4-H Youth Development
About 4-H:
4-H is the nation's largest youth leadership development organization empowering nearly six million young people across the United States with the skills to lead for a lifetime! In Georgia, there are more than 170,000 young people learning and having fun through 4-H. 4-H is a part of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and focuses on leadership, citizenship, public speaking and life skills. Simply, 4-H is a world in which youth and adults learn, grow and work together as catalysts for positive change!
4-H members gain self-confidence by learning good communication and public speaking skills at District Project Achievement (DPA). They make new friends by attending conferences, camps, and reward trips. 4-H also teaches members leadership and decision-making skills through judging events and teen leader training. 4-H offers activities at the county, district, state, and even national level!
The four H's symbolize the development of the:
- HEAD: to think, to plan, and to reason
- HEART: to care for others and develop positive attitudes
- HANDS: to be useful, helpful, and skillful
- HEALTH: to practice healthy living, enjoy life, and use time wisely
Georgia 4-H Mission:
The mission of Georgia 4-H is to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. This mission is accomplished, through “hands on” learning experiences, focused on agricultural and environmental issues, agriculture awareness, leadership, communication skills, foods and nutrition, health, energy conservation, and citizenship.
Exploring and discovering, encouraging and challenging, that’s what Georgia 4-H is all about. As a program of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension System, 4-H is part of the nationwide Extension network.
4-H’ers are known for sharing their research-based knowledge and technology to people where they live and work. 4-H combines federal, state, and local expertise and resources.
History of 4-H:
Georgia 4-H began in 1904 when Newton County school superintendent, G.C. Adams, organized an agricultural corn club for boys in Covington, GA. While Georgia is one of several states that claims to be the birthplace of 4-H, the reality is 4-H didn’t start at any one time or place. Many movements were happening just after the turn of the century. The organization that emerged was the result of the work of many people in different parts of the United States who were concerned about young people. The concepts of youth and adults working together to learn and grow, of providing young people with hands-on learning experiences, of taking research and making it useful, practical and accessible and of creating an environment where students are safe and supported were all part of the early years of 4-H. Those characteristics of 4-H marked our beginning, and they still provide the basis for all we do today.
4-H pledge:
I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS to larger service, and my HEALTH to better living for my CLUB, my COMMUNITY, my COUNTRY, and my WORLD.
4-H motto:
To Make the Best Better
4-H slogan:
Learn by Doing
4-H colors:
Green and White
Become a 4-H'er!
To become an official 4-H member, you must fill out an Enrollment Card. One enrollment card per student is required each year. It is FREE to join 4-H and any student in 5th-12th grade can join! Students can choose their level of involvment in 4-H and attend as many (or as few) events as they would like to.
Support 4-H!
Find a 4-H'er or come by the 4-H office for our fundraisers. Our main fundraisers are Poinsettias in the fall and Krispy Kreme donuts in the spring.
We are always accepting donations for our program! Want to sponsor a student or activity? Contact us.
Become a Volunteer!
Enthusiastic about working with youth? If you have the ability to nurture positive self-esteem, decision making skills, responsibility and leadership in youth, we want you!
In order to volunteer with us, you must go through our University of Georgia screening process. Contact our office for more information or get the process started by completing the online volunteer screening application below!
Thank you to all of our 4-H sponsors and volunteers. These programs do not exist without you!
What can you do in 4-H?
- Summer Camp
- Junior Conference
- District Project Achievement
- Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Team
- Poultry Judging Team
- Peanutrition Competition
- In-School Club Meetings
- After School Club Meetings
- Essay Contest
- Pumpkin Decorating Contest
- Georgia National Fair exhibits
- Day Camps
- Fun Days after school and during summer
- Teen Leader Opportunities
- Community Service
- Statewide Conferences and Weekend Events
- Dances
- Movie Nights
- Fundraisers
- AND MORE!
Common Forms:
Anyone who has questions or concerns about the protection of minors involved in UGA programs/activities can contact the County 4-H Professional, Megan Veal at 912-739-1292 or megan.powell25@uga.edu. Additional contacts include the District 4-H Program Development Coordinator, Lee Anna Deal at leeannam@uga.edu and/or UGA’s Director of Compliance for Programs and Activities Serving Minors at programsforminors@uga.edu or 706-542-7255. In an emergency situation, contact 911 or UGA Police at 706-542-2200 (as applicable).