The development of life skills [such as leadership ]allows youth to cope with their environment by making responsible decisions, having a better understanding of their values, and being better able to communicate and get along with others. (Boyd, Herring & Briers, 1992, Journal of Extension).  Additionally, 4-H members get better grades, show higher levels of academic achievement and are more engaged in their schools. They are more than twice as likely to plan to attend college. 4-H members are 3.4 times more likely to contribute to communities compared to non-4-H members. (http://www.4-h.org/about/youth-development-research/positive-youth-developmentstudy, retrieved November 8, 2017.) The Kentucky 4-H Achievement program is a cumulative, recording of a 4-Her’s career that highlights their accomplishments in (a) leadership, (b) citizenship, (c) communications, (d) community service, and (e) participation.  This program honors those members for their success in Kentucky 4-H and the highest award is the Emerald Award.  Evan Foster, one of the 2017 Emerald Award Winners, is an example of the 4-H motto, “Making the Best Better,” with his Habitat for Humanity Project, H4-H Project. 

Evan developed the H4H project as a recruitment agency for 4-H teen volunteers to collaborate with Habitat for Humanity organization, and give back through community service.  4-H volunteers carry out a variety of tasks from building and painting houses to working the sales floor at a local Habitat Re-store. To date Evan has assisted build approximately five homes in northern Kentucky, and spent over 1000 volunteer hours, with an economic impact of over $16,000.  Evan has now taken the project one-step further to develop a Habitat for Humanity and 4-H state committee. Evan is actively recruiting members from all extension districts to carry numerous community service projects.  Evan states, “Maybe they will start their own service programs, and after I have aged out of the 4-H organization, others will take stewardship of H4H 4-H Project and educate the next generation of 4-H’ers.”