Kenton County Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent – Kelley; interviewed current and recently graduated 4-H members from 3 Kenton County school districts, and home-schooled youth during the 2020 – 2021 program year.  Youth and young adults represented participants from 2008 until 2021.   Interviewed participants represented youth who solely participated in project group experiences, as well as youth who participated in community clubs, and 4-H activities such as summer camp.  Requested information was the evaluation of “why” 4-H programs made a difference in their lives.   The 2019 Ky CES Community Assessment for Kenton County specifically identified the Kenton 4-H programs as an important component the community education outreach.  The 2020 Kenton County Expansion and Review survey also reflected that involving youth increased their responsible behaviors and improved their understanding of citizenship.  All Reasonable Efforts (ARE) include accommodating schedules and working with all age groups of clientele.  ARE’s also include educating clientele about next steps in a process to increase successful outcomes.  

Resoundingly, the youth and young adults provided the same “taught me responsibility” response as 10 years of parent/adult surveys, responding why caregivers want their child to participate, “responsibility” was noted from the 4-H Livestock program survey.  Olivia remarked that the 4-H program “helped me to be a responsible human with actual life experience” and “completing scholarship applications and the letters of recommendation from the 4-H agent (Kelley), saved me tens of thousands of dollars, which eased my expenses, and allowed me to extend my college experience”.  The respondent has completed 2 Bachelor’s of Science degrees, a Master’s degree, and is pursuing a PhD.  

Multiple years of documentation from 4-H recordbooks and awards program documents allowed 3 current 4-H members to add documented 4-H experiences to their GSP applications.  In 2020, 3 Kenton 4-H livestock members were selected to participate.  Since 2011, 6 youth who participate in livestock programs have been recognized as Governor's Scholars.  The GSP distinction has provided and will provide significant funding for youth education and their 4-H experiences were vital when completing the application process for Governor's Scholars.  An estimated benefit per youth for GSP distinction is $40,000 per attendee.   

Through newsletters, social media, emails, & text messages, reminders about current available scholarships were sent to interested and eligible youth.  Reviewing regular information provided by the University allowed the 4-H agent to invite youth interested in attending UK to special programs offered by the College of Engineering.  Maintaining a social media presence has allowed 4-H alumni to remain interested and in contact with CES and the 4-H program.  Additionally, as fellow volunteers in the community, the 4-H agent has serve as a personal reference for 13 past members in the last 10 months. 

A humbling and interesting comment from one young lady about completing an application was “well, you believed I could do it, and encouraged me - so I finished it”.