The 2025 Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of Kentucky June 10-13, 2025, continuing its long-standing tradition of empowering youth through leadership, education, and service. This year’s conference welcomed a total of 528 participants, including 365 youth delegates, 35 State Teen Council members, 24 State Board members from SET, NRESci, and SSTAB, 80 4-H Agents, 9 4-H Program Assistants, 7 4-H Interns, and 8 volunteers. 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. 

A highlight of the conference was the keynote address delivered by a distinguished Kentucky 4-H alum, Amelia Iliohan, who shared her personal 4-H journey and how it shaped her professional path. Her story of growth, resilience, and achievement served as a powerful reminder of the lifelong impact of 4-H. By reflecting on her own experiences—from club meetings and leadership boards to national competitions and college decisions—she encouraged delegates to embrace every opportunity 4-H offers. Her message underscored the importance of staying engaged, taking on new challenges, and using the skills gained through 4-H to lead with purpose. The keynote inspired many attendees to continue their 4-H careers and explore new avenues for involvement, including leadership boards, service roles, and career exploration. 

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 average participant attended Teen Conference for 2 years, with 47% attending for the first time. Many had prior involvement in 4-H, with 83% having attended 4-H Camp and 51% participating in 4-H Summit. 

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 conference also had a significant economic impact, generating $100,000 in revenue for university services and contributing over $15,000 to small businesses through the CLOVERFEST event. 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. The Kentucky 4-H Foundation and other external donors also contributed $20,500 in post-secondary scholarships during the event. 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.

  There were four teen leaders who represented Boone County at the 2025 Teen Conference. This year, our county was represented by twice as many teens who attended the previous year. One of the teens in attendance was a Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassador. Another teen in attendance was a Gold recipient of the 4-H Achievement Program. She received a certificate, pin, patch, and a full scholarship to attend the 2025 Teen Conference. Although we had a fifth teen who did not attend the week long conference, she did attend the awards banquet and received a 2025 Kentucky 4-H Foundation Scholarship. Overall, this conference helped youth build and practice leadership skills, got them involved in public speaking and group discussions, and hands-on projects. The conference helped the youth become more confident in expressing themselves. Furthermore, it exposed them to future planning, career pathways, and goal setting. They were exposed to campus life and gained insights into potential fields of study and career options.