Leadership development, career exploration, decision-making skills, youth voice and personal development are important parts of the Kentucky 4-H Youth Development program and are offered through state 4-H Teen Leadership Boards. In its third year, the Kentucky 4-H SET Leadership Board, nine youth from Extension Districts 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 have worked to expand their reach and demonstrated strong leadership and programming skills.

Major accomplishments this year include:

• Hosting the Kentucky 4-H Robotics Challenge at the Kentucky State Fair in August 2017. This event brought in over 60 youth from across the Commonwealth to test their skills in both robotics programming and creative problem solving. The SET Board members took responsibility for helping with and serving as judges for individual event and providing information on the 4-H Program to participants and the general public.  The SET Board oversaw the logistical flow of the event and served as a visual presence for the Kentucky 4-H Program and SET Project Area.
• Attended the National Youth Maker Summit at the National 4-H Conference Center to learn more about how to incorporate 4-H Youth Development and the Maker Movement. From this event, the Board developed three workshops for the Kentucky 4-H Summit and a workshop session for the STEM cohort for the Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference.
• Presentation of three workshops and the Capnote activity (Using STEM to Teach Teamwork and Communication) at session one of the Kentucky 4-H Summit to 175+ middle schoolers.
• Development and presentation of the “4-H and the Maker Movement – So You Want to be a Maker” workshop for the STEM cohort at the Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference to nineteen Kentucky 4-H youth and adults. They also interacted and presented this in conjunction with member of the University of Kentucky Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering faculty members.
• Presentations to the general public at several mini Maker Faires throughout the state on this year’s National Youth Science Day experiment, “Incredible Wearables”. These presentations reached over 300 people and increased awareness of the 4-H SET Program.

The SET Board is a testament to how youth can positively influence other youth to get involved in making a difference in an area they are passionate about or interested in. The relationship between the 4-H members and the advisors is also a testament to the benefit of youth-adult partnerships in the success of 4-H Youth Development Programs. 

The following testimonial was shared by Morelia Falcon, 2017-18 Chair of the Kentucky 4-H SET Leadership Board:

“A year ago, I applied for this S.E.T. Board.
 I had always had a passion for 4-H but was really shy and quiet. At our first meeting I was very surprised when this Board elected me as their Chair. I was excited for the challenge but didn't understand exactly what this year would hold for me. Throughout this year I have learned what it really means to be a leader. I have had the opportunity to coordinate, teach, and lead. I have also gained an incredible State 4-H family.

To all of my fellow 2017-2018 S.E.T. Board members, Jared (Vice Chair), Kara (Recorder), Tristan, Justice, Kiersten, Annissa, Grayson, and Karina. As this year has come to an end and some of you are moving on from this board, I will never forget all of our incredible inside jokes, Chuck the cup, our quest to McDonald's, and my personal favorite, how Annissa got lost in the airport after wanting to go down the escalator.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity and confidence I needed to grow as a leader, always being there whenever I needed someone to lean on and keep me laughing when I got a little stressed.

To Mr. Torey Earle:  Mr. Earle is the adult advisor for the Kentucky 4-H State Science Engineering and Technology Board. He has pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone and gave me the confidence I needed to successfully lead our State Board this program year. I can confidently say, without this incredible human...I would not be the leader I am today! Thank you for everything!

I thought I cried all my tears earlier but as I am typing this I have learned I still had a few left... Thank you for such an amazing year! I love you guys so much.”

The impact the Kentucky 4-H SET Board is having on its members goes way beyond STEM outreach. The Board is developing future leaders and contributing, productive citizens.