As the largest youth development program in the nation, 4-H has many opportunities and benefits for all youth. To quote the famous 4-H alum, Orville Redenbacher, “4-H is about building better citizens, teaching values and developing skills. It doesn’t matter if you’re from a farm environment or from a big city.” No matter the personal background, experiences, or interests of youth, the 4-H program is for everyone.
When many people hear about 4-H, they immediately think the program is not suited for their family because they do not live on a farm or own an animal. However, that is simply not true. While the 4-H program’s roots are in agriculture, the program has since expanded and focuses on the mission areas of science, healthy living, and civic engagement. 4-H uses hands-on learning opportunities to give youth the chance to not only learn specific subject matter, but also enhance skills that they will need for a lifetime.
Beyond increasing knowledge of specific subject matter, the 4-H program has shown other positive benefits to youth as compared to their peers. A Tufts University study showed that 4-H members excel in positive youth development areas compared to peers, including:
• Four times more likely to contribute to their communities (grades 7-12)
• Two times more likely to make healthier choices (grade 7)
• Two times more likely to be civically active (grades 8-12)
• Two times more likely to participate in extracurricular STEM programs (grades 10-12)
While the 4-H program has deep roots in agricultural, it has, and continues to evolve to meet the needs of youth today. To learn more about the Indiana 4-H program, you can visit https://extension.purdue.edu/4-H. It is never too late to enroll in the 4-H program. To enroll, visit https://v2.4honline.com or visit the Montgomery County Extension office at 400 Parke Ave., Crawfordsville. The program fee for enrolling in 4-H is $15 per child and mini 4-H (grades K-2) is free. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the Extension office at 765-364-6363.
Abby Morgan is the Montgomery County Extension Education, 4-H Youth Development Educator. She may be reached by email at asweet@purdue.edu.
