Young people who are involved in extracurricular activities are more likely to become productive members of their community. Over the past year, the 4-H Agent has worked to help foster a productive, independent, and self-governed teen club. The 4-H agent, in cooperation with the Teen Club officer team, planned and implemented various leadership activities as well as opportunities for teens to conduct service-learning projects. The Lincoln County 4-H Teen Club holds monthly meetings and the officer team meets prior in order to set the agenda and prepare for the meeting. This allows the teen officers to run the meeting independently, but with adult guidance. Leadership activities were completed at each meeting and additional service projects were completed outside of monthly meetings. Service projects included: making no-sew blankets for the Markey Cancer Center; volunteering at the International Book Project; volunteering at The Nest Center for Women, Children, and Families; and hosting a supply drive for Hospice Care at UK Hospital in which more than $2,000 in donations were collected and delivered. In total, Lincoln County 4-H Teen Club members each contributed more than 15 hours of service to their community before the Healthy at Home initiative restricted meetings to online formats. The 4-H Teen Club had representatives on the District 4 Teen Council who helped plan and conduct the D4 Teen Leadership Conference and the D4 Middle School Retreat. Officers of the Lincoln County 4-H Teen Club also received state level recognition with Justice White (Vice President) receiving the 4-H Gold Achievement Award, and Marley Ranck (President) receiving the Silver Award. 

At the early conclusion of the club year, a survey was administered to all participants. All members reported that, as a result of participating in the 4-H Teen Club, they were able to get to know adults who cared about them and were interested in their success. Other survey results indicated:

• 92 percent report that because of their involvement in 4-H, they are interested in completing more community service projects
• 88 percent grew as leaders
• 87 percent used information they learned in 4-H Teen Club to make a decision
• 81 percent have confidence to speak in front of a group
• 95 percent used skills they learned in 4-H Teen Club at home, school, or in their community