HEARTH projects

Projects include:

Family & Consumer Sciences, Sewing and Textiles, Food and Nutrition, Expressive Arts, Natural Sciences, STEM, Horticulture, Knitting, Crochet, Leathercraft, Woodworking, Fiber Arts, Photography, and more.

Clackamas County 4-H HEARTH Advisory Committee

Leaders, parents and youth members who have an interest in the Clackamas County 4-H HEARTH project areas are encouraged to attend monthly meetings on the third Monday of each month (except August, September, and December) at the Extension Office in Oregon City at 7:00 pm.

This committee is responsible for planning and implementing educational opportunities and events, fundraising for awards and scholarships, and management of the 4-H Static exhibits and contests at Clackamas County Fair.

2025 Committee Officers:

Mel Jeffrey, Chair & Treasurer
Laura Jeffrey, Secretary
Kris Schroeder, Member & Volunteer Coordinator
Karen Jeffrey-Markowski - Communications/Social Media

Resources for Clackamas County 4-H members involved in a HEARTH project.

2026 Madatory Meeting Recording

May 12

All 4-H Fair Information Meeting

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm PDT Online

May 18

May 2026 HEARTH Advisory Committee Meeting

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Oregon City, OR

Jun 15

June 2026 HEARTH Advisory Committee Meeting

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Oregon City, OR

HEARTH Excel Program

The HEARTH Excel Program offers 4-H members the opportunity to take their experience a step further by qualifying for special awards at the County Fair, including Champion and Reserve Champion ribbons. It also provides the chance for their projects to advance to the Oregon State Fair.

Participation in the Excel Program is entirely optional and does not affect a member's ability to enter projects at the County Fair.

Clackamas County HEARTH Excel Program Overview: Active involvement and continuous learning are essential for fully embracing all that 4-H has to offer. 4-H is a year long experience that culminates at the County Fair. The HEARTH Excel Program offers 4-H members the opportunity to take their experience a step further.
Youth HEARTH Excel Requirements: 2026 Excel requirements for youth to be eligible to receive awards and higher placings at Clackamas County 4-H Fair in the HEARTH project classes.
Adult HEARTH Excel Requirements: 2026 Excel requirements for leaders and/or parents to fulfill for youth in their clubs to be eligible to receive awards and higher placings at Clackamas County 4-H Fair in the HEARTH project classes. Adults/leaders should expect to help support the county program and attend committee meetings and training.
HEARTH Adult Excel 2025 Report Form: Online form that is required for adults to fill out allow HEARTH youth in their club to be eligible for higher placing ribbons (champion, etc), awards and State Fair. Must be completed BEFORE June 1, 2025

Fair Entry Resources

2025 HEARTH Dates To Remember - See fairbook for details

Wednesday, August 6th - Fair entry Prep Day
Saturday, August 9th - Static Exhibit Judging Day 1: Cloverbuds, Expressive Arts, Family & Consumer Science, all STEM Projects
Monday, August 11th - Static Exhibit Judging Day 2: Cloverbud, Foods, Food Preservation, and Horticulture Projects
Sunday, August 17th - Exhibit pick up

Information and forms for 4-H member entries to County and State Fair:

Adult HEARTH Excel Requirements: 2026 Excel requirements for leaders and/or parents to fulfill for youth in their clubs to be eligible to receive awards and higher placings at Clackamas County 4-H Fair in the HEARTH project classes. Adults/leaders should expect to help support the county program and attend committee meetings and training.
Fashion Revue Ready To Wear Contest: Check out the Ready To Wear Contest - it's open to ALL 4-H members!

County Fair Contests and Exhibit Resources

Information and forms for Clackamas County Fair Contests in Foods, Sewing, Horticulture, Presentations and Fashion Revue

