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 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
Additional Information
2025 4-H Communications Day Contest
2025 4-H Communications Day Contest was a huge success! Thank you to all participants!
2025 4-H Communications Day Contest WinnersClay Co. Extension Newsletters
4-H Camp Information
Access all 4-H Camp information that you may need to know! Applications are NOW available and due by April 18th! You can also access all needed paperwork.
Go to page!4-H Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences Academy
If you are in 5th grade and love the outdoors or would like to learn more about water, forestry and wildlife, apply for this great opportunity!
2025-2026 application with informational brochure, however deadline is over.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.
Alissa Ackerman
Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development
(606) 598-2789 alissa.ackerman@uky.edu Clay County Extension Office 69 Jameson Road, Manchester, Kentucky 40962-0421
