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

Additional Information

4-H Newsletters

Clubs

Baking club is for youth ages 13-18 who are interested in learning to bake. This club will focus on pies and pie crusts. This club will start in spring of 2024.

The Culinary Club focuses on ages 9-18 who are interested in expanding their culinary knowledge. The club will have hands-on cooking demonstrations and will meet in spring of 2024.

The Four Rivers Homeschool Club is for youth ages 9-18 who are currently homeschooled and looking for ways to connect with other homeschool youth. This club will have a variety of crafts and activities and meets monthly on the third Monday of the month. 

The Homeschool Cloverbuds club is for youth ages 5-9 who are interested in connecting with other youth. This club is an introduction to 4-H and covers a wide variety of topics. The Cloverbuds meet monthly on the third Monday of the month.

The Rocket Club is for participants in grades 9-12. This club focuses on learning the basics of model rocket building. An informational night will be held on November 13 at the McCracken County Extension Office.

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.

Shooting Sports

Shooting sports signups are coming in February and new member orientation will be in March.

Shooting Sports

Communications Day

Communications Day will be Tuesday, March, 26th, 2024 at 5:30. The event will be held at the Paducah campus for Murray State University.

4-H Communications Day

4-H Camp

Save the date for 4-H Camp! Camp dates are July 24-28, 2023. More information coming soon!

4-H Camp

Events

4-H Santa's Elves

- McCracken County Cooperative Extension

Come join us for a fun-filled day of Christmas crafts, gift making, and more!

4-H Leather Club

- McCracken County Cooperative Extension

Join us for 4-H Leather Class.

4-H Leather Club

- McCracken County Cooperative Extension

Join us for 4-H Leather Class.

4-H Leather Club

- McCracken County Cooperative Extension

Join us for 4-H Leather Class.

4-H Leather Club

- McCracken County Cooperative Extension

Join us for 4-H Leather Class.

4-H Leather Club

- McCracken County Cooperative Extension

Join us for 4-H Leather Class.


Rachael L Davis

Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development

(270) 554-9520 rachaelldavis@uky.edu McCracken County Extension Office 2025 New Holt Road, Paducah, Kentucky 42001-9755

Lisa C. Dodson

Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development

(270) 554-9520 lisa.dodson@uky.edu McCracken County Extension Office 2025 New Holt Road, Paducah, Kentucky 42001-9755

Heather Hunter

Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development

(270) 554-9520 heather.hunter@uky.edu McCracken County Extension Office 2025 New Holt Road, Paducah, Kentucky 42001-9755

More 4-H Info

4-H Age

 

4-H Pledge

 

If you are interested in volunteering with McCracken County 4-H Please reach out to Rachael Davis, Lisa Dodson, or Heather Hunter at 270-554-9520.