Quick Guide to Extension Impacts: Utah 4-H
A Note From Kevin Kesler, USU Extension 4-H Director
We are delighted to announce that Utah 4-H is “alive and well.” We still fulfill our traditional role of assisting Utah youth in every county in the state as they develop skills in agriculture and home economics, yet we also have some of the best robotics, science camps, maker camps, GPS and video production programs in the state.
The USU Extension 4-H program has more than 8,002 4-H volunteers who reach more than 73,680 youth each year. All 4-H programs provide youth opportunities to develop belonging, independence, generosity and mastery skills, which help them become contributing members of society.
It is amazing how many people tell me they were in 4-H as a youth and how much 4-H contributed to their success in life. I invite you to take a look at the information provided here and see the impact 4-H is having on our Utah youth.
- Kevin Kesler
Utah 4-H & Fidelity Investments Money Mentors Program
Utah State University Extension 4-H and Fidelity Investments recently trained more than 60 Utah teens as “Money Mentors.” The Utah 4-H and Fidelity Investments Money Mentors Program is the first peer-to-peer financial education pilot program in the state. The program equips teen leaders to teach financial basics to younger youth and to learn new critical skills for their own lives.
Youth attending the training were actively engaged in hands-on, experiential activities led by Fidelity employees to learn basic financial concepts, such as how to budget, save and manage their money. Eleven counties in Utah were represented by local youth using Utah 4-H’s Teens Reaching Youth (TRY) model where teen leaders and an adult coach teach their peers and younger youth about personal finance.
Eight USU Extension 4-H state ambassadors and two collegiate students taught a Leadership Youth in Governance workshop to volunteer leaders and university faculty from 15 states and Canada at the Western Regional Leaders Conference in Hawaii in March of 2013. Because of the strength of USU’s 4-H Collegiate Club, members were invited by the host state to facilitate the “teen track” of the conference.
The Utah group was enriched from a cultural exchange with Hawaii 4-H Youth and Families with Promise (YFP) teen leaders who teach science concepts at the Kamailee Academy in Waianae, Hawaii. The YFP program has been implemented in conjunction with the University of Hawaii and USU Extension 4-H. As part of the cultural exchange, the Utah ambassadors learned about Hawaiian culture which included hula dancing, paddle boarding, crew team canoeing and Hawaiian history.
The Utah State University Extension 4-H Teens Reaching Youth (TRY) Program was recently recognized in The Wall Street Journal as the winner of the Fidelity Investments Financial Education Grant Challenge.
Youth and Families with Promise (YFP) is a mentoring program shown to increase youth’s social skills, academic motivation, family relationships and social behaviors. YFP consists of three components: one-to-one and group mentoring, 4-H activities and “Family Night Out.” USU Extension 4-H provides technical assistance and support to 28 states.
4-H Partners with Operation: Military Kids Program to Make a Difference
The goal of the Operation: Military Kids (OMK) program is to connect geographically dispersed military children and youth with local resources to achieve a sense of community support and enhance the youth’s well being.
19 Discover 4-H Club Curricula Completed
USU Extension 4-H recently launched a new series of curricula designed to guide new or seasoned 4-H volunteer leaders through the process of starting a 4-H club or exploring a different project area. Step-by-step outlines include everything needed to organize a club and hold the first six club meetings. Find out more at www.discoverutah4h.org.
2014 Utah 4-H Awards
The Dave and Trudy Smith family of Snowville was named 4-H family of the year for 2014. Trudy was involved in the 4-H horse program in Summit County while growing up. When her oldest daughter turned 8, she and her husband wanted her to be involved in 4-H and the fair, so they helped form the Curlew Critters 4-H Club. In 2007 they started with a few simple bucket calf projects, and it has since grown into showing swine, steers, beef heifers and goat projects. The Smith kids also love cooking, cake decorating, Legos, horses and turkeys. Smiths have watched their club of seven youth with one project grow into a club of more than 35 active and involved youth, with a projected number of 45 kids for 2014. They have grown as a family through numerous 4-H experiences, and the best time of the year for them is the county fair.
Mock Legislature
2014 marks the 25th year of Utah 4-H Mock Legislature held on the house floor of the Utah State Capitol. One hundred seven youth debated 15 bills as they learned the legislative process.
