What comes to mind when someone mentions 4-H?  An average person would say It’s a club.  But to me 4-H is more than that. It’s a lifestyle!  It’s a lifestyle in which you experience many events and activities with friends that I have met through 4-H from all the different districts.  I have shared many memories, friendships, and discovered a family away from home.  These people may live several miles away, we may not see each other daily, but we always have one another for support.  

Because of my involvement with 4-H for over 10 years I have gained personal growth, accepted and learned to deal with different perspectives maturely, deal with life problems with better insight, gained confidence, learned how to step out of my comfort zone and all of this has helped form me form a better foundation for my future.  

 4-H has given me many opportunities to branch out.   If it wasn’t for this club, I would never have been able to experience life away from home.  I would have never gone to visit and stay on a college campus to get a glimpse of what my future could hold.  I would have never been able to go to camp with a couple of friends and then leave with countless new friends and memories.  Every year after that, most of us returned and eventually we became camp counselors.  These 10 plus years have really added to my 4-H family.  This has influenced my life in many ways that I couldn’t even begin to explain.  I am very grateful for everything that my 4-H family has done with and for me.  All the memories, opportunities, and experiences I have had with everyone really mean a lot. This has been the most influential part of my adolescent life.  I now carry the assortment of qualities you have given me.  I thank each of and everyone for playing a part in my growth.   Thank you very much!  Brad O.

The problem

Finding a place to belong

The educational program response

Various leadership opportunities.  Teen Council, Teen Conference, Camp  

The participants/target audience

Teens

Other partners (if applicable)

Program impact or participant response.

See the whole statement above