Sounds like 4-H's are different depending on where you are in the country, then. We certainly don't have animal shows during the winter. Our 4-H season starts over in January when we all sign up for projects and then begin them in February or there after. Which means usually the show season for our meat animals (meat goats, pigs, sheep, cows..) all of those shows start in May after they've been born (they HAVE to be born in the new year) and then once they reach weight, they can start being shown. Our meat birds are the same way-- our first Cage of 3 show was last week-- and that is a bit on the early side. I'm sure we'll see more meat projects in May and June. On the personal record sheet that you fill out for your 4-H record book-- you are encouraged to make as many shows as you can and there are slots to fill out if you went to Local shows, District, out of district and State shows. In order to show at the State level -- basically our State Fair which is in September, you must go to the County fair and win a blue ribbon and then be invited to the State Fair to show your project. Our county fair is in August, and then the State Fair, Sept. So after the State Fair... it's kind of the wind down for 4-H around here. There aren't any other shows after that, since that was the whole reason for having them-- to prepare for the county and State levels. All rocketry, photography, art, textiles, etc... I don't know if they have any meetings after the State Fair unless they are preparing for the following year. But those projects can't be started until the following year. As far as the meetings go-- we have a once a month Club meeting. Then, depending on whatever project you are signed up for-- those meetings are separate and usually done at the Extension Office or a leader's home to work on it. If that is knitting-- a leader may decide to have a knitting circle at her house to help kids with their stitches, etc... I remember when I was in photography our leader asked us to meet up at a near by river bank and then we all trekked out and took pictures and then met back up for lunch. It's just SO MUCH FUN!!! LOL!!
ETA: oh, and I don't know if this is a Kansas thing because we are an agriculture state here, but a lot of our 4-H shows also are in conjunction with the FFA (future farmers of America). So it's really cool to see the groups come together.
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