Source: Kimberly Schrader, extension specialist, 4-H Youth Development 

Kentucky 4‑H empowers young people to become leaders. But what does that mean, and how does involvement in 4-H play a part? 

True leaders have confidence. They know how to work well with others. They can endure challenges, and they will stick with a job until it gets done. As part of a 4-H club, young people can build and refine all these critical life skills and more. 

Through clubs, Kentucky 4-H applies a comprehensive, hands-on approach to learning called Positive Youth Development, which equips young people with guidance, tools, and encouragement,  puts them in the driver’s seat to make great things happen. As a result, 4-H programs have been shown to make positive, measurable contributions not just to social and emotional growth but also to behavioral and cognitive development of the young people who take part.  

A 4-H club is a great way to join other youth in your community who share a common interest in an important field such as natural resources, agriculture, communication and expressive arts, family consumer sciences, health and wellness, leadership, or science engineering and technology. 

Today's 4-H clubs can take many forms, based on the needs, interests and enthusiasm of their members. They can include community clubs that meet outside of school hours, in-school clubs that come together when school is in session, or project-based clubs that focus on a specific area of interest. As part of a 4-H club, members elect their own officers and meet throughout the year for a minimum of six hours of educational instruction.  

Research on 4-H programs has proven the unparalleled impact of the 4-H experience. According to a 2012 Tufts University study, 4-H members are “four times more likely to give back to their community, two times more likely to make healthier choices, and two times more likely to participate in science engineering and technology programs” than their counterparts who don’t participate in 4-H. 

For more information about 4-H club opportunities in your community, contact the (COUNTY NAME) office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.   

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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.        

The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment news and communications team provides monthly Extension Exclusives in the categories of Horticulture, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H and Family & Consumer Sciences. To see more exclusives, visit https://exclusives.ca.uky.edu.      

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