Source: Chuck Stamper, Extension specialist, 4-H Youth Development

Civic-minded 4-Hers from across Kentucky are invited to put their community leadership skills to work at the 36th annual Kentucky 4-H Issues Conference, to be held at Paradise Valley Conference Center in Burkesville, Kentucky, on November 20–22.

The three-day event, which is expected to draw 120 attendees this year, gives aspiring young leaders in grades 9–11 the chance to play an active role in identifying and addressing the most pressing concerns in their home counties. Delegates at the conference will join action groups along with adults based on their personal interests and work together to develop plans for tackling local challenges. The groups then present their proposals to a review panel on the final day of the conference. Delegates are also invited to apply for mini-grants to help them put their action plans into motion to create meaningful change in their communities. 

The annual 4-H Issues Conference provides a valuable statewide forum to inspire and support civic education and engagement in local communities, at a time when young people need that opportunity more than ever, according to Chuck Stamper, Extension specialist for 4-H Youth Development and state advisor for the conference. According to the Nation’s Report Card, which reports results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the average scores of middle and high school youth in civic education and engagement have declined between 2018 and 2022.

Planning for this annual event is a cooperative effort of Extension agents, 4-Hers, community collaborators, and state 4-H program representatives. The conference, first held in 1989, has undergone changes to remain relevant to today’s youth, but the original goal of bringing Kentucky youth and adults together to focus on local issues remains the cornerstone. In addition to helping Kentucky youth to participate in civic engagement and take the lead in improving their communities, the conference is also designed to meet the overall Kentucky 4-H programming goal of preparing youth to be work- and life-ready when they reach adulthood.  

“We need informed and engaged citizens in our communities," Stamper said. "We follow the principles of positive youth development, and we hope the delegates will find a spark to lead their passions in civic engagement." 

Registration for this year’s 4-H Issues Conference will be open from September 15 through October 24. To learn more about the Kentucky 4-H Issues Conference and other opportunities for civic engagement within 4-H, contact the 4-H youth development agent at the (COUNTY NAME) office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

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