Best Dressed Produce Contest: Guidelines and scoring for participating in this county fair contest. For youth enrolled in the 4-H Horticulture project.
Clackamas County 4-H Food & Nutrition Contest Guide: County Fair Cooking Contest guide with information and helpful tips for members, leaders and parents.
Cloverbud Cooking Recipe Form: Cloverbuds participating in the Scrumptious Sandwich or Fun Foods activities at County Fair must fill out and bring this form.
Fashion Revue Look Book Guide: The Fashion Revue Look Book is an exciting opportunity within the Fashion Revue project area. Participants create a Look Book, or catalog of different ensembles, following the guidelines for each age division found in this guide
Fashion Revue Look Book Information Page: Fashion Revue Look Book Participants must complete this information sheet. Guidelines can be found in the fair book.
Fashion Revue Ready To Wear Buying Form: Complete this form for Fashion Revue Ready To Wear Contest. You must include photos of you wearing the outfit and copies of all receipts.
Fashion Revue Ready To Wear Comparison Worksheet: Complete and submit this form on judging day for Fashion Revue Ready To Wear Contest.
Foods Contest Quick Meal Challenge: Information about the Quick Meal Challenge Contest
Foods Contests Evaluation Sheet: Prepare for your Foods Contests by reviewing the scoring criteria
Foods of the Pacific Northwest Judges Information Form: Participants in the Foods of the Pacific Northwest Cooking Contest should complete and bring at least two copies of this form on contest day
Mini-Meal Judges Information Form: Participants in the Mini-Meal or Quick Cooking Challenge should complete and bring at least two copies of this form on contest day
Monster Cookie Judges Information form: Participants in the Monster Cookie Contest should complete and bring this form on contest day
Monster Cookie Contest: Rules and information for participating. Youth must be enrolled in the Foods & Nutrition project to enter this county fair contest
Monster Cookie Evaluation sheet: Prepare for your Monster Cookie Baking Contests by reviewing the scoring criteria
Performing Arts Score Sheet: Performing Arts Score Sheet
Photography Mat Guidelines: Please use this guide to help improve your photography exhibit for the Clackamas County 4-H fair.
Presentation Award Guidelines: Presentation Award Guidelines
Presentation Types: Presentation Types
Presentations Score Sheet - Demonstrations & Illustrated Talks: Presentations Score Sheet - Demonstrations & Illustrated Talks
Presentations Score Sheet - Impromptu Speaking: Presentations Score Sheet - Impromptu Speaking
Presentations Score Sheet - Public Speaking: Presentations Score Sheet - Public Speaking
Recycle / Reuse Explanation Card: Exhibit explanation card for Recycle/Reuse class. Required to be completed and attached to exhibit for judging.
Smoothie Contest: Rules and information for participants. Youth must be enrolled in the 4-H Foods & Nutrition project to enter this county fair contest
Smoothie Contest Evaluation Sheet: Prepare for your Smoothie Contests by reviewing the scoring criteria
Smoothie Contest Judges Information form: Participants in the Smoothie Contest should complete and bring this form on contest day
Table Setting Guidelines: Complete guide to Blue Ribbon Table Setting! Information, tips and techniques for members, leaders and parents.
Sewing Skills Notebook: 320-16-1 Information and guidelines for making and updating 4-H member sewing skills notebook.

FCS Contest and Study Materials

Information and study materials for Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Contests in Foods, Sewing, Interior Design and Consumer Decision Making. Youth who participate in this contest can qualify to be on the Oregon State team that competes nationally.

Consumer Decision Making: This program helps young people develop study and research skills, determine which points are important, compare similar items, and to make the correct or sensible decision.
FCS Consumer Decision Making Study Guide: Study Guides for the FCS Consumer Decision Making contest
FCS Skill-a-Thon Study Guide: Clothing: FCS Skill-a-Thon Study Guide: Clothing
FCS Skill-a-Thon Study Guide: Foods: FCS Skill-a-Thon Study Guide: Foods
FCS Skill-a-Thon Study Guide: Home Decor: FCS Skill-a-Thon Study Guide: Home Decor

Awards and advancements

Clothing and Textile Award: You learn and grow when you continue to challenge yourself. Please use this form to apply for an award to recognize your achievements in your clothing and textile project.
Expressive Arts Award: You learn and grow when you continue to challenge yourself. Please use this form to apply for an award to recognize your achievements in your expressive art project.
Foods Award: An award presented to a well rounded 4H’er in the Food project. Turn this completed form into the 4H fair office by 5:00 pm Wednesday of fair. It can only be earned once per level.
HEARTH Award: Have you gone the extra mile in your HEARTH projects? Apply for this award - due Wednesday of County Fair.
HEARTH Special Awards: Learn more about all of the special awards given out in HEARTH project areas
Horticulture Award: This award will go to a 4H'er that has demonstrated excellence in Horticulture.

Fashion Revue award: To apply for the Fashion Revue Award, submit a one-page essay detailing how and why you created your outfit, with emphasis on anything you did to be even more creative (combining patterns, embellishments, etc.).

Family and Consumer Science Project Resources

4-H Expressive Arts Online Leader Workshop 2024: Recording of online training for leaders and families involved in the Expressive Arts projects. Information and tips for successful fair entries and club activities.
4-H Foods & Nutrition Project Online Leader Workshop (May 2024): Recording of 4-H Foods Project information and ideas for clubs and fair entry.
4-H Sewing Project Online Leader Workshop (May 2024): Recording of Sewing Project information and ideas for 4-H sewing clubs and 2023 fair entry
4-H Foods Resource List: List of 4-H Foods resources with links to access ideas, information and 4-H tips and techniques.
Measuring Up: Quality Standards for Sewn Items/Projects: This publication lists and describes specific characteristics that can be expected in high-quality construction of either home-sewn or ready-to-wear garments or other sewn items.
4-H Sewing Resources: List of Sewing resource links for leaders and members. Includes project ideas, meeting ideas, and 4-H sewing tips and techniques.
Sewing Skills Notebook: 320-16-1 Information and guidelines for making and updating 4-H member sewing skills notebook.
Leaders Guide: Foods and Nutrition Contests 2025: This guide provides additional information for all Foods Contests for Clackamas County Fair 2025.

Cloverbud 4-H Youth Cooking

National 4-H Photo Library

Family Consumer Science Projects Statewide Resources

Resources related to 4-H projects for members, volunteers, and leaders.

Oregon State 4-H FCS Resources

OSU Extension Service

Clackamas County 4-H