4-H Youth Development partnered with the UK Office of Enrollment to provide training for 4-H agents to serve as a connection point early in the recruitment process to help Kentucky youth think about college options, answer front-line questions, and refer specific questions to professional recruiters. 4-H agents receive periodic updates and are provided with student recruitment materials. 4-H has given special focus to supporting first-generation college students. In 2022, regional recruiters met with 390 4-H Teen Conference attendees in small groups to provide general information about attending UK.
Youth Leadership and Service
Connecting with youth about college and career options
4-H youth monitor water health in four eastern Kentucky counties
The 4-H Youth Development Program has led community engagement projects funded through the UK Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences to monitor and improve water quality in four counties: Breathitt, Jackson, Lee, and Wolfe. Through these funded projects, 4-H youth serve as citizen scientists to test and monitor water quality through a focus on youth/adult partnerships. Over 80 4-Hers have been trained as citizen scientists. Funding was awarded for Jackson and Wolfe Counties in 2020, Breathitt County in 2021, and Lee County in 2022.