Success StoryExpanding 4-H Opportunities in Edmonson County.



Expanding 4-H Opportunities in Edmonson County.

Author: Julia Wilson

Planning Unit: Hart County CES

Major Program: Volunteer Development

Plan of Work: 4-H Youth Development

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Edmonson County is a rural two agent county. Without a dedicated full time 4-H agent the 4-H program has been small and has grown very slowly. Research has shown numerous benefits for youth involved in 4-H including that they four times more likely to contribute to their communities and two times more likely to make healthy lifestyle choices. 

During of summer of 2020 the FCS Agent started to heavily promote the benefits of 4-H and all of the opportunities offered. Over 1000 grab and go bags were distributed to youth in the county. In 2021 the FCS Agent began advertising 4-H with community partners and the school system by participating in events such as Back to School Bash. One 4-H Teen Leader also assisted in sharing the benefits of 4-H with the school system. As a result an in school Teen Club has been established at Edmonson County High School, an in school Discovering 4-H Club has been established for the entire 6th grade, and an after school community club has been started at South Edmonson Elementary. Six new volunteers were recruited for these clubs, three of which have  completed the training to become a Livestock Leader as well. In addition five youth are participating in the country ham project, a first for Edmonson County, and four volunteers attended the volunteer forum in 2022. 

The Edmonson County 4-H Program has grown extensively. In the 2014-2015 program year 13 youth were enrolled in the program. As of April of 2022 176 youth were enrolled in 4-H. 







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