The top five skills that employers look for in prospective employees is communication, leadership, teamwork, interpersonal and learning/adaptability. Unfortunately, iGens (young adults born during the years of 1995-2012) are so heavily immersed in social media that they spend less time practicing these valuable face to face skills. And therefore, are less equipped with the skills needed in the workplace.

Fortunately, iGens 4-H members get many opportunities to experience, practice, and hone their workplace skills by participating in 4-H projects and activities. These activities might include participation in 4-H clubs and projects, public speaking and demonstration contests, participating in leadership conferences such as Summit and Teen Conference, serving on leadership boards, and performing community service. 

In 2023, this reporting agent took 18 teens (iGens) to Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference. This group of teens participated in the following projects/clubs throughout the program year: shooting sports, horse, poultry, leadership, country ham, camp, sewing, and SET and communication. At Teen Conference, eight of these teens were recognized for their outstanding achievements in leadership, communication and teamwork by receiving Bronze, Silver, Gold or Emerald Awards. Additionally, four of these teens served on state leadership boards in the following categories (shooting sports, SET, fashion leadership, and state teen council) and one teen was installed as State 4-H Vice President. All eighteen teens completed community service projects during teen conference, and several have conducted and led their own community service projects on the local level. 

When asked what their proudest accomplishments in 4-H were, responses included: becoming a shooting sports ambassador, winning in horse bowl, achieving Silver, Gold, and Emerald achievements, 2^nd place at state shooting sports tournament in pistol, my vision board project, Foods State Champion, becoming a finalist in the State Fashion Revue, achieving a lot in shooting sports and getting better, and signing up for Teen Conference. 

A survey was completed by the teens and when asked the question, “How have you grown as a 4-H leader by participating in the 4-H program?”, the responses included: “Gotten more confident”, “I’ve learned more about leading the people around me and mentoring the younger generation”, “I got to see how different people like to be led different ways”, “I’m more open to meeting new people and listening to others’ ideas”, “It’s given me many leadership skills and given me the confidence to become a leader”.