The 4‑H experience taught you responsibility, compassion, respect and the value of hard work. It helped you become a confident kid and adult. Help kids have the same great experience – share your #4HGrown story.
Our Stories
Paw Kaw Ku
Rock Island 4-H Member, Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team
As an Illini Summer Academies teen planner, I got the chance to help plan the ISA program, and plan for group activities. I learned to work better with the other teens and how to decide, as a team, what is best for the delegates to enjoy their time at the Illini Summer Academies program. I also learned to choose activities for the people who meet for the first time so that they could get to know one another. The first thing others gained from me when I plan for a program or activity is that I brain storm as many things as I can, then I decide what is the best to bring in the program that will make people enjoy it and choose the final item that will be in the program.
Angelica Lebron
Will County 4-H Alumnae, Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team
"The biggest promotion of 4-H is leading by example! Having continuously practiced my speeches for the public speaking competitions throughout my 4-H years strengthened my ability to speak in public with confidence."
As an alum of 4-H I find myself constantly promoting 4-H through my actions. Whether I am giving a speech in class, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or helping a fellow teammate work on their case for Mock Trial, I am continually promoting 4-H through my actions. The biggest promotion of 4-H is leading by example! Having continuously practiced my speeches for the public speaking competitions throughout my 4-H years strengthened my ability to speak in public with confidence. When I collaborate with my service committee in Lambda Sigma, sophomore honor society, I have plenty of ideas to propose because I had plenty of practice serving my community with my 4-H club. So while speaking at local county engagements, helping with workshops or helping start a new chapter in 4-H is excellent promotion; what I’ve learned is that the most impact a 4-Her can have is leading by example. Always conduct yourself as you would if you were in a 4-H environment, get as involved as you can, and use your leadership skills that you nurtured while in 4-H.
Brittney Muschetto
Will County 4-H Member, Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team
As a Teen Promoter, I created a 4-H Ambassador program in my county. I used the skills I learned through my participation in the Speaking for Illinois 4-H program and Legislative Connections, to help me put together and teach a training to the Ambassadors. Together we have promoted 4-H in schools and at our county fair. We have had a lot of people interested in joining the 4-H program. Because of the Ambassador group, 4-H Ambassadors in my county have taken the leadership skills they learned from our Ambassador training, and have gotten involved in their school's Ambassador Program. Not only have the Ambassadors extended their leadership roles and skills in the 4-H program, but they have also had these skills spill over into other aspects of their lives, making them better citizens.
Charlotte Roberts
Lake County 4-H Member, Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team
I serve as the youth board member for our multi-county Extension Council, and am now in my second term in this advisory role. I also serve as a 4-H teen member on a number of county committees. From these advisory roles, I have learned that the most important part of advising is listening, hearing all sides. I have also learned that cooperative team work is an important part of the advisory role. What I think others have learned from me is that not only can teen adults be effective and valuable contributors, but the viewpoint that I can bring as a young adult can help lead to a viable approach or direction.