The Todd County 4-H program offered the county 4-H performing arts troupe for middle and high school youth for the second year in a row.    This troupe was patterned after the Kentucky 4-H Performing Arts Program. Todd County also has 2 members on the State 4-H Performing Arts Troupe. 

Research shows that children who sing/dance/act or play an instrument are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement compared with their non-performing friends — and they tend to have enhanced cognitive, motor, and social development skills.

Todd County 4-H had fifteen teens on the Todd County 4-H Performing Arts Troupe this year. These 15 youth performed vocally across the county for Todd County elementary schools and will be performing at the Kentucky State Fair in August. This year, the troupe added 3 new minority members to the club. This program has reached out to a new and more diverse group of youth and proven to be a great recruiter for students who have never been a part of 4-H in the past.

An end of program survey of these youth revealed that this performing arts troupe experience has enhanced confidence and self-esteem in these youth.   They have grown in leadership as they performed and led younger students. They have learned to problem solve, which enhanced their skills in reasoning and understanding.

They gained perseverance and dedication by practicing, learning new skills and proper techniques to reach their goals. Their ability to focus was developed through ensemble work. Keeping a balance between listening and contributing involves a great deal of concentration and focus as well as collaboration. Recent research has also shown that participation in the arts improves children’s abilities to concentrate and focus in other aspects of their lives. And they have learned accountability in that their actions affect other people and they must take responsibility for it.   

The troupe has proven to be a huge recruitment tool for youth who have never been involved in 4-H before.  It reaches out to a diverse group of teenagers and exposes them to more opportunities in the fine arts.   This local troupe has also served as training ground for the state performing arts troupe.  This year, Todd County again has 3 troupe members who made the state troupe and will be performing all over the state of Kentucky this year.