The 4-H Program not only teaches youth important life skills for being successful, but also provides youth with learning experiences that youth will use throughout the remainder of their lives.  

Eighteen of Warren County's 4-H youth participated in the 2021 Kentucky 4-H Achievement Recognition Program.  The Kentucky 4-H Achievement Program seeks to recognize 4-H youth for their county, area/district, state and national 4-H involvement through continued record-keeping that spans over the entire 4-H career of a member.  Members are encouraged to become well-rounded leaders in their communities through their participation in five key 4-H focus areas: leadership, civic engagement, communications/marketing, community action and participation/involvement.   These youth are applying for recognition in one of three Clover Levels (1-3) or for the more prestigious, Bronze Achievement, Silver Achievement, Gold Achievement and Emerald Achievement awards.  In addition to the learning experiences encouraged by the program, 4-Her’s apply a variety of life-skills not limited to record-keeping, leadership, resume development, interview skills and effective communications amongst many other skills.  The 4-H Achievement Program not only focuses on 4-H involvement but also recognizes youth for being active in their communities through non 4-H related involvement.   

Warren County had seven youth to receive an award in one of the first three Clover Levels which recognize youth for beginner participation in the 4-H Program.   Only 105 youth across the state of Kentucky are awarded the 4-H Bronze Achievement.   Warren County was excited to have had two individuals, London Bergner and Jonas Hosay, for having received their Bronze Awards.  In addition to 4-H’s focus on hands-on experiential learning and leadership development, 4-H strives to teach our youth to value hard-work, responsibility, critical thinking, cooperation with others and nurturing youth-adult partnerships amongst a variety of thinking, caring and giving life skills.  

Only 60 youth across the state of Kentucky are awarded the 4-H Silver Achievement.  Warren County was honored to have four of those recipients, Cricket Bergner, Avery Cole, Grace Graham, and Bradley Webster.  These 4-H members strength their community action projects, social media communication skills, and facilitated 4-H programs.  Avery had this to say about her experience in Warren County 4-H: “4-H has given me a lifetime of opportunities including developing my leadership skills, improving my knowledge in my 4-H Projects, and has inspired me to “make the best better!”  Challenges that I may experience are not opportunities for growth and 4-H has given me the confidence to push myself to limits I never thought possible.”

 Even more difficult to obtain is the Gold 4-H Honors award which Warren County 4-H’er, Isaac Hosay, received as one of Kentucky 4-H’s top 30 members.  Youth who achieve beyond the Clover Levels are deemed to be great representatives of the Kentucky 4-H Program, as these youth compete against hundreds of youth for these recognitions.  Isaac has this to say about his experience in Warren County 4-H: “I began 4-H when I was nine and I have come so far since then.  4-H has allowed me to interact better with others, hone my leadership skills, and become a better speaker.  I have made many powerful bonds of friendship throughout my 4-H experience.  The Clubs are a wonderful experience that have cultivated children like me all around the world into responsible citizens.  I’ve even created a club, the Better Together Club; our goal is to include people of all abilities in 4-H.  In conclusion, 4-H has given me purpose during my childhood and has helped me prepare for the real world.”

The Warren County 4-H Program is quite pleased to have one individual to receive the Emerald 4-H Achievement.  Emerald 4-H Award Winners are exemplary 4-Hers who have embraced the hands-on, learn-by-doing opportunities available to them through the KY 4-H Youth Development Program, which empowers youth to reach their full potential. An emerald winner is a well-rounded 4-Her who has developed invaluable life skills through varied experiences within the core content curriculum, including strong leadership, citizenship, and communication skills, and is civically engaged. 4-H strives to build contributing, productive, and self-directed members of society, which the emerald winners exemplify. Making the Best Better is a way of life for these young people. They are well suited for and welcome the responsibility of serving as an ambassador for the KY 4-H Foundation and the KY 4-H Youth Development Program.  Only four youth are selected to receive this Emerald Award each year.  Anna Sweets was selected as one of the best and brightest 4-Her’s across the state to receive the Emerald 4-H Achievement this past summer for the 2020-2021 4-H Program year.  After six years of involvement, Anna shared these thoughts about 4-H’s impact on her life: “It has given me the ability to professional collaborate with others in the community and taught me the importance of communication.  This influenced me to apply to the communication disorders major at WKU.  I also see the impact 4-H can have on individuals that may not be involved in other activities.  For that reason, I plan to continue being an adult volunteer and club leader even after aging out of 4-H.”