4-H youth development programs within Extension depend heavily on adult volunteers and provide extensive education to volunteer leaders. 4-H traditionally focuses on positive youth development, but adult volunteers are the mainstay of the programs. A study of Ohio 4-H agents revealed that they believed orienting volunteers is important but lack information on whether their training programs or teaching strategies are effective (Deppe & Culp, 2001). Non-systematic training and the lack of volunteer recognition are two problems identified as crucial to the management of Extension volunteers (Navaratnam, 1986). Although the training received by Extension volunteers has been rated as "quality" when compared to other organizations (Braker, Leno, Pratt, & Grobe, 2000), the need to strengthen the design and implementation of 4-H training programs is ongoing. 

A considerable amount of time and resources, on the part of both volunteer and paid staff in, are dedicated annually to the planning, coordination, and execution of educational volunteer events. These may include workshops, in-services, conferences, or forums that may range in duration from a few hours to several days. 4-H Volunteer Forums are held during the even-numbered years in Kentucky (Culp, 2000). 

The purpose of Kentucky Volunteer Forum is to increase the capacity of volunteer and salaried staff to contribute to the achievement of the mission of 4-H Youth Development Education and the Cooperative Extension System as a whole as well as to provide the educational and technical resources that volunteers need in order to deliver the 4-H Youth Development program as well as to meet 4-H members' needs (Culp, 2000). 

The Kentucky Volunteer Forum provides varied and targeted ongoing education and networking opportunities. For those counties who take advantage of its benefits, the KVF is a critical component in preparing, energizing, and retaining the volunteers who are integral to the success of 4-H.

The 2018 Kentucky Volunteer Forum offered 148 workshops, organized in 19 tracks.  Nelson County Volunteers attended the 2019 Kentucky Volunteer Forum in many capacities. 5 adult volunteers were inducted into the volunteer Hall of Fame and two young adults were recognized for their 10 years of membership in 4-H.  One Nelson County 4-Her served in many capacities at the event as the Kentucky 4-H State Treasurer. Two youth assisted in teaching educational sessions, and many family members registered to support their family members who were being recognized at the event. Volunteers returned to the county remarking on what a special and meaningful event it was, and were ready to recruit others to attend the next forum. 

Determining the factors that motivate volunteers to participate in the Forum is important in order to more effectively market and recruit for the event. 21.62% of respondents reported that they were motivated to attend the 2018 KVF by the workshop offering. Additionally, 16.84% attended because their 4-H agent encouraged them to do so. Additional factors included becoming motivated and re-energized (14.35%), they attended past forums (13.72%), and to network (13.51%).

When asked what components of the forum they most enjoyed, the two biggest responses included workshops (31.41%) and networking opportunities (20.14%).  When asked to identify what they had gained from attending the KVF, 22.93% of attendees reported “learning about new programs” while 19.21% were “motivated or inspired,” 18.18% gathered new information, 16.52% developed new skills, and 15.91% benefitted from “networking.”

Conference attendees were asked to respond to six agree-disagree statements, that queried their aspirations following the forum. (Strongly Agree = 5, Strongly Disagree = 1). These included:

“I am more likely to continue volunteering”                            4.38

“I have increased my level of knowledge”                                4.33

“I am more likely to offer a new program”                               4.22

“I am more likely to increase involvement in my county” 4.13

“I am more energized and motivated”                                        4.13

“I have developed a new skill”                                                        4.05

Using a post-pre-post scale, respondents were asked to rate their level of knowledge prior to and after attending the KVF. Using a 5 point scale, respondents assessed their knowledge level as a 3.87 prior to attending, and a 4.49 following the KVF. The Kentucky Volunteer Forum is Extension’s flagship event for adult and youth volunteers in the commonwealth. The forum benefit volunteers, Extension professionals, as well as the 4-H program at the county, district, and state levels.