In order to address the need for youth leadership at the county and district level, a collaborative effort by LaRue, Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin and Meade counties was formed to conduct the tenth year of the 4-H Teen Leadership Academy. The nine month program focused on developing teen participant’s leadership and communication skills. Through an application process, a total of 25 youth were selected for the 2017-2018 class. Monthly day-long sessions followed which covered such topics as college and career preparation, entrepreneurship, communications, government and public service, community service and volunteerism. A retreat focused on teambuilding and communication skills. The program consisted of a total of 58 contact hours with each teen participant for a total of 1450 contact hours. In order to build communication skills, each participant was required to present a 5 minute speech or demonstration with follow-up questions. The program was funded by participant registration fees and county council donations totaling $1250. The evaluation revealed 100 percent of participants increased their confidence in public speaking and in their leadership abilities. One participant stated, "Because of TLA, I am taking on new leadership positions.  TLA helped me be a better speaker and team member."  
A workshop presented at the annual Kentucky 4-H Agents Meeting in the spring of 2014 helped to start the TLA program in three other areas of the state. Three separate groups stated the program during the 2014-2015 program year and have continued since then. These agents also found that the program helped graduates increase involvement and willingness to take on leadership roles.  
With TLA in it's tenth year, agents have seen long term impacts of the program.  One of the graduates from the first year credits TLA for her later extended involvement in 4-H.  She went on to attend 4-H Camp as a Teen Leader because of TLA and loved camp so much that she later applied to work on camp staff.  This summer she is in her fifth summer as a camp staff member.