4-H Youth Development

4-H Youth Development

4-H Youth Development

4-H is a youth organization committed to building outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today’s global society. 4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults.

What is 4-H?

4-H Youth Development is part of Kentucky Cooperative Extension.  Extension’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens through non-formal education for the entire family.  Extension agents and volunteers take the results of university research and explain it in such a way that different age groups can learn and apply the information to their own lives. Kentucky 4-H believes in providing positive youth development experiences that all youth to experience belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity.  

4-H is a youth organization committed to building outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today’s global society. 4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults. The four H's represent the idea of HeadHeartHandsand Health. These are the values members work on through fun and engaging programs.

Head   Managing, Thinking

Heart   Relating, Caring

Hands   Giving, Working

Health   Being, Living

How does 4-H benefit youth?

4-H’ers, regardless of their background, socio-economic status, race or gender, benefit from their participation in Kentucky 4-H. Positive youth development studies have affirmed that compared to other youth, young people involved in 4-H are:

  • Four times more likely to contribute to their communities. 
  • Two times more likely to be  civically active.
  • Two times more likely to make healthier lifestyle choices.
  • Two times more likely to participate in Science, Engineering and Computer Technology  programs during out-of-school time.
  • 4-H girls are two times more likely (Grade 10) and nearly three times more likely (Grade 12) to take part in science programs compared to girls in other out-of-school time activities.

Kelly Bland

Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Science, 4-H Youth Development

(270) 273-3690 kelly.bland@uky.edu McLean County Extension Office 335 West 7th St, Calhoun, Kentucky 42327-0265

Lana Browder

Extension Assistant, 4-H Youth Development

(270) 273-3690 lana.browder@uky.edu McLean County Extension Office 335 West 7th St, Calhoun, Kentucky 42327-0265

David Fourqurean

Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development

(270) 273-3690 dfour2@uky.edu McLean County Extension Office 335 West 7th St, Calhoun, Kentucky 42327-0265

Contact Information

335 West 7th Street P.O. Box 265 Calhoun, KY 42327-0265

(270) 273-3690

mclean.ext@uky.edu