Source: Kim Leger, 4-H youth development specialist

National 4-H Week is Oct. 2-8. This year’s theme is Opportunity4All, shining a light on access and equity for all youth. Young people have power, and 4-H believes that every young person has valuable strengths and real influence to improve our world.  For more than 100 years, Kentucky 4-H has helped youth find and fine tune their passions through fun projects and activities and develop life skills that help them become productive adults and local leaders. Many of our alumni credit 4-H with helping them succeed as adults.

With more than 288,000 members and chapters in every Kentucky county, 4-H is the largest youth organization in the state. , 4-H offers activities and projects for youth of all ages, covering topics such as agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences and healthy living, science, engineering and technology, communications, leadership and more. While 4-H is often associated with agriculture, young people don’t have to live on a farm or have any prior knowledge of agriculture to participate.

While 4-H is a youth-focused organization, adults may volunteer their time and talents with local 4-H groups. Volunteers may serve in many roles from club leaders to subject matter experts for projects or workshops to judges for local 4-H competitions. In fact, more than 26,000 Kentuckians donate their time to 4-H through teaching workshops, managing community clubs, chaperoning visiting 4-Hers, helping with fundraising and so much more.

For more information about how your local club is celebrating Opportunity4ALL, or if you’re interested in joining or volunteering through 4-H, contact the (COUNTY NAME) office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

 Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

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4-H