4-H Leadership
4-H Leadership
Averbeck, Donahue, Kelley
4-H Leadership Core Curriculum
Leadership is a needed and important programming emphasis in Kentucky 4-H. The Cooperative Extension Service provides opportunities to youth and families to help improve their leadership ability and create most positive futures. Leadership opportunities for youth create a setting that reduces the access of youth to risk factors that can negatively impact their success. Basic leadership knowledge and skills are essential for success in almost any field. The skills associated with leadership are necessary when working in a group or communicating with others. Employers look for leadership skills in the persons they hire. Developing leadership in the youth and adults who are involved in the 4-H program is a priority. By assisting the development of leadership skills in today’s youth, we improve their ability to face the challenges of tomorrow. (Unlock Your Leadership Potential, University of Florida. The development of life skills [such as leadership] allows youth to cope with their environment by making responsible decisions, having a better understanding of their values, and being better able to communicate and get along with others. (Boyd, Herring & Briers, 1992, Journal of Extension).
• Youth will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth.
• Youth will demonstrate the understanding of diversity, inclusivity and multiculturalism in their daily life.
• Youth will identify and address critical issues that impact the community.
• Youth will be productive, contributing adults in the future.
• Youth will use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace.
• Youth will demonstrate leadership, teamwork and communication skills in their day to day lives.
• Youth will utilize leadership skills learned during their time in 4-H in clubs, activities and other venues with 4-H and other community organizations.
• Senior 4-H members will become leaders or co-leaders of a 4-H project club, day camp or other project based group of younger 4-H members.
• Youth will indicate increased awareness of diversity issues in their community and personal lives.
• Youth will engage in community based service projects selected to address identified needs.
• Youth will learn the communication, leadership and procedural skills that will allow them to run a meeting.
• Youth will learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics.
• Youth will learn about diversity and will demonstrate inclusivity.
• Youth will acquire decision making skills and gain an appreciation for civic engagement.
• Youth will learn how to set appropriate, attainable goals.
• Youth will listen to people who have different ideas from them.
Initial Outcome:
• Youth will increase their knowledge about leadership and how to be an effective leader, team player and communicator.
Method: End of Program 4-H leadership survey
Timeline: July 2019 – June 2020Intermediate Outcome:
• Number of youth who indicate they “Know how to set and accomplish a goal.”
• Number of youth who indicate that they “Listen to people who have different ideas than me.”
• Number of youth who indicate they “Can finish a job I have started.”
• Number of youth who indicate they “Can take responsibility for my actions.”
Method: End of Program 4-H leadership survey
Timeline: July 2019 – June 2020Long-term Outcome:
• Number of 4-H members leading a project group or project club.
• Number of 4-H members serving as direct mentors to younger youth.
Method: End of Program 4-H leadership survey
Timeline: July 2019 – June 2020
Audience: Kenton County Youth ages 9 yrs. to 18 yrs.
Activity: Camp Counselor Training
Content or Curriculum: Camp rules and regulations; team building and leadership; guiding children.
Inputs: *Listed below
Date: June 2020
Activity: 4-H Clubs
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Club meeting outline for Parliamentary Procedure.
Inputs: *Listed below
Date: All year
Activity: 4-H Summer Camp
Content or Curriculum: Leadership/Team Building Class obtained and reflected upon by the Junior Counselors while working at camp.
Inputs: *Listed below
Date: July 2020
Activity: Leadership School Clubs for 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Steps Up to Leadership Curriculum.
Inputs: *Listed below
Date: September 2019 thru May 2020.
Activity: 4-H Youth Leadership Council
Content or Curriculum: Apply leadership skills and Parliamentary Procedures during Leadership Council Meetings; develop community service projects.
Inputs: *Listed below
Date: Monthly, September 2019 through September 2020.
Activity: State Teen Conference
Content or Curriculum: State Teen Conference Agenda
Inputs: *Listed below
Date: June 2019
Activity: 4-H Issues Conference
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Issues Identification
Inputs: *Listed below
Date: August 2019 – November 2019
Activity: 4-H Spring Showcase
Content or Curriculum: Youth serve as planning committee
Inputs: *Listed below
Date: May 2020Activity: 4-H Spring Showcase
Content of Curriculum: Agent designed
Inputs: *Listed below
Activity: Capitol Experience
Content or Curriculum: Citizenship
Inputs: *Listed below
Date: Winter 2019/2020
Audience: Adult Volunteer Orientation
Project or Activity: Client Protection Committee
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Client Protection
Inputs: Agent assistance and program funds. County program money will fund other projects.
