Alabama 4-H is open to youth ages 9 through 18. Cloverbuds is a special membership category for youth ages 5 to 8. There are no 4-H programs for youth under the age of 5. The Alabama 4-H club year is from August 1 to July 31. A member’s 4-H age is calculated on January 1 of the current 4-H year.

Alabama 4-H Participation

Events are open to active members of chartered 4-H clubs that have regularly scheduled, planned, experiential educational meetings. A youth’s 4-H membership ceases at the end of the 4-H year (July 31), following the member’s graduation from high school. Youth whose membership age is beyond 18 who have qualified for a national contest (as a culminating event for their project learning) shall be eligible to participate in the event as long as they qualify as per the national contest policies. Youth classified as exceptional students, and thus determined eligible for a special program by the Alabama State Board of Education, shall be eligible, with approval from the Alabama 4-H state office, to participate in 4-H until the age of 21 years old or completion of high school, whichever comes first.

Cloverbuds Participation

Cloverbuds carefully designed to focus on cooperative learning rather than competition. The program focuses on participation, safety, personal development, education, life skills, and fun. These members are not eligible for any 4-H animal, Shooting Sports, or RiverKids programs. 4-H Cloverbud clubs should not elect officers and members should not take part in high-risk or long-term 4-H project work or activities held overnight. 4-H Cloverbud programs require additional supervision and careful programmatic planning.

2026–2027 4-H Club Year Age and Eligibility

To quickly generate your 4-H age, check your eligibility here, or view the tables below.