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If there’s anything that can be done to make your first year with the NDSU Extension Service better, please contact your supervisor (district director, assistant director or department chair) or Deb Gebeke, Assistant Director, Staff Development.
debra.gebeke@ndsu.edu

4-H Mission: 4-H Youth Development education creates supportive learning environments for youth and adults to reach their fullest potential as capable, competent and caring citizens. In support of this mission, we will:

Provide formal and non-formal community-focused experiential learning.
Develop skills that benefit youth throughout life.
Foster leadership and volunteerism in youth and adults.
Build internal and external youth/adult partnerships for programming and funding.
Strengthen families and communities.
Use research-based knowledge and the land-grant university system.

Achievement of this mission will result in capable, competent, and caring citizens.

4-H is a youth organization that spans all interests, all races and backgrounds and is great fun.

4-H provides hands-on, real-life experiences through projects, activities, and events. Youth are involved in 4-H through clubs, school enrichment programs, independent study, after-school programs, and special interest programs. Our program is available to all youth, and offered in every county of North Dakota by an Extension agent. 4-H is the largest and only research-based youth organization in our state. We reach approximately 35% of the eligible-age (5-18) youth in our state with programs offered through the NDSU Extension Services.

4-H History

The 4-H program was founded between 1900 and 1910 to provide local educational clubs for rural youth from ages 9 to 19. 4-H was designed to teach better home economics and agricultural techniques and to foster character development and good citizenship. The program, administered by the Cooperative Extension Service of the USDA, state land-grant universities, and county governments, emphasizes projects that improve the four H's: head, heart, hands and health. For more information about the history of 4-H take a look at USDA's 4-H history page.

North Dakota 4-H Program

The North Dakota 4-H program is designed for young people in grades K-12. Youth K-2 (ages 5 to 7) are considered Cloverbuds and do not participate in competition. 4-H membership begins with youth in grade 3 and extends through grade 12 (ages 8 to 18, as of September 1). Clubs may take different formats. A community club has members from a community/area. Project clubs will have members with a similar project interest but may reside in different communities. Clubs may also be formed in after school settings or on military bases. Organized clubs or groups are under the direction of an adult and managed within the scope of the NDSU Extension Service.

Quick Facts About North Dakota 4-H

Based on data from the 53 county offices of the NDSU Extension Service, 42,092 youth participated in extension youth programs during the 2004-2005 year. 5,449 youth were enrolled in 4-H community or project clubs. There are 483 organized clubs.

Gender of Participants:	All Participants	Enrolled Members
Male	47%	40%
Female	53%	60%
Places of Residence for:	All Participants	Club Members
Farm	23%	54%
Towns under 10,000 and rural non-farm	40%	33%
Towns and cities over 10,000	37%	13%
Program areas with most contacts:	with most youth enrolled:
Food and Nutrition	Expressive Arts
Personal Development	Plants and Animals
Based on 2005 Annual 4-H Youth Enrollment Report (ES237)

Web sites to explore

North Dakota 4-H site: www.ext.nodak.edu/4h/4-h.htm

National 4-H site (by youth for youth): www.4h-usa.org

National 4-H Council site (national private fundraising entity for 4-H): www.fourhcouncil.edu

4-H Cooperative Curriculum System (4HCCS) site: www.n4hccs.org
4HCCS is the nationwide curriculum development system of the Cooperative Extension Service. Its mission is to provide high quality experientially based curriculum products to 4-H.

What is my role in the 4-H program?

County, area and state staff all have responsibilities for youth educational programming. Set goals for your youth programs for the next year. This may involve 4-H curriculum development, Agriculture in the Classroom work, an educational event and much more. Talk to your supervisor about your specific job description & how you can support the 4-H program

Next Session

Who is your audience really? Next week: Personalizing Your Programs.