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Karla Krause
BML 305
Howard E. Rhoden
26 October, 2014
4-H Profile Week Four
Started with several individuals concerned about youth growing up in their
community, 4-H no longer relates in rural communities but links with boys and girls
nationally and worldwide. Comparable to other organized clubs such as Boys and Girls
Club of America, and YMCA it is the nations largest youth development organization
helping young people grow in the areas of leadership, and engaging in areas of science,
engineering, citizenship and healthy living. As part of the Cooperative Extension System of
land-grant universities, 4-H consists of more than 6 million youth, 560,000 volunteers,
3,500 professionals, and more than 60 million alumni not only in the United States but in
other countries too.
Similar to most organizations, it has a mission statement, vision and pledge with the
goal of working together toward a positive change for youth.

The emblem of 4-H is a green four-leaf clover with a white H on each leaf. The H on
each leaf stand for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health representing the four values members
work on through fun and engaging programs. It offers youth the opportunity to compete in

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state fairs or like competitions in various areas as project management, communication,
teamwork, and planning events or projects.
For more than 100 years, 4-H continues to instill youth how to give back to and
become leaders helping improve their community. You can find out if there is a 4-H club in
your community by visiting the website at http://www.4-h.org. 4-H membership involves
youth between the ages of 8-18. Clubs meet once a month with an agenda involving a guest
speaker and teaching of public speaking. Meetings engage in leadership training,
citizenship and determine a community service project for the month. 4-H also offers youth
afterschool and in-school care and various camps throughout the year.
For me, 4-H offered the experience serving as secretary for the 4-H club I belonged to
growing up. I learned parliamentary procedures used in monthly membership meetings
that I continue to practice in my current job. It also prepared me in the area of public
speaking by participating in competitions throughout the state. I competed in livestock
competitions educating me about selection, care, and feeding of livestock, animal health,
and importance of good record keeping. 4-H played an important part of educating me in
organizing, self-discipline, and patience as I took part in various cooking demonstrations,
sewing and modeling activities.
Growing up in a small farm community, 4-H allowed me the opportunity to engage
in activities and spend time with friends. Still to this day, I would stress the importance of
4-H and the benefits of membership in this organization. 4-H can provide individuals the
opportunity to become future leaders starting off in their community and in their country.

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After all, in my opinion, the pledge of 4-H includes the four values everyone should
follow in our daily lives. Contact the local 4-H club in your area and see how you can get
involved. You will feel good that you did.

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Work Cited
"4-H." Youth Development Organization. N.p., 18 Oct. 2014. Web. 25 Oct. 2014.
Barton J. Hirsch, Learning and Development in After-School Programs, R&D, February 2011,
Print, accessed October 20, 2014.