New Leaders Tip 5: 4-H Activities and Opportunities

Club Activities

Leadership

Leadership at the club level goes beyond officer positions and committee assignments! Youth leadership opportunities should be available before, during, and after club meetings, including everything from greeting members and introducing activities to making sure everyone feels included in social time. All youth should be encouraged to give individual or team demonstrations or presentations on topics they’re interested in on a rotating basis.

Social Activities

The most successful clubs include social time planned by youth and adults together, such as trail rides, holiday parties, cultural events, camp-outs, picnics, or group attendance at community events. Social events outside of club meetings help youth get to know each other and to connect with their community.

Community Service Projects

4-H goals include youth becoming caring, engaged community members through leadership and community engagement. Clubs are encouraged to work on short term or multi-session community service projects and service learning opportunities. Civic engagement can be a one-time project for a club or member, or their entire project area.

Recognition Activities

Many clubs hold special recognition events for members and leaders. Recognition means different things to different volunteers and 4-H youth members, and getting to know the individuals participating in your club can help you determine what expressions of appreciation will suit your youth and volunteers. Members may want to invite family and friends to recognition events to share their achievements. These celebrations can also be great opportunities to share club activities with family members and friends.

Scholarships and Awards Calendar

County and Regional 4-H Activities

Project Workshops

Many counties host workshops or clinics in various project areas, such as animal clinics, dog training, crafts sessions, leadership training, or visual arts opportunities.

Judging and Other Contests

Information updating soon!

Fairs and Exhibits

Check out our Fairs and Exhibits page for details on opportunities available to Yakima County 4-H youth.

State 4-H Activities

Washington State 4-H Teen Conference

Check the Washington State 4-H Teen Conference webpage for current information on this event.

Washington 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest

More information coming soon on state livestock judging contests!

Washington State 4-H Fair

The Washington State 4-H Fair is a collaborative community event showcasing and promoting the achievements and talents of youth as they work toward building their successful futures. For more information on the Washington State 4-H Fair, please visit their website. Additional inquiries can be sent to Kellian Whidden, State 4-H Fair Manager.

National 4-H Activities

National 4-H Week

Taking place in October, National 4-H Week celebrates the 4-H program and allows youth to showcase their pride in their clubs and the wider 4-H community. A leader’s toolkit can be found on the National 4-H Week website. For ideas on how to celebrate National 4-H week with your club, see Amaya Collins’ post on the National 4-H blog titled “10 Ways to Celebrate National 4-H Week.”

Citizenship Washington Focus

Rooted in legacy but reimagined for today, Citizenship Washington Focus is THE event for teens to learn leadership and communication skills through history, democracy, and our amendments.

National 4-H Congress

An educational experience designed to make an impact. Join youth from around the country to expand your skills, engage with other 4-H members, and be inspired to make an impact on your club, community, country, and world. For more information on the National 4-H Congress, visit their website.

National 4-H Conference

Bringing hundreds of 4-H’ers to the nation’s capital each spring, National 4-H Conference is the flagship youth development opportunity of USDA, hosted by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The nationally recognized event is developing the next generation of leaders. Experience unparalleled discovery, learning, professional development, and networking with 4-H’ers from around the world. During the Conference, delegates will become familiar with the government and future career opportunities and share their voice with federal agencies and congressional committees.

IGNITE by 4-H

Join us from across the U.S. in Washington, D.C. for Ignite by 4-H! The four-day interactive summit helps teens find their spark through inspiring speakers, hands-on workshops, off-site experiences, career exploration and connecting with peers.

Ignite is a step forward in the journey of becoming beyond ready. At Ignite, teens collaborate, create and cultivate a passion for expanding their minds and their world—becoming resilient and READY for everything life has to offer. The possibilities are endless at Ignite by 4-H.

International 4-H Opportunities

Washington 4-H International Program

4-H youth in Washington have the opportunity to travel internationally with the 4-H International Exchange, or to host a youth coming in from another country! For more information on the Washington 4-H International Exchange, see their webpage or contact Carolyn Russo.

County 4-H Calendar