INDIANA – The sun shines into the 4-H Exhibit Hall at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, where Indiana 4-H students and leaders eagerly await the evaluation of their projects. From decorated cakes to handmade clothes and pinned insects, the 4-H program offers many opportunities for young people across the state.
While the Indiana State Fair is a well-known aspect of 4-H, the program extends far beyond. In counties throughout Indiana, 4-H is expanding its reach, offering more programs to a growing number of participants. Despite the challenges posed by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, community dedication has enabled 4-H to adapt and discover new avenues for growth.
Expanding Project Accessibility
Hands-on projects remain a popular draw for 4-H members, with 155,871 projects in the 2023-2024 cycle spanning 50 categories. These projects provide education on specific topics and foster the development of essential skills such as time management and organization.
High school student Justice Ulmet, a 4-H member since third grade, has submitted over 100 projects at the county fair level, covering subjects like geology, wildlife, and photography. “4-H has something for everybody,” Ulmet said. “Any interest you can have, there’s something you can do in 4-H.”
Indiana 4-H community club enrollment is on the rise, with steady increases in participation observed since 2021, following the shift to online activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beth Stokes, a 4-H judge and project leader in Boone County, has noted an improvement in the quality of 4-H projects, particularly since 2020. “When the pandemic hit, the kids did amazing projects,” Stokes said. Stokes, who has taught cake decorating to Boone County 4-H’ers for over 20 years and has judged at both the state and county levels, emphasized the benefits of virtual workshops, stating, “I have a lot of people asking if we’re recording the workshops because their schedules are so busy. It gives us more options to get these kids involved so they can still learn these trades and skill levels at their interest.”
Roger Carr, another 4-H judge with over 40 years of experience in livestock project feedback across more than 75 counties, has observed similar trends. Carr credits better education for the improved project quality. “The quality of livestock shows currently are at an elite level,” Carr said. “Many people focus on the top end or the champions. As a livestock judge, I try to focus on all. Today, you could have last place animals at the county fair, and they still can have quality. It’s impressive that the bottom end is better over the years, and that tells me how good of a show it is and how the industry has improved.”
Offering New Programs
Since 2020, 4-H has been committed to breaking down barriers to participation, ensuring accessibility to 4-H programming for all Hoosier youth, regardless of club membership.
Programs like Juntos 4-H, launched in 2020 and now offered in nine counties, aim to provide youth and their families with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary for high school graduation and increased college access and attendance rates. This program is inclusive, welcoming students from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Indiana 4-H offers various opportunities beyond community club membership, including 4-H camps, after-school programs, and special interest clubs focused on STEM skills.
Discovery Challenge is another initiative that brings 4-H into classrooms across the state. It provides structure and assistance to children in grades 3-5 as they research and present on topics of interest. Children can explore science, social studies, arts and crafts, healthy living, environmental stewardship, and leadership.
The Next Chapter program prepares middle and high school students for post-high school success, offering opportunities to explore future possibilities through visits to work sites and college campuses.
These new offerings have enabled more Indiana youth to learn about 4-H and become “Beyond Ready” to assume leadership roles in their communities, Indiana, and the world.
Sara Coomes, a 4-H leader for nearly 30 years, has witnessed the positive impact of these programs in her county. “I have seen growth in the 4-H program in Vanderburgh County,” Coomes said. “They strive to reach all areas of our county, both the 4-H kids and other kids in the community that don’t always have the resources to join the traditional 4-H program. Multiple programs have been added to 4-H to continue developing the skills youth need to become productive members of society.”
Increasing Community Participation
Grants from partner organizations have played a crucial role in 4-H’s expansion. For instance, programs funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. bring 4-H into classrooms, while partnerships with the National 4-H Council and the Indiana 4-H Foundation have supported programming related to STEM and AI.
“During 2020, everything got crazy, but once the dust settled, 4-H used that time of discovery to bring in many new people,” said Kjartan Plett, a current 4-H member. “Now, I think 4-H is back to its old self, if not even larger!”
The growth in Indiana youth participation necessitates more adult volunteers; many are stepping up to answer the call.
Adult volunteers are essential to the success of 4-H programs. Sean Sharma, a former 4-H member and current aerospace project judge, understands the significant impact adult mentors can have. “I think we all have a responsibility to support the communities in which we live,” Dr. Sharma said. “The nice thing is that 4-H is a local organization so that you can support the youth and other adult volunteers in your area. That’s important to help improve our community and make it a better place to live.”
Molly Knight, a Beech Grove 4-H Support Committee volunteer, is another example of dedicated service. A Beech Grove 4-H alumna and youth volunteer, Knight continues to support 4-H as a volunteer, even while attending college in Boston. “I like doing it because I had such a great time when I was a 4-H’er, and there were some wonderful volunteers who helped and made everything possible,” Knight said. “I want to do the same for the kids in the program because you can learn so much through 4-H.”
With the number of Indiana 4-H participants steadily increasing, the program requires more adult volunteers to serve Hoosier youth. Individuals interested in volunteering or learning more about 4-H in their community can contact the Lawrence County Purdue Extension office by calling 812-275-4623 or 765-496-4446.
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