By Carrie Davisson and Rhonda Williams, 4-H Editorial Specialists, Ohio State University Extension Publishing
This year’s lineup of new and revised Ohio 4-H titles offers eight brand-new projects and one updated resource. Let’s take a look!
New projects for 2026 are How the Herd Multiplies, Living on Your Own, Knitting It Together, Water Matters, and Field Crops and Forages. Empowering Personal Finance is a revised financial literacy project for youth in grades 6–8. Finally, from the University of Illinois, Explore a Power Park Book 1: Paper Circuits and Design a Power Park: Smart Circuits Book 2 help youth learn about electricity.
Youth interested in animal reproduction will appreciate How the Herd Multiplies. This intermediate or advanced project focuses on reproduction of beef cattle, goats, sheep, and swine and is intended for youth with prior livestock experience.
A new agronomy project, Field Crops and Forages, helps beginning learners understand planting, harvesting, and the many uses of corn, soybeans, and wheat.
Water Matters, new to the natural resources project lineup, underscores the importance of clean, fresh water across the globe.
Knitting It Together allows youth to express themselves creatively while learning a new skill.
Youth will find several things to think about before leaving home in Living on Your Own.
Lastly, Empowering Personal Finance teaches youth the importance of setting goals and using a personal financial plan.
In addition, 4-H members with great project ideas or those ready to go beyond a current project book can consider taking self-determined projects. We’ll even help them get going with idea starters! New Ohio 4-H idea starters in 2026 include Aquaculture: Raising Seafood and Restoring Fisheries, Backyard Fireflies, Building the Future: Construction Careers, Needle Felting, and No-Sew Fun. Find all the idea starters at ohio4h.org/selfdetermined.
More information about all current 4-H projects is available in the Ohio 4-H 2026 Project Guide. View it online at ohio4h.org/projectguide.
Did you know? OSU Extension Publishing supports 4-H and education across the nation with learning lab kits, project books, and resource handbooks. Over the past year, Extension Publishing sold 115,409 items across 362 titles. Eighty-two percent of those sales were 4-H related, and 30% went to out-of-state 4-H programs.
We have you covered with different ways to obtain project books:
- Order and pick up project books in a county Extension office. Ohio residents get the best price on printed books when they order and pick up their purchases through local Extension offices.
- Buy online. For convenience, order directly from extensionpubs.osu.edu. Books cost slightly more this way, but orders can be shipped directly to any Ohio address.
For more information, visit ohio4h.org/booksresources.
THANK YOU! In addition to the talented Extension educators, volunteers, and industry professionals who share their expertise, these books are made possible by Ohio 4-H’s cost-recovery program, which is supported by 4-H members and families who purchase project books. Every dollar spent on project books supports county operations and the development of Ohio 4-H curriculum.