Leadership development opportunities benefit the individual as well as the community. Youth and adults involved in leadership activities cultivate confidence, enhance their communication skills, value diversity, practice effective decision making, and build social skills. Seeking to strengthen the community, the Oldham County Extension Council identified leadership development as a priority for all residents, youth and adults.

Oldham County 4-H set a goal to provide club leaders with further leadership development opportunities. A club leadership session held in the fall of 2017 focused on updating leaders on policy changes and encouraged open communication between leaders. Discussion at the meeting led to the organization of two new clubs.

The Oldham County 4-H Council presented another leadership development opportunity by funding Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Forum registrations. Twelve club leaders attended. At the Forum, Oldham County adult leaders received the State Certified Shooting Sports Leader and State Conrad Feltner Leadership Awards. In addition, an Oldham County 4-H teen leader received the State 4-H Community Service Award for making a safety video to be used by all county shooting sports programs. She expressed the hope “that anyone and everyone who views [the] video will become aware to the potential dangers of mishandling a firearm and be more contentious while handling a firearm.”

To promote youth leadership development, Oldham County 4-H promotes participation in county, district, and state programs with an emphasis of community service at all levels. 4-H Achievement Applications document members’ leadership development efforts. This past year, 30 Oldham County 4-H’ers submitted their completed Achievement Applications with four receiving their Bronze Awards, four Silvers, and three Golds. A Gold Award winner said it best: “4-H has helped me become a better leader, speaker, and teacher. As a leader, I have organized meetings and projects and now feel comfortable in a leadership role.”