Kentucky 4-H Youth Development has a mission for all youth to gain the sense of belonging and being constructive involved with their peers. In order to give youth this opportunity it was highly important to develop organized school clubs in the Menifee and Morgan County School systems.
During the Fall 05 4-H School clubs were organized in all the 4th through 8th grade classrooms in Menifee county, making a total of 24 clubs. These club responsibilities were shared between the FCS and Ag agent. These 4-H clubs have expanded in numbers every year for the past three years. Menifee started out with 0 clubs in 2003.
During the Spring 06 4-H School clubs were organized in all the 4th and 5th grade classrooms in Morgan County, making a total of 18 clubs. The 4-H Agent had sole responsibility of these clubs but had assistance from the program assistant and the 4-H Teen Council.
At the time of the school club meetings youth engage in activities of leadership, learning how parliamentary procedures take place, and how to be effective communicators. Youth also get exposed to nutrition, health and environmental activities.
Teachers from both counties reported that they liked the 4-H curriculum and had seen a positive change in youth who probably do not get to be involved in a lot of activities. One teacher even commented that she was surprised to see who the true leaders were of the classroom that it was not always the popular child. In Morgan county, it has already been asked for there to be organized clubs in the sixth grade for the up-coming school year.