KNOX COUNTY – Many youths in Knox County who participate in 4-H often create lasting memories throughout their time in the program.
But for that program to run efficiently and accommodate the interested youths, adult leaders and volunteers are necessary.
4-H is a program for kids between the ages of 5 and 19; and statewide, more than 240,000 kids participate each year, the Knox County 4-H website reports. In these programs, youths learn in hands-on activities, which allows them to learn by doing.
In Knox County alone, there are more than 50 clubs that youths can join; focusing on dogs, horses, small animals and non-animal projects, said Andrea Rees, a 4-H educator in Knox County. There are 173 volunteers for the traditional club settings, which is down just seven from the 2020 volunteer numbers, when 180 adult volunteers participated.
Rees herself has been involved with 4-H in Knox County in several ways, including 11 years as a member of the Knox County 4-H program during her youth. She has worked as a 4-H professional with the Ohio State University Extension Office for 20 years.
Volunteering with 4-H can happen in a variety of different ways, Rees noted. Not every volunteer leads a group.
“There are different volunteer opportunities,” she said. “There is an organizational advisor that is the main advisor who receives and completes club paperwork and who I direct new members to. We also have project and resource volunteers who help in the club setting but have a different role. They provide support to the organizational advisor but also provide support to the youth in the club by offering expertise in project areas. They can also assist with community-service projects and fundraising. We also have volunteers that help with community events and 4-H camp.”
Choosing to volunteer with 4-H allows adults in the community to mentor youth, helping them learn life skills and build leadership skills.
“The benefit of being a 4-H volunteer is the ability to be a mentor to our youth by providing a caring and supportive space for them,” Rees said.
That supportive space starts for youths at an early age. The youngest youths in 4-H in Knox County are part of the Cloverbud program.
“Our Cloverbud program is for youth ages 5 and in kindergarten through 2nd grade,” Rees said. “This is a non-competitive, hands-on learning component to our program. Our project-based membership starts at age 8 and in 3rd grade. These youth are eligible to enroll in their choice of nearly 200 projects.”
For adults who get involved with 4-H, whether they’ve had experience with the program in their own youth or not, the opportunity to guide youths is a big thing.
“My biggest benefit is watching our nearly 1,200 youth learn and grow from year to year,” Rees said. “It is a humbling experience to see our youth start in kindergarten and then graduate out of the program at age 18, and to see how much they have grown.”
To learn more about the Knox County 4-H program, visit u.osu.edu/4hknoxcounty.
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