The 100th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of Kentucky from June 11th to 14th, 2024. 

The objectives of the Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference are: to develop leadership and teamwork skills, improve communication skills, foster civic engagement, expand knowledge and skills related to 4-H core content areas, create a sense of belonging, expand social skills through networking, develop youth-adult partnerships, and become acquainted with the University of Kentucky to aid in college and career readiness of Kentucky 4-H’ers. 

The 100th-year Teen Conference celebration garnered significant attention, drawing 588 participants from across the state, eight of which were from Laurel County. During the educational experience, all youth participated in a UK recruitment session with the Office of Enrollment Management. They received academic exploration materials from the Martin Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Center for Student Success. This exposure allowed them to learn about the University of Kentucky and consider it as a potential institution for their higher education. 

In the post-conference evaluation, 77% of respondents expressed interest in attending the University of Kentucky, and 25% were keen on learning more about Agriculture. Overall, 90% of youth responded positively to the overall conference. Among the attendees, 47% were first-year members, 31% were second-year members, and 22% had attended the conference for three or more years. To capture the progressive experience, youth were also asked about their previous involvement in 4-H. Of those who responded, 83% had attended 4-H Camp, and 51% had participated in 4-H Summit. Laurel County sent four first-year members to the conference. All teens responded positively to the conference and expressed their interest in attending the conference again.

As part of the conference, 4-H collaborated with 25 different units and departments across the University to offer six hours of educational content in various subjects (majors). Youth engaged in hands-on lessons both inside and outside classrooms, providing them with a glimpse of student life at the University of Kentucky. The majors covered areas such as agriculture, health, natural resources, expressive arts, family consumer sciences, science, engineering, technology, and communication. According to the evaluation, 89% of participants indicated that they learned something new in their chosen major. 62% of participants indicated that the greatest benefit to Teen Conference is learning about the University and understanding the options better.  

Laurel County youth explored majors ranging from music to skills that pay the bills. During the Equine Pre-veterinary major, participants toured the stables and dissected a horse’s leg. “Equine pre-vet major really taught me a lot. I never knew how many muscles and parts were in a horse’s leg. I love horses and am considering becoming a vet,” said Ashley O, a Laurel County 4-H teen. Another teen attended the music, art, and dance major. Sarah C. said, “I love to write poetry and this major gave me the chance to write a couple of original pieces and perform them in front of an audience. This was a wonderful experience that I can’t put into words.”

In addition to educational content, participants dedicated six hours to leadership development and service learning. Teens attended a leadership workshop led by a youth-adult facilitation team and collaborated with over 25 community-serving organizations for three hours of service work. Laurel County youth did a variety of service projects including making Juneteenth decorations at Goodwill, adapting toys for those with disabilities at Toys with a Purpose, and packing care packages for deployed military members at Military Missions. In total Laurel County participants provided 24 hours of service work resulting in a cost savings of $1,624 (calculated at $7.25 per hour) for organizations compared to using paid employees. These efforts not only supported local service organizations but also empowered 4-Hers to recognize their ability to impact change in their community.

Kentucky 4-H is committed to providing educational experiences for all youth. The Kentucky 4-H Foundation awarded $11,620 to 68 Kentucky 4-Hers to attend the Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference. The Kentucky 4-H Foundation awarded $20,500 to 4-Hers in post-secondary education scholarships during the Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference.