Kentucky 4-H Summit seeks to engage middle school aged youth and retain their involvement in 4-H activities through the middle school years, along with empowering youth to become active 4-H leaders on the local and state levels. Objectives of Kentucky 4-H Summit are centered on the developmental needs of middle school aged youth: 4-H Summit aims to provide youth from across the Commonwealth with the opportunity to develop leadership skills through acquiring new knowledge to take back and implement within their local communities, youth have the opportunity to belong to a group of peers and expand teamwork skills, exercise communication skills through networking with other 4-H’ers, experience generosity by giving back through a community service project, and develop relationships with role models through the Kentucky 4-H State Teen Council. 

 The 2024 Kentucky 4-H Summit took place in March in two locations with the counties on the western end of the state attending Summit at West Kentucky 4-H Camp. There was a total of 191 youths, teen and adults that attended in the west, with five participants being from Caldwell County.

The Kentucky 4-H leadership board members lead by example, guiding teams of middle school youth throughout the weekend. Through workshops, activities, and interactive sessions, participants master new skills, empowering them to take on leadership roles confidently. These Team leaders lead their groups in a leadership lesson designed by the State Teen Council members. This lesson gave participants the opportunity to reflect on what the four H’s mean and their significance to the 4-H journey. This lesson not only provided an opportunity for the middle school participants to share their meaning of the H’s but also allowed conversations between all in their team. This opportunity cultivated an environment of trust and opened the door for friendships to build. 

 As a direct result of 4-H Summit participation, middle school aged youth improved through the objectives of the event. Youth attending from Caldwell County evaluated their experience.  90% felt accepted by their team, 85% made a connection with their State Teen Council member.  93% of the participants stated that they improved their communication skills and 89% reported that they could lead a communication once they returned home.  90.5% felt that they had expanded their leadership skills and reported that they could conduct a leadership activity once they returned home. 98% reported that they enhanced their team building skills and 87% reported that they could lead a group discussion once they returned home. 

 A key component to 4-H Summit is continued involvement in the 4-H program through middle school into high school.  75% of the youth attending from Caldwell County reported they would like to apply to serve on the Kentucky 4-H State Teen Council, 70% stated that they would like to apply to serve on one of the core curriculum leadership boards, and 90% stated that they are more likely to attend Teen Conference because of attending 4-H Summit. Kentucky 4-H Summit provides a valuable experience in a safe environment for middle school aged youth, a developmental time where youth are experiencing rapid physical, cognitive, moral, psychological, and social-emotional development, as well as spiritual development.