Hancock County 4-H focuses its Positive Youth Development programming in alignment with KY 4-H in believing all youth should have opportunities for positive youth development in our four guiding concepts:  mastery, belonging, independence, and generosity.  The 4-H Rabbit program fosters mastery by learning about raising, breeding, and marketing rabbits, belonging by interacting and connecting with adults and youth with similar interests, independence by demonstrating responsible rabbit ownership, and generosity by participating in community service activities such as the county’s Trail of Treats and the Fairgrounds Clean Up.

The Hancock County 4-H Rabbit Club met bi-monthly with educational meetings led by two adult volunteers. The officers are elected annually and utilize Parliamentary Procedure to conduct their meetings.  Each meeting provided hands-on educational programs with topics such as breed identification, anatomy, feed and nutrition, showmanship, and other relevant topics. The club has grown to 18 members ages 5-18. The club worked in partnership with the Hancock County Fairboard and hosted an open show. 

The members practice public speaking skills by demonstrating their showmanship skills and speaking about their rabbits.  The main club leader also practices her leadership and communication skills by judging the Ky State Fair 4-H Rabbit Show Showmanship entries as well as presenting 2 workshops at the upcoming KY 4-H Volunteer Forum in Lexington. She is a member of the first accredited rabbit club leaders in the state. 

The Rabbit Club members and leaders work are an example of positive youth development benefitting the youth, the adults, and the community.