How we live life is ever changing but learning basic life skills is still as important as ever. Many schools no longer teach basic life skills classes which means basic life skills for positive youth development are not consistently being taught in schools. Hands-on extension programming equip youth with these much necessary life skills! 4-H offers basic learning activities in seven core areas of interest to youth, however it’s the unlimited addition of 4-H activities where members report the influence 4-H has on their life. Most youth report that participating in one or two educational opportunities influenced their critical thinking and decision making skills. However for those 4-H members that participate in six to eight they say the program influenced them by adding the development of life skills in leadership, organization, wise use of resources, useful/marketable skills, and accepting differences.

The Kentucky State Fair offers 4-H members a culminating event of yearly project work. Where project work is defined by including the following: “(a) Planned work in an area of interest to the 4-H member, (b) Guided by a 4-H adult volunteer who is the project leader, (c) Aimed at planned objectives that can be attained and measured, (d) Summarized by some form of record keeping, and (e) A minimum of six hours of project instruction” (National 4-H Council, 2013). In 2022, Kentucky 4-H members exhibited and participated in 4,888 4-H projects and competitions in Cloverville. While 4-H Youth exhibited 2,850 livestock projects that included (a) beef, (b) dairy, (c) dairy goats, (d) market goats, (e) sheep, and (f) swine. Therefore, Kentucky 4-H members spent a total of 46,428 hours enhancing their skills through hands-on project work. 

Simpson county had 30 youth enter just over 200 exhibits in the Simpson County Fair.  In addition, seven members exhibited their 4-H poultry projects in the 1st annual Simpson County Fair Poultry Show and nine members members exhibited their 4-H sewing projects in the county fashion revue held during county fair week. Three of these seniors also competed in the State Fashion Revue with one placing as a semi-finalist.  Seventeen Simpson county youth advanced to the KY State Fair with sixty-eight projects.  Two of these entries placed as State Fair class champions in sewing and photography.  Four members participated in the Avian Bowl and Poultry Judging contests, with one of these seniors placing 4th in Avian Bowl and qualifying for Nationals.  Four youth competed in the State Fair Horticulture contest with one placing as the Junior Grand Champion and the team receiving overall Junior Reserve Grand Champion.  Twelve Simpson county members competed in the State Fair Country Ham Contest where five of them placed in the top three in their age division.  This is quite an accomplishment given over 800 youth competed in the State Fair 4-H Ham Contest.  When 4-H members place with their 4-H project work at State Fair it stands alone as a testament to the basic life skills they have learned and accomplished through their participation in 4-H!