The Union County 4-H Program has always had a long time tradition of displaying exceptional 4-H projects at the Union County Fair. However, in recent years, the number of youth submitting projects to be displayed in the county fair has been decreasing. To respond to the declination in numbers, the Union County 4-H Program hosted a new, week-long program called 4-H Project Days. The program was designed to inform youth about the vast opportunities 4-H offers, provide youth with the supplies and a location to create projects other than at home, and teach multiple lessons from 4-H curriculum. 

28 4-H youth attended this fun, educational experience at the Union County Extension Office where they were taught how to create various 4-H county fair projects. Each day consisted of an educational lesson in the morning followed by one or two crafts in the afternoon. Youth were given lessons on consumer and financial education, food preservation, arts, and photography. Learning from these four lessons, youth created price comparison posters, homemade salsa, string art, photography displays, no-sew pillows, cartooning sketches, and more. 

The 28 youth who participated in the 4-H Project Days displayed their exhibits at the Union County Fair June 18-22. Furthermore, 7 of the 28 youth had the opportunity to display their exhibits at the Kentucky State Fair in August. 4-H Project Days gave youth the opportunity to be creative, gain knowledge in many 4-H curriculum areas, and even make new friends while doing so. Youth being involved in 4-H Project Days also led to more involvement in other areas of the Union County 4-H Program. 8 of the 28 youth attended 4-H Camp later in the summer. Also, 17 of the 28 youth became new members of the Union County 4-H Program this 2018-2019 program year. 

4-H Project Days opened the door to the 4-H Program for many youth in the county. The Union County 4-H Program is already planning 4-H Project Days for summer of 2019.