When the COVID-19 global pandemic forced Kentuckians into quarantine youth and families began spending more time at home, minimizing opportunities for youth to engage in typical extracurricular activities. Due to this situation, the Kentucky 4-H Program began the Kentucky 4-H Virtual Experiences on social media platforms. Kids love technology and the online format is a natural method to reach them in these challenging times.  The goal of the Kentucky 4-H Virtual Experiences was to maintain ways for youth and families to engage with 4-H projects, events, and activities while learning new life skills through a trusted source with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment Cooperative Extension Service.

Kentucky 4-H has featured all seven 4-H program areas through this virtual platform. Youth, families, professionals, and volunteers from across the Commonwealth have been featured. The audience of the Kentucky 4-H social media platforms has increased, along with the engagement rate of followers. This in turn has increased the presence and participation of new audiences as well as awareness of the benefits of participation in 4-H activities. Youth and families have had the opportunity through the Kentucky 4-H Virtual Experience to connect with people from across the Commonwealth, the United States, and our world.

In the time from February through June, Green County has had 14,920 individuals participate in the Green County 4-H virtual experience or social media interactions. They were able to practice mastery through this experience by learning new cooking skills, designing computer games, or becoming a weather expert at science day camps.  These online activities allowed the youth to continue skill mastery in the absence of in-person meetings.