National Ignite by 4-H Ohio Delegation
March 25-29, 2026 // Washington, D.C.
Open to enrolled 4-H teens across Ohio!
What: Ignite by 4-H is a national summit designed to bring high school youth (between 14-18) together from across the country and give them the opportunity to explore the best 4-H has to offer in different tracks including Agriscience, Animal Science, Community Accelerators, Healthy Living and STEM. (Individuals interested in representing their county at Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) in 2026 at Ignite are encouraged to contact their county 4-H professional for additional details regarding this opportunity, as it is NOT a part of this application). A hallmark of Ignite is the Lead to Change campaign which empowers youth to be Agents of Change where you (as a delegation) will create and present a proposal to address issues within your community. The best proposals are then awarded funding for implementation. In 2026, Ignite by 4-H returns for youth to attend in-person in Washington D. C. during March 25-29, 2026.
Who: Ohio 4-H High School Teens (aged 14-18) interested in Agriscience, Animal Science, Community Accelerators, Healthy Living and STEM
Where/When: In 2026, Ignite by 4-H returns for youth to attend in-person in Washington D. C. during March 25-29, 2026.
Cost: Summit registration and travel expenses will be covered.
Ohio 4-H Ignite Delegation and Selection
This year, we will select roughly 15-20 teens to attend. The individuals selected must be available for the conference dates of March 25-29, 2026, and commit to pre/post-summit expectations. Summit registration and travel expenses will be covered.
Application and selection process:
- Interested Ohio 4-H members must complete an online application via Qualtrics at go.osu.edu/4hignite by September 19 at 8:59 p.m. Applicants must be high school aged (between 14-18 as of January 1, 2026) and enrolled as an Ohio 4-H member.
- After an application is received, the State 4-H Office may request a referral from county 4-H professionals or other 4-H professionals for the respective candidate.
- A selection board will review applications and conduct interviews, as needed.
- Those selected will be expected to fully engage in all pre-summit and summit activities and adhere to all National 4-H guidelines, complete all required work as a result of Ignite participation, and share knowledge gained with Ohio 4-H upon their return.
Interested in applying for this opportunity? Complete the online application by September 19 at 8:59 p.m. All applications must be submitted online through Qualtrics for consideration. Review the application questions and materials you need to submit by reviewing the sample application.
Any questions or concerns may be emailed to Cynthia Canan at canan.20@osu.edu.
