The 4-H Summit is a transformative event for middle school youth, and this year's Summit was a success. With 115 middle school youth, 33 Teen Leaders, and 43 adults in attendance, the event highlighted the power of social activities, hands-on learning, and a supportive environment.   Adair County had 4 middle school youth and 1 State Teen Council member who attended the 2025 4-H Teen Summit.

Social activities are crucial for youth development. At the 4-H Summit, 57% of attendees were motivated by the opportunity to meet new people, while 51% enjoyed spending time with friends. These interactions build social and emotional skills, encouraging positive behaviors and better academic engagement. The sense of belonging fostered at the 4-H Summit is vital for healthy growth.

Hands-on learning is a cornerstone of the 4-H Summit. According to the survey, 61% of participants enjoyed the workshops the most; this boosts academic performance and critical thinking skills. The Leadership Workshop, which 39% found most educational, focused on developing basic leadership skills. Participants rated their overall experience at Summit an impressive average of 8.78 out of 10.

4-H Summit offers a positive environment, essential for youth development. Structured learning, leadership experiences, and adult mentoring lead to higher academic achievement, civic engagement, and healthier lifestyle choices. 4-H Summit helps youth develop competence, confidence, character, connection, and caring.  

The 4-H Youth Development Thriving Model predicts that youth in high-quality 4-H programs will thrive. 4-H Summit's developmental context, including sparks (youth interests), high-quality programs, and relationships with caring adults, ensures participants are well-prepared for their future educational and career endeavors.

Aligned with the National 4-H Beyond Ready Initiative, which focuses on resilience, confidence, and community engagement as a way to ensure that youth are ready to contribute positively to society, the 4-H Summit offered a variety of workshops centered around key life skill development. From car maintenance to kitchen safety, youth had the opportunity to build upon skills that will serve them well once they have left the 4-H program 

Civic engagement is key at the 4-H Summit. Activities like the Community Service where youth took time to write positive notes to local residences in assisted living facilities. The Project emphasizes giving back, helping youth become stronger community contributors. Participants leave with enhanced skills, new friendships, and a greater sense of civic responsibility.

The success of the 4-H Summit is evident in the positive feedback from participants. When asking the participants that were aging out of their eligibility to attend Summit if the age range were to change so they could continue to attend,, 4.45 out of 5 attendees said they would likely consider attending again. This enthusiasm highlights the 4-H Summit's impact on youth 

development and its role in preparing young people for a bright future. Participants shared their insights on various aspects of the 4-H Summit. Workshops were the most educational component, with 79% of attendees learning the most from them. Leadership Workshop (39%), Service Project (30%), and Ask an Officer/STC/Board member (23%) also contributed to their learning.

Looking ahead, when asking the participants to rate (1 being most unlikely and 5 being most likely) their interest to participate in other 4-H activities as a result of 4-H Summit, they responded by sharing that they would be on average 3.7 times likely to participate in 4-H Achievement, 3.11 time likely to seeking a leadership board position, 2.7 time likely to seeking a 4-H officer candidate position, and 3.09 times likely to seeking an officer position at the county or area level. 

4-H Summit's success is further highlighted by the attendance history: 65% attended for the first time, 19% for the second time, and 16% for the third time. Participants were in grades 6th (33%), 7th (26%), and 8th (41%), attending public (78%), private (5%), and homeschool (17%) schools.

The 4-H Summit continues to be a beacon of positive youth development, preparing young people for a bright and successful future.