4-H Today

TALENT IS EVERYWHERE, OPPORTUNITY

Nothing should hold a kid back—not where they live, not their race, not what their parents earn, and not what language they speak at home. Now more than ever, millions of young people face a widening opportunity gap in education, mental health and social inequities, which threaten their potential and the growth of our communities.

At 4-H, we believe every kid should have an equal opportunity to succeed. And every kid should have the skills they need to make a difference in the world. Not in the future. Right now.

Where 4-H’ers live:

4-H by the numbers: 600,000 6M 35%

EVERYWHERE, OPPORTUNITY IS NOT.

DRIVEN BY THE POWER THAN 100 PUBLIC

4-H educators are trained in positive youth development.

4-H is grounded in the belief that kids learn best by doing. And when they do, they grow the skills necessary to lead in their own lives and contribute to the world around them.

4-H programs are implemented by our nation’s land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System, through 4-H volunteers and professionals in every county, parish and borough in the U.S. That includes 19 historically black colleges

and universities that serve approximately 75,000 of the most underserved 4-H youth each year.

Preeminent youth development scholars at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University partnered with faculty at America’s land-grant universities to conduct research which showed that compared to their peers, youth involved in 4-H programs are thriving.

Gordon Gee PRESIDENT, WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Dr. Richard Lerner DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED RESEARCH IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Jill Bramble CEO AND PRESIDENT, NATIONAL 4-H COUNCIL

POWER OF MORE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

4-H Program Areas

Unparalleled Outcomes

Compared to their peers, the findings showed that youth involved in 4-H programs are approximately:

4x 2x 2x 2x

likely to make a positive contribution to their communities

more likely to make healthier choices

more likely to report feeling competent

2X more likely to feel positive about their wellbeing

THIS COUNTRY WAS

4-H alumni are the proof of the unparalleled impact of a 4-H experience. They live it every day—reaching the highest points of achievement in virtually every industry and sector. There are an estimated 35 million 4-H alumni, many of whom remember the day they took the 4-H pledge for the first time.

Council is helping to engage a “Community of Doers” (e.g. alums, parents, partners and influencers) as advocates, donors, volunteers and consumers who share 4-H’s values and vision. Working with media partners and entertainment influencers, Council is bringing the 4-H experience to a new generation of parents, volunteers and young people.

Jennifer Nettles

Craig Melvin

Jose Hernandez

Carla Hall

WAS BUILT BY DOERS

TODAY’S 4-H STORY

The term ‘opportunity gap’ is increasingly being used to describe how the circumstances in which people are born or live determine their opportunities in life. Now more than ever, millions of young people face a widening opportunity gap in education, mental health and social inequities, which threaten their potential and the growth of our communities.

The Opportunity4All campaign was created to address the important role 4-H positive youth development (PYD) can play in closing the opportunity gap.

Research undertaken by youth development organizations such as 4-H shows COVID-19 has exacerbated the inequities young people are facing.

The only online platform connecting research-based content from 100+ universities and 4-H local programming, Clover provides hands-on, educational resources to youth and their caregivers anytime, anywhere.

Curriculum informed by research

The following examples highlight just a few of the activities that are available across six categories:

• STEM: Internet Basics, Space Exploration, Engineer a Greenhouse.

• Healthy Living: Design a Healthy Plate, Expressing Emotions, Healthy Cookbook.

• Agriculture: Create a Bee Habitat, Hydroponics, Make a Moo-del of a Cow’s Stomach.

• Civic Engagement: Climate March, Just Act for Food Justice, Pillows for the Homeless

• Creative Arts: Create your own Ladybug, Vision Boards, Meditation in a Bottle.

• Career and Workforce Skills: Setting Smart Goals, Exploring Vocational Careers, How to Pay for College.

200+ online interactive activities

Clover engages PreK-12 youth with interactive, trackable activities, including:

• multi-media content;

• immersive, augmented reality experiences;

• quizzes;

• self-reflection;

• learning journeys;

• credentialing; and

• badging.

CLOVER has received three Anthem Awards in the Education, Art & Culture category:

Gold: Community Engagement

Silver: Education or Literacy Program

Silver: Education or Literacy Platform

BE AN INSPIRATION

4-H’s ability to grow will rest on its success in mobilizing support and creating alignment among its current stakeholders—as well as new 4-H families, partners and brand champions. National 4-H Council’s passionate and committed Trustees are a diverse leadership board comprised of corporate executives and representatives from 4-H youth, land-grant universities, Cooperative Extension and the federal government.

OUR PARTNERS

OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES

KRYSTA HARDEN Chair President and CEO

JULIETTE B. BELL, PH.D. Vice Chair Former President

WADE MIQUELON Treasurer President and CEO

JANIS PENMAN Secretary Partner

JILL BRAMBLE Assistant Secretary President and CEO

JACKIE APPLEGATE, PH.D. President North America Crop Science

ALYSIA BORSA Chief Business Officer & President of Lifestyle

LESLIE COLEMAN Former Head of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

E. GORDON GEE, PH.D. President

ROBERT J. JONES, PH.D. Chancellor RICHARD MALTSBARGER President and CEO

TRENT MCKNIGHT Founder, Agricorps and Operating Partner, VestedWorld

DANA MCNABB Chief Strategy and Growth Officer

TIFFANY ATWELL Senior Vice President, Global Government Relations

JOHN ORDUS Executive Vice President and Chief Stores Officer

MARTHA BERNADETT, M.D., MBA President and CEO

MARK BERVEN President and COO

MAGGIE SANS VP of Community Relations, Corporate Affairs

MARY SNAPP VP, Strategic Initiatives Office of the President

AIDAN SPENCER 4-H Alumnus, Student George Washington University

LAURA STEPHENSON, PH.D. Associate Dean for Extension University of Kentucky

DANIELLE TIEDT Chief Marketing Officer

DR. MANJIT K. MISRA Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture

TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES

Council Mission: Increase investment and participation in high-quality 4-H positive youth development programs

Advocacy

• Support Brand Campaign via personal story or networks

• Speaking roles at Local/State/National 4-H Events

• Champion 4-H in their own organization and networks

Financial Commitment

• Personal gift

• Solicit/steward gifts from own organization or network

• Influence other investors/Open doors

• Recruit for the Board

• Responsible for >$100k “Give + Get” annually

Time Commitment

• Serve at least one, three-year term

• Attend at least 3 of 4 quarterly in person meetings

• Serve on one standing Committee

• Attend periodic Board or Committee teleconferences

Engagement

• Attend an orientation with Council Staff

• Attend one day deep dive at Land-grant Institution

• Participate in local programmatic opportunities

Ethics

• Provide annual Conflict of Interest disclosure

• Follow Board’s Code of Conduct as per Governance Policies

• Respect the confidentiality of Board Business

QUARTERLY MEETINGS

Spring

Spring Board Meeting

March 13th-14th, 2024

Summer

Fall

Summer Board Meeting

June 26th-27th, 2024 | Washington, DC

Fall Board Meeting

September 10th–11th, 2024 | Cleveland, OH

Winter

Winter (Annual) Board Meeting

December 11th-12th, 2024 | Washington, DC