Wexford County 4-H

Mission: To empower young people to reach their full potential while advancing the field of youth development through hands-on learning and leadership opportunities.

Wexford County 4-H is a youth development program that is part of Michigan 4-H, which operates under the Michigan State University Extension. The program offers opportunities for young people in Wexford County, Michigan, to learn and grow through hands-on experiences, educational activities, and leadership development. 4-H is dedicated to providing youth with the tools and support needed to build life skills, promote positive development, and encourage community involvement.

Many people think 4-H is just for kids who live on farms or those interested in raising and selling animals – but that’s not true! Offering a diverse range of topics and interest areas, 4-H is the largest youth development organization in Michigan. Based on the experiential learning model, youth in 4-H participate in specific program areas through the learn-by-doing approach. In addition to gaining valuable content knowledge, this model teaches 4-H members critical life skills such as goal-setting, self-discipline, conflict resolution and teamwork that directly contributes to the communities they live in.

Wexford County 4-H serves children and teenagers aged 5 to 19, offering a variety of programs and clubs that span a wide range of interests, including agriculture, animal science, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), art, health and wellness, and community service. The organization is designed to help young people develop essential life skills, such as problem-solving, leadership, communication, and teamwork, all of which are cultivated through hands-on learning. Through hands-on learning in a wide variety of program areas, youth will gain valuable knowledge, enhance their expertise and uncover their aspirations while developing important life skills that will benefit them now and in the future.

Participants in Wexford County 4-H can engage in various activities such as 4-H clubs, workshops, camping experiences, and community service projects. One of the signature events of 4-H is the 4-H Fair, where youth have the chance to showcase their projects, including livestock, gardening, artwork, and technology projects.

At the core of 4-H are caring adult volunteers who grow current and future leaders by giving their time and expertise to empower young people with important life skills. These volunteers serve throughout Michigan in many ways to help enhance the lives of thousands of youth. With real-world experience, Michigan 4-H volunteers also offer young people another crucially important element: a healthy adult role model who helps to grow their confidence and ignite their dreams for the future.

Become a 4-H volunteer and help the youth in your community. Because after all, true leaders aren’t born: they’re grown!