4-H Youth Development

Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about aerospace.

Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about agriculture and the impact it has on everyday life.

Intended Audiences:
Upper Elementary Youth, Middle School Youth, High School Youth

Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about safety in rural and agricultural settings.

Intended Audiences:
Upper Elementary Youth, Middle School Youth, High School Youth

Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about agronomy.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about animal science.

Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about babysitting.

Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about beef.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about child development.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about civic engagement.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about clothing.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about college and career readiness.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about communications.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about computer science.

The 4-H Connect program is a three-day retreat that allows untapped and underserved youth participants to explore experiential learning opportunities in the 4-H four program priority areas of civic engagement and leadership, healthy living, communication and the arts, STEM, as well as future educ

Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about consumer management.
The Iowa Youth Crop Scouting Competition is to provides youth an opportunity to learn crop scouting and principles of IPM for corn and soybean and to obtain knowledge and skills helpful in future careers.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about dairy cattle.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about dairy goat.

Youth use their aquired skills in the dairy project area to judge classes of dairy cows and heifers at the Iowa State Fair.

Intended Audiences:
Upper Elementary Youth, Middle School Youth, High School Youth

Teams compete for chance to advance to the National Dairy Quiz Bowl

Intended Audiences:
Upper Elementary Youth, Middle School Youth, High School Youth

Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about digital storytelling.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about dog.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about entomology.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about environment and sustainability.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about food and nutrition.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about health.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about home improvement.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about horse and pony.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about horticulture.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about leadership.
Judging Teams help youth to develop life skills in the areas of decision making, critical thinking, oral reasoning, self-confidence and problem solving. 

Intended Audiences:
Middle School Youth, High School Youth

Livestock quiz bowl is a team event for 4th-12th graders where they test their knowledge of beef, sheep, swine, and meat goats.

Livestock skillathon is a team event where participants solve problems and identify breeds, meats, equipment and feeds related to beef, sheep, swine, and goat production.

Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about meat goat.
Judging Teams help youth to develop life skills in the areas of decision making, critical thinking, oral reasoning, self-confidence and problem solving.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about mechanics.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about music.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about outdoor adventures.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about pets.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about photography.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about poultry.

Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about precision agriculture. Precision agriculture is the science of farm management using technology to aid in measurement and analysis.

Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about rabbit.
Recognition events provide an avenue for youth recognition and to provide young people with an opportunity to practice and grow leadership, communications, and college and career readiness skills.
The purpose of 4-H record keeping is to teach how to keep records, which is an important life skill. Record keeping is an ongoing process that does not end when the 4-H year ends. Youth are encouraged to select from a variety of alternatives to meet their
The Iowa 4-H Reporters is an opportunity for youth who have an interest in media and communications projects.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about robotics.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about sewing and needle arts.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about sheep.

STEM festivals inspire and engage youth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities and to introduce children and parents to STEM careers in their local communities.

Intended Audiences:
Upper Elementary Youth

Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about STEM.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about swine.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about tractor.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about visual arts.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about wildlife.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about woodworking.
Agriculture Every Day is aimed at teaching youth in grades 4-12 about the importance of agriculture. Each short (20-30 min) stand-alone lesson is on a different agricultural science topic.
AGsploration lessons allow students to explore the relationships between agriculture, the environment, and their health through engaging hands-on activities.
All youth in 8th-12th grades are invited to apply to attend this 3-day conference all about animal science. 

Intended Audiences:
Middle School Youth, High School Youth

ANIMAL U promotes involvement in animal agriculture and allows all youth the opportunity to increase their knowledge. It also enables more young people to become involved through accessible, straightforward, and research-based information.
Art-Lit to Go! is an innovative Iowa 4-H program that supports the development of art and literacy skills for K-3 children.

4-H members in grades 9-12 interested in showcasing apparel design and production knowledge share their understanding and use of design elements and principles within several runway clothing exhibition classes.

Books for Cooks is an innovative Iowa 4-H program that supports the development of culinary and literacy skills for K-3 children.


From exploring potential jobs to starting their own business, the “Build Your Future” curriculum helps teens in grades 9-12 develop skills and knowledge in career exploration.

Iowa 4-H Camera Corps is a talented group of youth photographers working together to make beautiful, powerful, and creative photographs of communities from across of the state of Iowa.

The 4-H Career Pathways Academy is a 12-month immersive program for all Iowa youth in grades 8-11 that provides pathways to college and career preparedness. The program will:

Every summer teens from across the country gather at the National 4-H Conference Center, near Washington, D.C., to learn what it means to be a strong leader in their community, country, and world.

Classroom Hatching is an egg incubation program for youth in Kindergarten through third grade. This program aims to explore the life cycle of poultry and learn about the needs of living things by incubating and hatching chicken eggs.

The Clover Cookie Factory workshop provides youth in grades 4-7 fun, hands-on experiments to discover the purpose of the ingredients in a sugar cookie.
Iowa 4-H has a State Youth Council, and many counties have a County Youth Council. Youth council members serve in youth leadership roles as ambassadors for the 4-H program.
Iowa 4-H Crops Feed the World Lessons are designed to teach youth in grades 4 through 12 about the exciting world of crop sciences and crop production.
Youth in grades 4-12 demonstrate knowledge of the equine industry. Competiti
FLEx is a mobile learning program for advanced design technology benefiting 3rd through 12th students and beyond in a 21st-century paradigm.

