The 4-H Program not only teaches youth important life skills for being successful, but also provides youth with applicable learning experiences that youth will use throughout the remainder of their lives.  

“4-H has motivated me to make the best version of myself apparent to all around me and has influenced me to help other kids be the very best that they can be.”      

 - Kierra Owens, Emerald 4-H Honors Award Recipient

Twenty-one of Allen County's 4-H youth participated in the 2019 Kentucky 4-H Achievement Recognition Program.  The Kentucky 4-H Achievement Program seeks to recognize 4-H youth for their county, area, state and national 4-H involvement through continued record-keeping that spans over the entire 4-H career of a member.  Members are encouraged to become well-rounded leaders in their communities through their participation in five key 4-H focus areas: leadership, civic engagement, communications, community action and participation.   These youth are applying for recognition in one of three Clover Levels (1-3) or for the more prestigious, Bronze Honor, Silver Honor, Gold Honor and Emerald Honor awards.  In addition to the learning experiences encouraged by the program, 4-Her’s apply a variety of life-skills not limited to record-keeping, leadership, resume development, interview skills and effective communications amongst many other skills.  The 4-H Achievement Program not only focuses on 4-H involvement but also recognizes youth for being active in their communities through non 4-H related community involvement.   

Allen County had fourteen youth to receive an award in one of the first three Clover Levels which recognize youth for beginner participation in the 4-H Program.   Only 105 youth across the state of Kentucky are awarded the 4-H Bronze Award.   Allen County is proud to have had two individuals, Mr. Will Pitchford and Mr. Logan Graves, for having received their Bronze Awards.  In addition to 4-H’s focus on hands-on experiential learning and leadership development, 4-H strives to teach our youth to value hard-work, responsibility, critical thinking, cooperation with others and nurturing youth-adult partnerships amongst a variety of thinking, caring and giving life skills.  Mr. Graves and Mr. Pitchford shared the following remarks about their lessons learned through their active involvement in the Allen County 4-H Program:  

“The Allen County 4-H Horsin’ Around Club is my favorite 4-H Project… Horseback riding is something my mother and I enjoy doing together, which makes learning to be a good steward to my horse the most important 4-H project I do each year.”   

- Logan Graves, Bronze 4-H Honors Recipient 

Logan Graves riding his 4-H Horse Project during his club's Saturday Ride Day Instructional learning sessions. 

“It [4-H] has taught me leadership skills, teamwork, and given me skills to do different activities and life skills such as cooking.”   

- Will Pitchford, Bronze 4-H Honors Recipient

Allen County 4-H Bronze Recipient, Will Pitchford poses with his State Fair Breeding Doe Goat Project. 
Even more difficult to obtain is the Gold 4-H Honors award which Allen County 4-H’er, Ms. Daphnica Wood, received as one of Kentucky 4-H’s top 30 members.  Youth who achieve beyond the Clover Levels are deemed to be great representatives of the Kentucky 4-H Program, as these youth compete against hundreds of youth for these recognition's.  Daphnica has this to say about her experience in Allen County 4-H:

“4-H has influenced my life in many ways.  4-H has helped me to become a better public speaker.  I have learned how to work with others as a team to accomplish goals.  I’ve been given the opportunity to practice my leadership experience and to exercise my love of doing community service projects.  I am looking forward to my next 4 years as a 4-H senior member and continuing my 4-H journey of making the best better for myself and my community.”   

-  Daphnica Wood, Gold 4-H Honors Award Recipient  

Senior 4-H'er, Daphnica Wood, shows off her National 4-H Poultry Chicken BBQ Champion Award.

The Allen County 4-H Program is quite pleased to have one individual to receive the Emerald Honors 4-H award.  The Emerald 4-H Honors award is the highest 4-H recognition a member can receive.  Only four youth are selected to receive this Emerald Award each year.  Allen County 4-H is excited for our own senior 4-H member, Kierra Owens, for being selected as one of the best and brightest 4-Her’s across the state to receive the Emerald 4-H Award this summer for the 2018 – 2019 4-H Program year.  Kierra is only the second Allen County 4-H member to receive this unique award after Ms. Kristine Gillenwater was named a Kentucky 4-H Emerald Recipient in 2015.  After eight years of involvement, Kierra Owens shared these thoughts about 4-H’s impact on her life:

“4-H to me is my life, it is my inspiration and my motivation to challenge adversity of to become the best I can be no matter where I am or who I am with.  This program by putting me and others with putting me in social, political and community situations has allowed me and others to blossom into the confident, unique, kind and generous individuals that the world needs today.  With 4-H, the world has, is and will continue to be a better and friendlier place.”

- Kierra Owens, Emerald 4-H Honors Award Recipient

Top-ranking 4-H Emerald Recipient, Kierra Owens, poses with her favorite 4-H Project, her horse Di-Nozzo.