This week I had the opportunity to visit the new National 4-H Council facility in Washington D.C. as part of a national committee meeting (it is a fantastic space!). It gave me an opportunity to reflect on all the benefits I received from the 4-H program growing up. Programs like 4-H can be transformative, equipping participants with the skills, confidence, and networks to shape their future. By engaging in hands-on learning, leadership opportunities, and community involvement, 4-H members often develop broader outlooks that influence personal growth well beyond the program. Working with an amazing team we examined what experiences Georgia 4-H alumni found most impactful for shaping their expanded perspectives.
Key Findings
Consensus on Impactful Experiences – Experts identified 36 different experiences, with 75% of them receiving individual consensus ratings over 90%. This illuminates the variety of program elements that significantly affect 4-H alumni outlooks.
Opportunities to Interact with New Perspectives – Connecting with individuals who have different life experiences achieved unanimous agreement, emphasizing how such exchanges broaden members’ worldviews.
Alumni Testimonials – Hearing from dynamic speakers also reached unanimous consensus, illustrating that success stories can spark inspiration and encourage members to visualize new possibilities.
Practical Recommendations
Layered Programming – Combine professional skills development, leadership training, and mentorship with traditional 4-H events, projects, and camps to offer growth experiences in both direct and indirect ways.
Outreach – Engage multiple communities so members can learn from various backgrounds and viewpoints, enhancing personal and professional skills.
Frequent Alumni Engagement – Host regular testimonial events, enabling members to hear firsthand about 4-H’s positive impact and reflect on their own growth.
Although our study focused on Georgia 4-H and may not represent all 4-H programs, it hopefully provides guidance on using 4-H to help expand youth perspectives. Prioritizing meaningful interactions, leadership opportunities, and alumni-driven inspiration, can help support members. This intentional approach can help members better serve their clubs, their communities, their country, and the world. Please be sure to share your insights in the Comments below. I've also included the full manuscript if you would like to read more.
Powell, A., Bennett, N., & Lamm, K. W. (2021). Expanding 4-H alumni life perspectives: An experiential and programmatic evaluation. Journal of Agricultural Education, 62(2), 185-200. http://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2021.02185
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