4-H Healthy Living Ambassadors work as a team, bringing wellness initiatives to communities across Iowa.

This event is for youth in grades 8-12 to learn more about the areas of wellness and wellbeing. 

Intended Audiences:
High School Youth

Students engage with living organisms for agricultural and scientific purposes, independent of an outdoor environment.

Youth will learn the importance of healthy eating and physical activity while making and eating healthy, child-friendly recipes.
Mindful Teen: From Surviving to THRIVING! is a six-lesson workshop series for youth in grades 7-12 based on the book, The Mindful Teen: Powerful Skills to Help You Handle Stress One Moment at a Time by Dr. Dzung Vo.

This day camp is a great way to launch your STEM learning. Join us to learn about Mars, NASA, and STEM concepts by training like an astronaut and going on a mission to Mars!

The Monarchs on the Move Challenge is a part of the 4-H Ag Innovators Experience (4-H AIE), an annual program that challenges young people to apply critical thinking and STEM skills to a real-world agriculture challenge.
NASA Astro Camp® is an opportunity for youth to get involved in and experience Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) -- and to learn more about space with NASA unique activities.
National 4-H Conference is the pinnacle experience in 4-H Civic Engagement, providing the opportunity for youth people to connect, learn, engage, lead and impact their communities, their nation, and their world.
National 4-H Congress is a five-day event that engages high school 4-H members in leadership, civic engagement, global awareness, and inclusion. Delegates are selected through State 4-H Recognition Day.

Ignite by 4-H is a teen event held in Washington, D.C. for four days of inspiring and engaging panels, respected speakers, workshop sessions, entertainment and creating amazing connections.

Formerly known as National Youth Science Day, the 4 H STEM Challenge is an annual initiative to inspire youth in grades 4-12 to take an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on learning.
The Native Bee Challenge is a part of the 4-H Ag Innovators Experience, an annual program that challenges young people to apply critical thinking and STEM skills to a real-world agriculture challenge. Developed by National 4-H Council and Bayer. 
This 4-H youth development guide is designed to strengthen skills in youth who may care for themselves and/or siblings during the afterschool hours. This publication is focused on youth who are home alone for limited time.

Pick a Better Snack aims to help children eat more fruits and vegetables. Nutrition educators teach 30-minute interactive lessons once a month in kindergarten through 3rd grade classrooms. Students learn why fruits and vegetables are so good for their bodies, where and how fruits and v

What would you need in order to grow crops on the moon? Participants from around the world are helping NASA scientists answer this question and you can be a part of the science project.

Read Across Iowa is a special event celebrated throughout the month of March to help motivate children to read. The month-long celebrations bring the joys of reading to youth of all ages and make all youth feel valued and welcomed.
Real Money. Real World. Is an interactive, hands-on experience providing young people the opportunity to make simulated lifestyle and budget choices similar to those adults face on a daily basis.
A middle school leadership initiative created and sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Iowa 4-H.
4-H Safety and Education in Shooting Sports (SESS) uses skills and disciplines of shooting to assist young people and their leaders in obtaining knowledge and developing life skills.

Shine Light on Depression uses lessons and resources to help raise awareness of depression and prevent suicide among 4-12th grade youth, promote good mental health, educate youth and families, and encourage help-seeking.

Iowa 4-H partners with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, who has a national model for sports-based youth development. Soccer for Success helps youth embrace an active and healthy lifestyle while nurturing their personal growth through trained coach-mentors.

State 4-H Recognition is the process in which senior 4-H members in grades 9-12 can apply to be selected for special statewide opportunities such as awards and trips.
Youth who have completed 8th grade and up can participate in a 3-day conference at Iowa State University. Youth will experience campus life and meet new people from around the state! Activities include networking and service learning.
An event held each year in the Spring, Iowa 4-H Youth Development’s State Science + Technology Fair of Iowa (SSTFI) serves as a platform for student researchers (grades 6 – 12) to meet with professional researchers and communicate their findings.
This informal education program is designed to teach children fundamental STEM and art concepts through integrated STEAM-literacy activities that focus on a seasonal topic.
STEM-Lit to Go! is a new and innovative Iowa 4-H Clover Kids curriculum that supports the development of STEM and literacy skills for children in kindergarten through third grade.

Iowa 4-H offers STEM workshops, events, and other educational activities in partnership with the STEM Scale-Up program. These programs have demonstrated success in increasing young people's interest and achievement in STEM.

SWITCH ("School Wellness Integration Targeting Child Health") is an innovative school wellness initiative designed to support and enhance school wellness programming.

School Cooking School - Virtual Cooking Classes focus on engaging students and their family members in the Chew component of SWITCH.

The Water Connects US All Challenge is a part of the 4-H Ag Innovators Experience, an annual program that challenges young people to apply critical thinking and STEM skills to a real-world agriculture challenge.

Today’s students are our future land stewards. Students in WHEP have a greater understanding of the value of land and how it can be managed to benefit many wildlife and fish species.
With over 15,000 Iowa 4-H'ers enrolled in livestock projects, about 17 million pounds of meat is produced each year. The goal of this program is to help youth and their parents better understand what they can do to produce the safest food possible.