According to Mentoring.org (2023), there are targeted characteristics a successful mentor has. These include: A sincere desire to be involved with a young person, Respect for young people, Active listening skills, Empathy, Ability to see solutions and opportunities, and Flexibility. This year marked the 11th year the Kentucky 4-H Program participated in the National 4-H Mentoring Project. Sixty 4-Hers and 15 Mentors from Cumberland, Martin, and Powell Counties participated in the Kentucky 4-H Mentoring Project. 

Over the 12-month mentoring period, each mentee received 48 hours of individual and small-group mentoring, for an estimated 2880 hours of mentoring with a caring adult. In order to focus on sustaining this program after the grant cycle is completed, counties were asked to utilize former mentees as peer mentors. All three counties were able to implement this strategy. The goal is to continue the program after the grant funding is over at the end of 2023.  

Mentors assume these different roles during the course of a relationship, and share some basic qualities:

• A sincere desire to be involved with a young person
• Respect for young people
• Active listening skills
• Empathy
• Ability to see solutions and opportunities
• Flexibility

Mentors assume these different roles during the course of a relationship, and share some basic qualities:

• A sincere desire to be involved with a young person
• Respect for young people
• Active listening skills
• Empathy
• Ability to see solutions and opportunities
• Flexibility

Mentors assume these different roles during the course of a relationship, and share some basic qualities:

• A sincere desire to be involved with a young person
• Respect for young people
• Active listening skills
• Empathy
• Ability to see solutions and opportunities
• Flexibility