The 4-H Achievement program in Kentucky recognizes 4-H youth for their outstanding accomplishments.  It provides incentive for youth to increase their knowledge, skills and abilities. Youth can gain a lot of valuable knowledge and skills through their learning experiences that include clubs, activities and events. The 4-H Achievement Report helps them realize the value of their involvement and these learning experiences. 

Youth need to experience success at solving problems and meeting challenges to develop their self-confidence. Through 4-H clubs and activities, youth develop or master skills that lead to positive life choices. 4-H experiences also teach that failure or frustration is not a disgrace but a part of the learning experience. The achievement report form helps them see their growth through their successes and failures. 

Each fall, as one program year ends and another begins, 4-H achievement report forms are completed by 4-H members then turned into the Extension Service office to be evaluated for recognition at the annual 4-H achievement awards program.   The pages of the form tell the story of their development in leadership, citizenship, community service, marketing and participation in 4-H.   Over the course of their 4-H “career,” these young people grow and develop as leaders and citizens with valuable life skills of planning, organizing, goal-setting, problem-solving, decision-making, sharing their knowledge, being a team member, being responsible, learning from others, nurturing relationships, resolving conflict, and more.

The youth who complete these achievement report forms see the value of their 4-H experience and share in their profile statement the growth, development and insight they have gained.  As one young man shared:  “4-H has made me a better person. It has made me grow in many ways. I have learned time management and skills that I will use daily in life.  It makes me feel good about myself and gives me purpose.”  Another wrote:   “4-H taught me how to become a better leader as well as a better person overall.  It helped introduce me to the working world.   Through 4-H I learned so many life skills, as well as, job skills that I have taken with me and use in my current job.”  A young lady wrote:  “4-H has made me a better person. It has given me the skills I will need for my future career. It has led in the direction I need to succeed.”

These young people are the authors of their success.  4-H has provided the learning experiences which broadened their horizons and given them the insight into what they could achieve and did achieve.