By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

This week, 4-H members across the U.S. are celebrating their love for 4-H.

Throughout National 4-H Week, Oct. 1-7, members are showcasing the organization, the opportunities for hands-on learning and the impact 4-H has on youth, volunteers and alumni.

“National 4-H Week is an opportunity for 4-H members, families, supporters, Extension agents and leaders across the entire nation to celebrate the program that has been impacting youth for so many years,” Callie Cline, Texas 4-H marketing and communications specialist, said “It’s a week set aside each year for youth everywhere to speak out on why they participate in 4-H and encourage other people to do so, as well. It’s also a great time to involve those supporters of the program and reach out to them with appreciation from those members.”

This year’s National 4-H Week’s theme is I Love 4-H.

Celebrations and activities planned throughout the week are a heartfelt testament to the impact 4-H has on the lives of young people throughout the state.

“This year’s theme embodies the reason so many youth each year come back to 4-H and why kids have loved 4-H for so many years,” Cline said. “We’re celebrating a lifetime of leadership, growth and community.”

Texas 4-H members are invited to wrap the week of celebration up with One Day 4-H on Oct. 7.

“Communities give to these kids year-round, whether that be in support through a county livestock show or local scholarships or attending events that these clubs host. One Day 4-H is a very important day for the kids in those counties to give back to the individuals who have given so much to them throughout the entire year,” Cline said.

There are development and educational experiences available to the youth through 43 projects.

“4-H is a positive youth development program, and that is where everything stems from. So all of the learning opportunities, the projects, the contests, the events, the travels, the networking, it all stems from the importance of being a positive youth development program. And so we hope that the youth who leave this program leave with a better sense of citizenship, of serving their community, they’ve found what sparks their interest in life and will help them propel in their careers in the future,” she said.

Through 4-H, students can participate in numerous projects through agriculture and livestock, family and community health, leadership and citizenship, natural resources and STEM.

In the U.S., 4-H programs empower 6 million young people through 110 land-grant universities and cooperative Extension services in more than 3,000 local offices.

“We have resources for individuals, businesses or organizations that would like to join the conversation online and celebrate National 4-H Week,” Cline said. “We want to create as much of an online conversation about 4-H as we can during National 4-H Week, and we appreciate everyone’s support of the members who are gaining so much from 4-H in Texas.”

Texas 4-H is also celebrating 116 years of growing youth leaders.

Learn more about opportunities and resources at texas4-h.tamu.edu and 4-H.org.