The Kentucky 4-H Officers and the Florida 4-H Officers recently concluded their Inter-State Exchange experience. In 2017, the Florida 4-H Officers attended Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference where they had the opportunity tol earn about the Kentucky 4-H Program and present two leadership workshops for conference participants. In return, the Florida 4-H Program invited the four state officers to attend their Second Executive Board Weekend in January 2018. During this meeting the Kentucky 4-H Officers facilitated their Global Leadership Workshop, promoting the States’ 4-H International Exchange Program, hosted a panel discussion about Kentucky 4-H, and attended committee meetings.

Due to the Global Leadership Workshop 81% of the 59 individuals who participated reported a positive change related to greeting others in other languages, understanding nonverbal cues as a greeting, and appreciating commonalities and differences with others. The youth who participated reported that because of the information learned in the Kentucky 4-H Global Leadership Workshop they will appreciate others,they desire to practice foreign languages, study diverse cultures, continue connecting with people from different cultures, and travel. This opportunity led two Florida 4-H’ers to share their international experience in hosting a Japanese Exchange Student through the States’4-H International Exchange Program, along with the Florida State Coordinator for the States’ 4-H International Program to recruit members to participate in the program.

The Kentucky 4-H Officers shared what they learned from the Inter-State Exchange with Florida:

“Through visiting the University of Florida’s Nature Coast Biological Station I learned about aquaculture and marine life preservation and Cedar Key’s seafood industry. Witnessing Florida’s agriculture industry was extremely unique from a Kentucky agriculture perspective.”-Deborah Myers, Kentucky 4-H President

“Florida 4-H does an outstanding job at recruiting middle school youth to state events and competitions during their Intermediate State (their middle school leadership conference), I was impressed with this idea and have decided to bring it back to Kentucky 4-H Summit to engage more middle school youth in state-level projects.” -Noah Carter, Kentucky 4-H Vice President

“4-H has taken me to places I never dreamed of going, Cherry Lake 4-H Camp was definitely one of them! This was truly an educational opportunity. While attending Florida 4-H Executive Board Weekend I learned about the Gavel Games, where members have the opportunity to learn more about Parliamentary Procedure with the hopes of attending the national competition at Western Round-Up in Denver, Colorado.” -Mattea Wyatt, Kentucky 4-H Secretary

“The Florida 4-H Executive Board operates in four committees: 4-H Legislature,Intermediate State, 4-H Day at theCapitol & Constitution, and 4-H University. I was impressed with the 4-H Legislature Conference where youth have a voice in developing the entire conference. The program has a large alumni base that stays involved.” – Brandon Darby, Kentucky 4-H Treasurer

Through the Kentucky and Florida 4-H Inter-State Exchange,youth had the opportunity to learn in-depth and first-hand about another 4-H Program. The youth from both states had the opportunity to share their 4-H story with a new audience. It was an exciting opportunity for both programs as the youth were able to continue to foster existing and create new relationships with other 4-H leaders.