4-H Youth Leadership Opportunities
How Arkansas 4-H Is Developing Tomorrow's Leaders
Arkansas 4-H is committed to fostering youth development and growing future leaders. Through club, county, and even state participation, youth develop and exercise leadership skills, gain a greater awareness of their civic responsibilities, participate in service projects, and be represented on community decision bodies. Youth learn to be engaged, well-informed citizens who are active in their local and global communities.
Through leadership development programs, Arkansas 4-H fosters important life skills, including:
- Leadership
- Civic Engagement
- Communication
- Public Speaking
- Concern for others
- Contribution to a group
State Level Leadership Programs
The Arkansas 4-H Video Crew is a trained group of 4-H members who learn valuable production skills as they work behind the scenes of 4-H events, general sessions, and award ceremonies.
There are several opportunities for youth to take leadership roles within the camp setting available for teens and college students. The programs are Leaders In Training - Basic, Leaders In Training - Advanced, Camp Counselors, and Camp Interns.
The Arkansas 4-H Teen Star Program is a recognition program for outstanding achievement in the areas of 4-H projects and activities, leadership, and community service. The Teen Star program is a gateway to higher levels of leadership within Arkansas 4-H.
Arkansas 4-H Ambassadors assist with 4-H promotion at the county and state level, pushing the Arkansas 4-H program at every opportunity. Ambassadors assist with statewide programs such as the Teen Leader Conference, serve as banquet planners, workshop speakers, and represent 4-H at various activities such as fairs, donor events, awards programs, and community and state organizations' annual meetings.
The title of Arkansas 4-H State Officer is the top position within this youth development organization; State Officers represent Arkansas 4-H at the club, county, district, state, and national level. Arkansas 4-H youth vote in seven of their peers each summer to represent Arkansas 4-H for the year. The officers are inducted each year at the annual Arkansas 4-H State O-Rama. The seven positions include President, Vice President, Delta District Vice President, Ouachita District Vice President, Ozark District Vice President, Secretary, and Reporter.
The purpose of a collegiate 4-H program is service, leadership development, and professional development. Collegiate 4-H activities can range from working directly with local, county, or state 4-H groups to serving volunteer leaders for projects, educational workshops, contests, judging competitions, or assisting with service projects.
Arkansas 4-H is proud to have summer interns for twelve weeks during the summer, May - August. These interns receive real world office experience through office organization, event planning, running contests, and so much more.