It’s Significant: 4-H’ers Become Better Citizens, Leaders and Communicators
3/20/09
Iowa 4-H’ers are gaining something significant from participating in 4-H clubs —something statistically significant, Iowa State University Extension research shows. According to Sharon Wasteney, Union County Extension Education Director, a new study shows that Iowa youth credit their 4-H clubs with making them better citizens, leaders and communicators.
A 2008 study that included 508 members from 25 counties examined self-reported changes in 4-H club members’ citizenship, leadership and communication knowledge/skills and behavior/practices. After participating in 4-H clubs, 80 percent of the youth indicated their citizenship skills had increased and nearly 74 percent indicated their citizenship practices had improved. About 67 percent indicated their leadership skills had increased, and 72 percent indicated their leadership practices had improved. In addition, 73 percent of the youth indicated their communication skills increased, and 72 percent indicated their communication practices had improved.
Union County Extension reports an 8% increase in enrollment in the county 4-H program this year. While the most popular project area is photography members apply their learning in many specific project areas through community service and service learning activities. Most club members actively participate in community work that helps them understand the strengths and needs of their community. Dana Miller, a 4-H County Council member, states that 4-H has influenced her to “become a better citizen to my community”. She has learned to be accountable for the activities she is in charge of because “if I do not follow through with my plans, those activities will not get done, and I let down the leaders and club members”. Liz Beatty applied her service skills to write grants to help build much needed agility equipment for the Wiggles and Wags 4-H club and her club was rewarded with a surprise $10,000 in excess of the original funding request from the Dekko Foundation.
According to the study, 4-H clubs helped youth gain leadership skills through opportunities to serve as club officers and activity team leaders. They learn to work as a team with people who have opinions and ideas different from their own. The youth also said they learned to set personal goals and handle conflict respectfully. In Union County, Kilee Kralik ,Douglas Boosters 4-H club,is an outstanding example of a young person who has developed skills through her 4-H activities to lead the clothing program from a participation level of five to more than 50. She encourages younger members to become engaged in the opportunity to develop their self-confidence, to increase their knowledge and to build skills in communicating effectively.
The 4-H’ers in the study said being involved in 4-H clubs helped them gain communication skills through creating demonstrations and presentations and speaking in front of groups. In addition, they learned to work together with people of various ages, to speak and write effectively, to listen attentively to others’ views and to express their ideas. Last year, Sami Smith, SandCreek Pioneers 4-H club, took the challenge to participate in the extemporaneous speaking category for the first time at the county fair. When given a topic, she had a few minutes to prepare and then spoke before the group. Her topic—what has 4-H done for you—gave her the opportunity to share with the audience how her leadership, citizenship and communication skills had been improved through her 4-H activities.
Young people continue to include the more traditional foods, clothing, home improvement, and livestock projects but also are adding automotive, gardening, entomology, aerospace, camping , bicycling, robotics as well as citizenship, communication and leadership to build their skills and knowledge through 4-H. Miller verifies the results of the 2008 study as she shares, “My involvement in 4-H has given me the confidence to believe in myself that I can make a difference in my club, my community, my country, and my world. In other words, to make the best better.”
For more information or to join 4-H contact the Union County Extension Office at 641-782-8426, email swasten@iastate.edu or check out the website at www.extension.iastate.edu/union.
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Contacts :
Keli Tallman, ISU Extension 4-H Youth Development, (515) 294-0688, ktallman