According to the Program Leader’s Working Group Task Force on Positive Youth Development, everyone has something they are passionate about, whether it's a skill, talent, interest, or unique quality. In fact, youth thriving research refers to these things as "sparks” (2024 4-H PLWG Standing Committee on Positive Youth Development). These sparks not only bring joy but also provide purpose and direction, especially for adolescents. These sparks are often self-discovered and self-identified, allowing individuals to truly embrace and cultivate their passions. Hickman County 4-H Council is working to build a county-level program that helps youth thrive by identifying programs, events, and projects that help youth discover their spark. 

Hickman County 4-H'ers showed off at this year's inaugural county rally day and the Kentucky State Fair. The newly enacted 4-H County Rally Day gives 4-H'ers, ages 9-18,  the opportunity to showcase all the hard work they have completed in 4-H throughout the program year in the seven curriculum areas of 4-H programming: Health, Family & Consumer Sciences, Leadership, Communication & Expressive Arts, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Science, Engineering, & Technology. It also gives the public a chance to see what 4-H is all about as they attend the exhibit open house.

During the summer of 2023, several day camps and project days were offered in the seven curriculum areas, with over 60 youths participating. The culminating event for much 4-H project work is the 4-H County Rally Day. In August 2023, Hickman County 4-H'ers submitted 150 exhibits to the county rally day and 53 exhibits to the state fair. In 2019-22, Hickman County 4-H’ers did not have the opportunity to participate, so this event created a sharp baseline increase in county and state fair exhibits. Exhibits included crops, horticulture, foods, sewing, arts & crafts, home environment, photography, and more. This trend of increase in 4-H project work is expected to continue with the sustainable growth of the local 4-H program based on the 4-H Thriving Model.

2024 4-H PLWG Standing Committee on Positive Youth Development. (n.d.). What are sparks?. 4-H PLWG Standing Committee on Positive Youth Development. https://helping-youth-thrive.extension.org/what-are-sparks/

Hickman County 4-H Sewing Project Member Leeyah Peyton began sewing in the Fall of 2022.Leeyah entered her first sewing project at the Kentucky State Fair.During the summer and fall of 2023, Leeyah made several gifts for family and friends using her sewing skills.Hickman County 4-H State Result Graphic for Social Media