The 2025 Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of Kentucky from June 10th to 13th, continuing its long-standing tradition of empowering youth through leadership, education, and service. This year’s conference welcomed a total of 528 participants, including 9 youth delegates and 2 agents from Campbell County and an additional 12 youth from the rest of Central Areas 7 and 8. The event was designed to foster leadership development, enhance communication skills, promote civic engagement, and provide exposure to college and career pathways. All youth participated in a recruitment session with the UK Office of Enrollment Management and received academic exploration materials from the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. As a result, 77% of participants expressed interest in attending the University of Kentucky, and 89% reported learning something new in their assigned academic major. The conference featured over six hours of hands-on educational content delivered in partnership with 25 UK departments, covering topics such as agriculture, health, natural resources, expressive arts, family and consumer sciences, science, engineering, technology, and communication.

In addition to academic enrichment, youth engaged in six hours of leadership development and service learning, including a leadership workshop and three hours of community service with more than 28 local organizations. Collectively, the youth contributed 1,347 hours of service, generating an estimated $9,766 in value for community partners. Evaluation data revealed that 62% of participants identified learning about the University of Kentucky and understanding their options as the greatest benefit of the conference.

The 2025 conference exemplified the 4-H Beyond Ready framework by providing youth with experiences that fostered a sense of belonging through meaningful connections with peers and mentors, mastery through academic and leadership skill-building, independence through decision-making and self-discovery, and generosity through impactful community service. Youth feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing that the experience helped them grow in confidence, build lasting friendships, and feel inspired to pursue higher education and leadership roles. The Kentucky 4-H Foundation played a vital role in supporting access and opportunity, awarding $17,900 in scholarships to 90 youth to attend the conference through the 4-H Achievement program, including a Campbell County 4-H member. The Kentucky 4-H Foundation and other external donors also contributed $20,500 in post-secondary scholarships during the event. A Campbell County 4-H member received one of these prestigious scholarships. The 2025 Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference stands as a testament to the power of youth development and the enduring impact of 4-H in preparing young people to be beyond ready for their futures.