4-H works to develop responsible and effective leaders inour clubs, our communities, our country and our world. We need these leaders inthe workplaces, in government, and in charitable organizations; people who willbecome leaders of the future. Our teenagers in our communities will become theadults who will, hopefully, be providing the leadership in our communities in the future; whether it be city/county/state government, teaching, business managers/owners, etc. It is a large role of the 4-H program to develop those young people into adults who can fill those roles later.

 Teens who participate in Grayson County 4-H work hard on broadening and strengthening their leadership skills by actively participating in their clubs, seeking officer and leadership roles in those clubs and being an active leader voice for the group. The 4-H Teen Club has opened its membership to include middle school aged youth in addition to the high school youth; first to increase membership, and secondly to start those younger teens on a strong leadership minded path. While those younger teen members may not be very vocal and slightly timid at first, by the time they are in high school, they have found their leadership voice and are not shy about stepping up. Teens in this group actively seek volunteer opportunities with the 4-H Agent as well as in the local Extension Program. 

 Through active participation in their club, they work to draw youth from the other community clubs to help them develop leadership skills. These are the teens that participate in state events like 4-H Summit,4-H Teen Conference, and Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference. They seek state teen positions; over the last three years, Grayson County 4-H has had a State 4-H Treasurer, State Teen Council Member (roles included Chair of Newsletter Committee and assisting with Majors, Minors and Fun shops at Teen Conference), and Science, Engineering, and Technology Board member (Chair). 

 Not only are teens developing and expanding their leadership skills, but they are enhancing other skill areas as well, particularly, communications and confidence in communications. In the multi-county Teen Leadership Academy, participants are required to present a speech or demonstration and peer review each other. This requirement as increased the confidence of Grayson County teens in public speaking; they are willing to present not only at the county contest, but will compete at area and state contests. It has increased their confidence when they present their reasons in Livestock Judging events, they have made presentations to adult groups like the Cattlemen’s Association, and have helped co-host a local morning radio show.

 One teen states, “I have gained so many skills through all of these programs that I will use my entire life, including public speaking skills, leadership, and organization.”

 The recent graduate and former state officer says, “The biggest thing I learned was that if you want to do something, you just have to go for it; you are going to have supporters all around you. This mindset has taught me to value the relationships that develop from ‘going for it’ because it has guided me to the career path I am on today.”