4-H is Beyond Ready
By Katie Jones
LIVE OAK, FLA., – What do Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Orville Redenbacher, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Jimmy Carter and David Letterman have in common? They were all 4-H members! In fact, did you know that 1 out of every 7 adult Americans is a former 4-Her?
Every year, the month of October kicks off with National 4-H Week.
From October 6-12, we will celebrate the impact that 4-H has on youth and volunteers across the world. This year, the National 4-H Week theme is “Beyond Ready”. But what does it really mean to be beyond ready? 4-H equips its members to be BEYOND READY for any of the challenges life throws their way.
With workforce development taking center stage in educational conversations these days, the life skills that 4-H members develop because of their 4-H project work allow them to be a step above their peers when it's time to apply for jobs! Most 4-H members develop written and oral communication skills that allow them to excel socially in the workforce. And the hands-on approach of 4-H means that members don’t just talk about a skill, they put it into practice until they master it!
Not only do 4-H members gain valuable life skills, but 4-H Volunteers invest thousands of hours of their valuable time in the development of the youth they serve. I can think of quite a few of those volunteers who have gone on to use their 4-H volunteer experience to expand their own employment opportunities. Many 4-H extension agents began their 4-H experience as members and volunteers!
But more than just developing workforce skills, 4-H provides members with the ability to explore their passions and find their purpose. In addition to discovering their career direction through their 4-H activities, members often make connections and develop networks of friends and acquaintances that transcend their time in 4-H. (There’s even been quite a few romantic relationships that started at 4-H camp that ended in successful families!) The sense of belonging nurtured through 4-H ensures that everyone has a place at the table!
4-H encourages members to “find their spark” and feed it with the assistance of caring adults! Research shows that 4-H members are four times more likely to give back to their communities and two times more likely to make healthier choices in life. All of this is why 4-H is America’s largest youth development organization with nearly six million young people benefiting from the support of over 500,000 volunteers and 3,500 4-H agents across the country.
If your family isn’t involved with 4-H, we’d love to introduce you to our 4-H program! As part of UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension, 4-H is an Equal Opportunity Institution and open to all youth in Suwannee County ages 5 to 18. No matter what their interests are, 4-H has a project to help them develop skills to be BEYOND READY to take on their futures! For more information about the 4-H program in Suwannee County, contact