The Marshall Road location will be utilized for county programs. Paid staff and volunteers will conduct the educational sessions.
Date: July 2019 - June 2020
Audience: Adult volunteers.
Project or Activity: 4-H Horse Certified Leaders Committee
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Horse Program rules, guidelines
Inputs: The county special projects fund will help support volunteers’ registration fees that participate in Volunteer Horse Certification workshops. County program money will fund other projects. Either the Durr Annex or Durr Center will be utilized for county programs.
Date: Oct. 2019 – June 2020
Audience: Master Clothing Volunteers and candidates.
Project or Activity: Master Clothing Volunteer Workshop
Content or Curriculum: Sewing and clothing construction techniques
Inputs: The county special projects fund will help support volunteers’ registration fees that participate in the Master Clothing Volunteer workshops. County program money will fund other projects.
Date: October 2019
Audience: Adult or teen volunteers.
Project or Activity: Horse & Livestock Volunteer Certification & Re-certification
Content or Curriculum: Horse & Livestock Education, UK selected/developed materials
Inputs: The county special projects fund will help support volunteers’ registration fees that participate in Volunteer Livestock Certification workshops. County program money will fund other projects. Durr Center will be utilized for county programs.
Date: September 2019 – July 2020
Audience: Adult or teen volunteers.
Project or Activity: Individual Counseling
Content or Curriculum: Issues specific to the situation or volunteer
Inputs: The county special project funds or county program money will help support volunteer attendance.
Date: As needed; ongoing.
Audience: Adult or teen volunteers.
Project or Activity: Sewing Expo
Content or Curriculum: Sewing and quilting techniques
Inputs: The county special projects funds or county program money will help support volunteer attendance.
Date: April 2020Audience: Adult volunteers.
Project or Activity: 4-H Certified Livestock Leaders
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock rules, guidelines
Inputs: The county special projects fund will help support volunteers’ registration fees that participate in Volunteer Livestock Certification workshops. County program money will fund other projects. Agent will provide training event options for re-certification.
Date: July 2019 – June 2020Audience: Adult volunteers.
Project or Activity: Jabez Quilt Seminar
Content or Curriculum: Quilting techniques
Inputs: The county special projects fund will help support volunteers’ registration fees.
Date: January 2020
Audience: Adult volunteers.
Project or Activity: Shooting Sports Certification
Content or Curriculum: Shooting Sports
Inputs: 4-H Council and grants will help support volunteers’ registration fees that participate in Shooting Sports. County program money will fund other projects. Either the Durr Annex, Durr Center, or Lloyd Wildlife will be utilized for county programs. Paid staff and volunteers will conduct most of the educational sessions.
Date: Fall 2019, Spring 2020
Audience: Adult or teen volunteers.
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Camp Counselor training guides
Inputs: The county 4-H council and County funds will help support and train volunteers that will be attending 4-H camp.
Date: June 2019 – July 2020Audience: Adult or teen volunteers.
Project or Activity: 4-H Communication event
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communication
Inputs: County program funds will be used to train teens and adults to serve as room monitors and judges for the county communication event
Date: July 2019 – June 2020*Inputs:
County 4-H Agents and Program Teaching Assistants
Volunteer Adult Project Leaders
Kenton County Cooperative Extension Office
Kenton County Schools
Kenton County Middle Schools
Kenton County Catholic Middle Schools
Erlanger/Elsmere Schools
The University of Kentucky
North Central 4-H Camp
State 4-H Youth Development Staff
County Program Funds
Covington Independent Public Schools
Ludlow Independent Public Schools
Author: Ola Donahue
Major Program: 4-H Volunteer Programming
Volunteers have a positive impact where they live and work. They make communities stronger, connect communities to each other, improve community health and increase overall civic involvement. The value of 4-H volunteers extends far beyond the scope of youth development into every part of their community. (UMN Extension Volunteer Survey)Kenton County is always looking for ways to get our 4-H Volunteers Leaders more involved in our community. To reach out across the program areas and sh