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

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.

Lora J. Stewart

Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development

(859) 567-5481 lora.stewart@uky.edu Gallatin County Extension Office 395 US 42 West, Warsaw, Kentucky 41095-0805

4-H Newsletters

February 2023 4-H News

Hello All,

This month has always been a favorite of mine because of Valentine’s Day.  And as we all know, there are many ways to show love toward one another. Ways that express love toward others that come to my mind are: showing kindness, not judging, being respectful, a simple compliment, gentle words, a smile lending a helping hand, etc. This is what I see in the Gallatin County Extension 4-H Organization each day. 

The Gallatin County Extension Office, 4-H, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Agriculture is kicking off a “BE Kind” campaign. As part of this campaign, we are challenging our youth, teachers, leaders, volunteers, and community to perform acts of kindness.

Examples include:


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Contact Information

395 US Highway 42 West P.O. Box 805 Warsaw, KY 41095-0805

(859) 567-5481

gallatin.ext@uky.edu