Purdue Extension-Lake County 4-H

09/11/2026

Do you have a child in grades K–12 and looking for a chance to try something new? Join the Hammond Explorers 4-H Club for an Open House and discover what 4-H is all about! Whether they enjoy animals, science, art, cooking, gardening, leadership, engineering, community service, or simply trying new things, there’s a place for them in 4-H!

The Hammond Explorers 4-H Club will host Open Houses on Saturday, September 12, and Saturday, October 10, from 1:00–3:00 p.m. at the Hammond Public Library Community Room, 564 State Street, Hammond, IN. Participants can enjoy hands-on activities and learn more about the opportunities available through 4-H. The program is open to all students in grades K–12.

Come discover 4-H and bring a friend!

09/09/2026

Join Us for Lake County 4-H Day at Sandy Oak Ranch! 🌿🦬

Looking for a fun day filled with animals, adventure, and 4-H activities? Come join us at Sandy Oak Ranch Wildlife Adventure on Saturday, September 19!

📅 September 19, 2026
⏰ 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (Last entry at 3 p.m.)
📍 Sandy Oak Ranch
1144 W 700 N, Lake Village, IN
💲 $10 per person

Your day at the ranch can include:

🐾 Animal feeding opportunities
📸 Photo opportunities
💡 4-H project ideas
🎁 Door prizes
🛍️ Gift shop
🍿 Snacks available for purchase
🌾 Plenty of opportunities to explore and have fun!

4-H clubs and families are encouraged to participate! Invite a friend or a family who may be interested in learning more about 4-H. Clubs can also plan time together and bring food for their group.

🐾 Planning to feed the animals? Be sure to bring some extra money!

📝 Sign up today!

Register through SignUpGenius here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040B4EADA72CA7FD0-65676683-lake

Come make some memories with Lake County 4-H at Sandy Oak Ranch! We hope to see you there!

09/08/2026

You’re Invited to Our Annual Open House! 🎉
Join Purdue Extension–Lake County for this year’s Open House on Wednesday, October 7, from 5–7 p.m. at the Purdue Extension–Lake County Office, located at 2291 N. Main Street Crown Point, IN!

Celebrate a year of Extension impact and see what’s ahead for the Northwest Region!

Guests will enjoy:
🍴 Refreshments
🌱 Program highlights
🎁 Door prizes
🤝 An opportunity to connect with Extension staff and community members

📍 Purdue Extension–Lake County Office
2291 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN

We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate the past year and look forward to what’s next!

09/08/2026

Join Lake County 4-H for three ID workshops designed to help kids in grades 3-12 build their skills! 🌿🐞

🌳 Forestry ID – Practice identifying leaves, seeds, and woods.

🐛 Entomology ID – Practice identifying insects throughout their life cycle.

📍 Location: Jim’s Repair Service
11900 Wicker Ave, Cedar Lake

📆 Workshop Dates:
• Tuesday, September 8
• Tuesday, September 29
• Tuesday, October 6

⏰ Time: 6–7 p.m.

These workshops are a great opportunity to practice identification skills and gain confidence!

❓ Questions? Contact Project Superintendent Lin Wozniewski at [email protected].

09/04/2026

Our office will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day.

We will reopen with normal business hours on Tuesday, September 8, at 8:30 a.m.

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend!

08/28/2026

Lake County 4-H Day at Sandy Oak Ranch! 🐾

Get ready for a wild day of adventure, animals, and 4-H fun at Sandy Oak Ranch Wildlife Adventure!

📅 Date: September 19
⏰ Time: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (Last entry at 3 p.m.)
💲 Cost: $10 per person
📍 Location: Sandy Oak Ranch, 1144 W 700 N, Lake Village

There will be plenty to see and do, including photo opportunities, project ideas, door prizes, animal feeding, and more! The gift shop and snacks will also be available for purchase.

🐾 Want to feed the animals? Bring some extra money!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 4-H Clubs & Families: This is a great opportunity to invite a new family who may be interested in joining 4-H! Clubs can schedule time together and bring food for your group.

📧 To RSVP, please contact Lynette at [email protected].

Come spend the day exploring Sandy Oak Ranch and making some fun 4-H memories! We hope to see you there! 🌿🦬

08/27/2026

FEMA and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security will be in the area beginning Friday, August 28th, to help Lake County residents apply for assistance with uninsured or underinsured losses caused by the storms on August 11th. You can visit one of the centers listed on the flyer below, or apply online with FEMA at disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, 7 days a week.

08/25/2026

Indiana State Fair projects are back in Lake County and ready to come home! 🎉🏆

If you haven’t picked up your project yet, this is your reminder! Stop by the Purdue Extension–Lake County office now through Friday, August 28 to pick it up.

📅 Pickup deadline: Friday, August 28
🕣 Office hours: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
📍 Purdue Extension–Lake County

Don’t let your State Fair masterpiece spend another night at the office! Come grab it and show off all your hard work! 💚🍀

08/18/2026

🚨ATTENTION Lake County Families!🍀

We want to see your favorite 2026 Lake County Fair photos! Whether it was showing your livestock in the Livestock Arena, to seeing your exhibit in the 4-H Building, or even just spending time with your friends and family, we want you to share with us!

Be sure to comment your 2026 Lake County Fair photos in the comments! 🐖🐄🐂🏇🍀

08/16/2026

Be sure to stop by either the 4-H Building or the Industrial Building at the Lake County Fair to learn more about 4-H and all the amazing projects, activities, and opportunities our 4-H program has to offer!

It’s the Last Day of the Lake County Fair! 🎡

Come out and join us today in the Industrial Building for the final day of the Lake County Fair!

There’s still plenty of fun to be had, so stop by, see what’s happening, and enjoy one last day at the fair before we wrap up another great year!