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.
Become a memberWhat 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 Head, Heart, Hands, and 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
Check out information about the 4-H International Exchange Program
What made you want to host? - read about how families that have hosted feel about their experiences through the States' 4-H International Exchange Programs.
2024 Outbound programs - read all about opportunities with our outbound programs. States’ 4-H Summer Outbound programs provide American 4-H youth with the opportunity to travel to foreign countries for a month-long cultural immersion experience. Check out the dates and programs offered this year here.
States 4-H Summer Hosting - See all about how you can host an international youth delegate and bring the richness of the world to your home!
4-H Clubs
A descriptive list with contact information of all 4-H Clubs offered in the 2023-2024 4-H programming year.
Go to docAdditional Information
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.
Ryan J. Linton
Extension Assistant, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Science, 4-H Youth Development
(502) 477-2217 ryan.linton@uky.edu Spencer County Extension Office 100 Oak Tree Way, Taylorsville, Kentucky 40071-0368Mollie A. Tichenor
Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development
(502) 477-2217 mollie.tichenor@uky.edu Spencer County Extension Office 100 Oak Tree Way, Taylorsville, Kentucky 40071-0368