Kentucky 4-H Summit seeks to engage middle school aged youth and retain their involvement in 4-H activities through the middle school years, along with empowering youth to become active 4-H leaders on the local and state levels.  Kentucky 4-H Summit centers objectives and goals on the developmental needs of middle school aged youth: 4-H Summit aims to provide youth from across the Commonwealth with the opportunity to develop leadership skills through acquiring new knowledge to take back and implement within their local communities, youth have the opportunity to belong to a group of peers and expand teamwork skills, exercise communication skills through networking with other 4-H’ers, experience generosity by giving back through a community service project, and develop relationships with role models through the Kentucky 4-H State Teen Council. 

In 2018, 89 counties from across Kentucky participated in Kentucky 4-H Summit. The state-wide event attracted 481 middle school 4-H’ers, 84 teen volunteers, and 27 adult volunteers. Leslie County 4-H had 6 middle school 4-H delegates doubling  our attendance from last year and 1 adult master clothing adult volunteer attending 4-H Summit! Through the community service project, the participants created and donated over 75 fleece blankets to a homeless shelter in Somerset, Kentucky. 128 individuals who attended 4-H Summit participated in the 4-H 4K, for 64 individuals this was the first time they had participated in a run/walk event. Various other activities were implemented to meet the needs of this age group such as workshops, funshops, and planned time to explore 4-H core content areas. As a direct result of 4-H Summit participation middle school aged youth improved through the objectives of the event. The middle school aged youth evaluation of their experiences revealed the following:

• 98.33% felt accepted by their team

• 83.51% made a connection with their State Teen Council Member

• 92.49% felt they had the opportunity to give back through the community service event.

• 88.93% Youth improved their communication skills and 87.24% reported they could lead a communication activity once they returned home 

• 90.82% Expanded their leadership skills and 88.73% reported they could conduct a leadership activity once they returned home

• 92.49% Enhanced their team building skills and 87.4% reported they could lead a group discussion once they returned home.

An important key component to 4-H Summit is continued involvement in the 4-H program through middle school into high school. 73.01% reported they would like to apply to serve on the Kentucky 4-H State Teen Council, 70.59% reported they would like to apply to serve on one of the core curriculum leadership boards, and 87.73% reported that as a result of 4-H Summit they are more likely to attend 4-H Teen Conference. 

For 61.17% of the participants this was their first time attending 4-H Summit, 27.97% attended the previous year, and 10.86% attended for three years. Participants ages were: 13 years old (39.63%), 12 years old (29.72%), 11 years old (15.44%), and 14 years old (15.21%). 68.70% of the middle school aged youth had previously attended 4-H Summer Camp. Kentucky 4-H Summit provides a valuable experience in a safe environment for middle school aged youth, a developmental time where youth are experiencing rapid physical, cognitive, moral, psychological, and social-emotional development, as well as spiritual development.  #EMPOWERKY4H