD 4-H Youth Trainings
- National 4-H Project Trips
- 4-H Camp Adult Staff Training
- Outstanding 4-H Camper Awards
- 4-H Volunteer Professional Development: Volunteer Prof Development Scholarship Application 2026
- Tier 3 Volunteer Background Check Expenses: Tier 3 Volunteer Background Check Scholarship Application 2026

AAC 4-H Foundation Contest, Award and Scholarship Recipients - Foundation Awards/Scholarships Recipients folder

Maryland State Teen Leadership Event Scholarships - Maryland Teen Leadership Scholarships
Each year, the AAC 4-H Foundation awards scholarships to teens attending 1 of 3 State Teen Leadership Events (in addition to National Trips listed below) - the Maryland 4-H Issue Forum, the Maryland 4-H Volunteer and Teen Forum, and the Maryland 4-H Congress. Registration and other information for these events is available on the Maryland 4-H Teen Leadership webpage. In addition to the application, attendees must submit a completed scholarship application form and a copy of their 4-H Online registration/confirmation email in order to apply.

The 4-H Foundation meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. For additional information and meeting locations, please contact the Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation: aacounty4hfoundation@gmail.com.

AAC Foundation is a Maryland Charity Campaign approved charity

The Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation, Inc. is proud to announce it is an approved charity with the Maryland Charity Campaign (MCC)!

The Maryland Charity Campaign (MCC) is a workplace charitable giving program that offers State employees and eligible retirees the opportunity to conveniently, securely, and confidently contribute to charities they care about. Each has been vetted to ensure it is legitimate, fiscally sound, and performs the services stated.

For more information, please visit the MCC website: https://mcc.maryland.gov/ (there is a 'Charity Search' button near the bottom of homepage). Please consider donating to the Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation (#52-6082282). Donations are accepted from the beginning of October through the second week of December and fund 4-H events, contests, awards and scholarships right here in our county

Cake Auction at the Anne Arundel County Fair - Cake Auction Flyer
AAC 4-H Foundation, Inc. invites you to participate in this Annual Fundraising Event! The 4-H Cake Auction takes place on Sunday at the Anne Arundel County Fair. Entries are accepted from 4-H Members, Parents and Volunteers. Please consider baking a cake for the Cake Auction or come and bid on one! All proceeds directly benefit the 4-H Program in Anne Arundel County. Cakes can be dropped off Saturday from 12 - 8pm at the information booth or Sunday 9 - 10:30am in the 4-H department. Judging and a Live Auction occur on the point stage late Sunday morning.

Themed Basket Silent Auction at the Anne Arundel County Fair - Themed Basket Flyer
A silent auction will take place at the Anne Arundel County Fair to raise funds to support the impact of 4-H through the creation of various scholarships, awards, contests and events. All 4-H clubs and any willing individual are asked to donate a themed basket (ideas include gardening, spa, sporty, cooking, crafty, etc.) for the auction. Please encourage fair attendees to stop by the 4-H section in the indoor exhibit building and consider bidding on one of the many creatively themed baskets. We look forward to seeing you at the Fair!

New York City Bus Trip
The 4-H Foundation sponsors a full day bus trip to New York City in December. The cost per person includes bus transportation, a ticket to the Radio City Rockettes show, and light refreshments in the morning. For more information and pricing, please see our NYC Bus Trip folder. For further information, please contact Gina Degreenia at onebusymomofthree@comcast.net.

4-H All Stars of Anne Arundel County

4-H All Stars of Anne Arundel County Services

Scholarships and Financial Support:
- County 4-H Camp Scholarships:
  4-H All Stars of Anne Arundel County Camp Scholarships are offered to teen staff and first year campers only. Information and the application can be found in our 4-H All Stars Camp Scholarship folder. Questions may be sent to 4hallstarsofaaco.campsch@gmail.com.
- Academic Scholarships:
  4-H All Stars of Anne Arundel County Academic Scholarships are open to any county 4-H Member/ alumni pursuing post-secondary education at an institution of higher learning. Information and the application can be found in our 4-H All Stars Academic Scholarship folder. Questions may be sent to 4hallstarsofaac@gmail.com.
Fundraising Opportunity for 4-H Clubs:
- County Fair 4-H Food Booth
4-H Volunteer Services & Promotion:
- Members volunteer at County/State Events

The 4-H All Stars of Anne Arundel County was established to support the Anne Arundel County 4-H program by providing volunteer services, leadership, mentorship, time and resources through a cooperative effort with the 4-H ‘program. The 4-H All Stars is an honor/service organization designed to recognize outstanding 4-H club members, volunteers and supporters who have displayed characteristics of service, character, and leadership. The goal of the 4-H All Stars is to contribute to positive youth development through service to the Maryland 4-H program. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Joy Sim at jsim1@umd.edu.

Each year, the 4-H All Stars of Anne Arundel County awards youth both Academic Scholarships and Camp Scholarships (to teen staff and first-year campers who attend the Anne Arundel County 4-H Camp which occurs at the end of July).

The distribution of scholarships is contingent on the number/categories of applications received. In order to apply for the Academic Scholarship, youth must complete the academic scholarship application form by the date indicated on the application. Youth interested in applying for the camp scholarship (available to both teen staff/first-year campers) must complete the scholarship application form and submit it, along with an essay, to the email address listed on the application by the deadline indicated on the application. A list of past recipients can be found in the All Stars Award/Scholarship Recipient Folder.

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Thomas, 4-H All Stars Scholarship Committee, at 4hallstarsofaac@gmail.com.

"Service is our motto"

4-H All Stars of Anne Arundel County is an honor/service organization created to recognize those 4-H members, alumni and volunteers who have demonstrated outstanding service, character, and leadership. Membership in the 4-H All Stars of Anne Arundel County is the highest recognition that a 4-H'er can achieve. Maryland 4-H All Stars is service-oriented and volunteer operated.

The All Star's goal is to contribute to positive youth development through "service" to the 4-H program of which they are a part. The 4-H program becomes the springboard from which an All Star jumps to other areas of service to people throughout their lifetime. The 4-H All Stars of Anne Arundel County strives for cooperation among 4-H programs in all areas.

The purpose of the 4-H All Stars of Anne Arundel County is to serve and support the University of Maryland Extension (UME), Anne Arundel County 4-H Youth Development Program, the Maryland 4-H Program, and the Maryland 4-H All Stars.

Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation & All Stars