Due to the decline in enrollment numbers throughout the middle school years in 4-H programming, Kentucky 4-H hosts the Kentucky 4-H Summit Leadership Conference for middle schoolers (grades 6-8) in an effort to continue engagement. 4-H Summit provides youth the chance to learn about opportunities provided through 4-H, while developing friendships, leadership skills and communication skills that may benefit them as they explore their strengths and interests in relation to the world. 

Three Marshall County Middle Schoolers joined 549 youth from 102 Kentucky counties that participated in Kentucky 4-H Summit Sessions in 2019. Through 4-H Summit programming, middle schoolers had the opportunity to create friendships with their peers and mentorships with older 4-Hers who served as their team leaders and taught their classes. Of those surveyed 97% of the middle schoolers reported feeling accepted by their team. 

Marshall County delegates reported they also liked meeting new people and seeing old 4-H friends from other counties.  They enjoyed spending time together as well since they attend different middle schools (two from North and one from South).

As a result of participating in 4-H Summit, middle schoolers reported that they increased their communication, leadership, and teambuilding skills. 88% of youth felt they improved their communication skills, 88% felt they improved their leadership skills, 91% felt they improved their teambuilding skills, and 93% felt they were able to give back through the community service activity. The Marshall County delegates shared how they learned to play new games and found others with similar extra-curricular interests.

A major benefit of 4-H Summit is the confidence instilled in middle schoolers to go back to their community and find ways to become a leader and share their new skills with others. Youth were surveyed on their confidence in taking what they learned at 4-H Summit and applying it in other activities in their community. Marshall County’s delegates discussed finding ways to share what they learned during workshops and funshops such as light painting photography; making a jolly rancher wreath; and bath/spa gifts.  

During the funshop she led, the Marshall County Agent for 4-H Youth Development taught approximately 20 youth the positive stress management that just taking time to color provides.   She emphasized to participants that a healthy lifestyle includes finding positive ways to relieve stress.  After the funshop during the dance time, the Marshall County 4-H Agent kept the room available for anyone to come back to finish their project or start another one.  During that time, several of the participants took advantage of the quiet plus engaged in healthy conversation on ways to help others handle stress.  The youth demonstrated further skills to utilize and teach when back in their respective home counties.