Teen Leadership Opportunities
Leadership Grows Here
People are often amazed at the skills that 4-H members can demonstrate. From inside the program, we understand that those skills are seldom “natural gifts”; they are the outcomes of commitment.
Our young people work hard through repeated attempts, facing both small successes and failures, as they slowly build mastery in their project, public speaking, and leadership skills. Our leaders are experts at nurturing resilience. Through caring, encouragement, and support we help teens reach their goals.
The Statewide 4-H Teen Programs do not spring out of a magical clover, fully formed. They are also built slowly: with commitment, with teens and volunteers focused on growing. Leadership sprouts in the club programs, it gets nurtured with county and regional projects, and slowly, our members grow tall enough to see the summits of state and national 4-H program opportunities. State and National Teen Opportunities are almost ALL structured with opportunities and expectations for teen contribution. Their ideas, their voices, and their efforts are essential to sustaining their programs. We start building those skills early.
Our leadership programs begin with local county leaders and volunteers participating in youth-adult partnerships that give young people opportunities for leadership.
From Club to County
We encourage youth from a young age to practice their public speaking skills and serve as club officers and decision-makers. By the time most 4-H youth are teenagers, they are comfortable enough in these roles that they can often model and teach them to younger program youth.
Teens are often interested in finding out more about the world beyond their family. Club participation has helped nurture that curiosity and affirmed that there is a community beyond the club that is ready for their leadership.
County 4-H Teen Programs can help connect teens from various clubs through planned service events that focus on developing 4-H club leadership in younger members. Traditional “skill-building workshop” experiences that are teen-planned and teen-led can provide diverse teens the opportunity to meet, make new friends, and build stronger group skills while helping benefit the 4-H Program. Two of the more frequently requested teen-led workshops are for building public speaking skills and club officer skills.
Teens who excel in county leadership opportunities may also have the opportunity to engage in local effort that is tied to State or National 4-H Program objectives. Programs such as YA4-H, Healthy Habits for Youth, and 4-H Tech Changemakers give teens the opportunity to demonstrate their leadership and influence other youth to promote positive community change.
From County to Region
When there is sustained teen interest in 4-H programs, the opportunities for regional events emerge. Regional events are typically shared between several adjoining county 4-H programs, and they may be some of the teens’ first 4-H events that include camp-style experiences, large group activities, and overnight stays.
These events place more emphasis on developing youth-adult partnerships and encourage teens to work at a regional level, planning and delivering leadership events for other 4-H members. Regional events usually enlist several adult teen advisers and some 4-H program staff to help teens navigate locational rentals, meal planning, and other outside agreements.
Regional teen events are also typically the recruiting grounds for State Teen Ambassadors and other State 4-H Committees and Leadership groups. Teens who are demonstrating regional leadership may be encouraged to apply for statewide leadership positions.
Statewide Programs and Opportunities
4-H Impact Ambassadors
Eligibility: 4-H senior members (ages 14+)
Positions: Open Statewide
Term: 1 year, renewable
Application Instructions: Contact alison.white@wsu.edu to apply
Selection: Application
4-H Impact Ambassadors lead positive change by identifying community needs, exploring solutions, and launching projects that make a real difference. Guided by WSU faculty and 4-H volunteer mentors, teens strengthen their leadership skills and deepen connections across the state while working to expand opportunity, foster belonging, and promote well-being. Team meetings are held online (one monthly meeting for all members, with additional officer and project meetings as needed). In-person events are shaped by project goals and available funding and are often held 1-2 times a year.
Eligibility: Teens grades 9-12
Positions: 2 per district
Term: 2 year term
Application Instructions: Application Packet | Due: TBD
Selection: Coming Soon
Eligibility: Teens grades 9-12
Positions: 4 per district, 2 new each year
Term: 1-2 year term
Application Instructions: Application Packet | Due: Open Application
Selection: Application/Interview Process
The Washington State 4-H Ambassadors promote and portray 4-H in a positive manner through cooperation and communication, with leadership and planning, as a bridge between state and local 4-H events and learning.
Eligibility: Teens grades 9-12
Positions: 2
Term: 2 year term
Application Instructions: Application Packet | Due September 1st
Selection: Appointed by Fair Board Executive Committee
State Teen Events
There are many wonderful ways for teens, leaders, and clubs to get engaged in state-wide 4-H events. Teens who are already advanced in their leadership skills, from club and county experiences, find opportunities to grow in leadership with their statewide friends.
Listed below are our 4-H statewide capstone events:
Events
National Opportunities
National Opportunities give 4-Her’s a chance to apply their talents on a national level. If you are interested in attending any of these amazing national opportunities, contact your local Extension office.
Ignite by 4-H
- Eligibility: Teens
- Positions: Unlimited
- Application Instructions: Criteria
- Applications Due: December 1st
- Selection: Chosen by State 4-H Staff
National Conference
- Eligibility: Grades 11-12
- Positions: Unlimited
- Application Instructions: Criteria
- Applications Due: December 30th
- Selection: Chosen by State 4-H Staff
National Congress
- Eligibility: Grades 10-12
- Positions: Unlimited
- Application Instructions: Criteria
- Applications Due: July 1st
- Selection: Chosen by the Adolescent Leadership Specialist and Selection Committee