Gina Smith of New Haven and Lisa Sexton of Fort Wayne have never met, but they have something in common – they saw the need for 4-H in their communities.

“Several of us parents were driving up to a half-hour one way every week to take our kids to 4-H meetings,” Smith said. “We got together and thought, ‘It’s about time to start our own.’ ”

So they did. The Imagine School Rising Suns and the New Haven Clovers will participate in their first Allen County Fair this year, starting Tuesday at the fairgrounds on Carroll Road.

“4-H is based on the same pillars the Imagine School believes in,” said Sexton, who works at Imagine MASTer Academy on North Wells Street. “We can mentor and educate the kids through this program.”

The Clovers have more than 20 members, who have met weekly since March. Shelby Smith, 11, will show dog and vet science projects at the fair.

“I like 4-H because I like the projects and I want to be a vet when I grow up,” she said.

Gina Smith said most of her members live in the suburbs and are not involved with showing bigger animals – most show smaller ones like rabbits or participate in sewing or electrical projects.

The Imagine group started talking about a club at a parents meeting in September. A decision to go forward was made in January, and teachers approached Sexton to start advertising and work with interested students. Initially, the club was a victim of its own popularity. More than 100 students signed up.

“There were so many of them and only one of me,” Sexton said. Now the group is down to 35 and off to a fast start. Sexton said a number of teachers are applying for grants that will help the club use the school grounds for more activities, such as gardening.