In the 2016 4-H National Youth Survey on Leadership, two-thirds of respondents said they don’t have the tangible skills they needed to lead. Half of the high school students said they don’t feel prepared to lead in college or a future career. To change this a partnership with Mercer County Chamber of Commerce and Cooperative Extension Service to offer the Mercer County Youth Leadership Program. We had 23 high school juniors participate in the seven-month program. The goal of the program is to provide each student the advantage of getting to know their community better and awareness of leadership opportunities available to them. Students learn leadership and problem-solving skills, meet leaders in their community, and have worthwhile discussions on how to make Mercer County an even better place to live, work and play. 

Each month, the students were presented with new challenges and opportunities for intellectual, creative, social, and personal growth. The topics explored through the program included the importance of community service engagement, agriculture, tourism, community organizations, local government, and economic development. Sessions expose students to potential careers, leadership opportunities, and developments in Central Kentucky and Mercer County. Through the State Youth Seminar, four participants were awarded over $5,000. in scholarships for higher education for excelling in the program. In addition, youth also participated in workshops that focused on how to prepare a resume and how to apply for scholarships to further their higher education.