What do you do in 4-H?  Do the kids do anything?  Is it just cows and cookies?  All questions asked over the years, but a standard form of measuring the Communications, Leadership, and Civic Engagement impact of Kentucky 4-H programming has not been available.  For the 2023-24 program year, Kentucky 4-H has made evaluation tools available with counties able to add their spin as needed.  Marshall County 4-H Youth Development Agent implemented these evaluation tools at the last club meeting for all three County 4-H Club levels – Teen-Middle, Elementary (4th & 5th) and Cloverbuds (K-3).

Beyond the standardized questions asked, the Marshall County 4-H Youth Development Agent went a step further asking the Teen-Middle 4-Hers to identify things the liked; things they learned; and future program/project suggestions.  Below are some highlights from the 21 Teen-Middle 4-Hers who responded.

Things liked about 4-H this year (2023-24):

•    Being with friends./The people./Making new friends. (15 responses)

•    Community Service/Learning about the community. (7)

•    Helping with Cloverbuds and Elementary 4-Hers (5)

•    Planning as a group. (3)

Things learned this year because of 4-H:

•    Social skills. (3)

•    Communications skills. (4)

•    More about leadership skills. (7)

•    Teaching skills. (3)

Notable quotes from the Teen-Middle 4-Hers:

•    “Self-awareness. Impact on others. Part I play.”

•    “4-H is awesome!”

•    “Be a better me!”

•    “I have learned more about leadership, how to plan more things, and how to pitch in with helping community.”

Program/project suggestions for the future made by Teen-Middle 4-Hers:

•    Art classes

•    Cooking classes.

•    More civic engagement/community service.

•    Literature based 4-H clubs.

•    Sewing classes.

•    Game night for 4-Hers!

Based on the above, it was worth asking beyond the standard questions to get more than Yes/No responses.  The responses received by the Teen-Middle 4-Hers prove Marshall County 4-H does make a difference and we have an exciting future ahead!