"4-H is one of the leading youth clubs across the United States and Canada. 4-H is the most highly recognized of all Extension programs (Van Horn, Flanagan, & Thomson, 1999). For the past 102 years, 4-H has been helping children and youth reach their fullest potential through learning new life skills, meeting new people, learning responsibility, and building self-confidence. Participation in 4-H fosters core objectives, such as knowledge and skills, leadership and personal development, and citizenship skills through its projects, activities, and programs (Asthroth & Haynes, 2002).

A number of studies have examined the impact of 4-H projects and activities on life-skill development (Fox, Schroeder, & Lodl, 2003; Mead, Hirschl, Rodriguez, & Goggin, 2000; Boyd, Herring, & Briers, 1992; Heinsohn & Cantrell, 1986). Consensus from these studies indicated that 4-H members developed critical life skills, such as decision making, leadership, communication, personal development, and social skills."

The Kentucky 4-H Equine Task Force is a new initiative that began in September 2023 for senior-level 4-H youth across the Commonwealth. The mission of the task force is to offer an advanced opportunity for senior level 4-H equine youth to further develop leadership and communication skills, and career exploration while representing and promoting the Kentucky 4-H Horse Program at the county, area, state, and regional levels. Specific goals include developing an equine-related yearly passion project debated and voted on by members to complete and share at the state level, increase horse knowledge, present a workshop at the 2024 Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Forum and have an educational exhibit at the forum to spread awareness of the new group, and advocate for the task force, Kentucky 4-H Horse Program, and the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food & Environment at events. 

Throughout the first year, 12 youth networked with other peers from across the state, delved into the equine industry in central Kentucky through an experiential career day where we visited Red Mile racetrack, Kesmarc rehabilitation center, Hagyard equine medical hospital, and Old Friends thoroughbred retirement center. At each destination we received a tour and got to see an inside look of how each establishment contributes to the equine industry. Youth got to learn about career paths for different roles at each business and sparked interest in careers ranging from marketing, tourism, and accounting to animal welfare and specialized veterinary roles. The group also attended the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) Day at the Capitol in Frankfort where they got to meet legislatures, page for the Senate, and get a first-hand look at agriculture policy that directly affects the equine industry. They serve as ambassadors in 4-H and have given many elevator speeches about the group and encourage other youth to join.

This opportunity is a two-year commitment and youth are excited to return for a second year to help mentor the newly arriving first-year youth. Youth received a Kentucky 4-H Equine Task Force belt buckle and fundraised enough money to also acquire embroidered polos. The first cohort of the task force was wildly successful!