Making the best better since 2023

What is 4-H Exactly?!

4‑H is America’s largest youth development organization—empowering nearly six million young people with the skills to lead for a lifetime. 4‑H is delivered by Cooperative Extension—a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provides experiences where young people learn by doing. For more than 100 years, 4‑H has welcomed young people of all beliefs and backgrounds, giving kids a voice to express who they are and how they make their lives and communities better.

We believe in:

• all young people’s potential,

• developing young people who are empowered, confident, hard-working, determined, responsible and compassionate—seeing a world beyond themselves so that they have the life-long skills to succeed in college and career,

• the practice of positive youth development (PYD)* by creating positive learning experiences,

• caring and trusted adult mentors who cultivate positive relationships with youth,

• creating safe, diverse and inclusive environments, and

• meeting young people wherever they are.