Program Helps the Next Generation Learn, Lead, and Serve
by SHREEMOYEE GHOSH, 4-H Agent
& LUIS RODRIGUEZ, UF/IFAS Polk Extension
If you’ve heard of 4-H, you might picture a clover emblem or maybe a county fair. In Polk County, 4-H certainly includes animal science opportunities, but at its core, 4-H is a youth development program built around one simple idea: Young people learn best by doing. What matters most are the life skills that these young people gain from engaging in these project-based experiences that make them productive and contributing citizens. Through UF/IFAS Extension, Polk County 4-H creates safe, inclusive environments where youth develop practical skills, build leadership, and grow alongside caring adult mentors. Whether it’s a small engines club meeting, a photography project, a public speaking competition, or a first experience presenting at 4-H Cloverbud Fair, 4-H provides a place where young people can explore interests while building confidence.
What Is 4-H?
“4-H is America’s largest youth development organization – empowering nearly six million young people with the skills to go beyond the expected. To be Beyond Ready.” ( https://4-h.org/about/ )
4-H is the youth development program of land-grant universities, delivered locally through UF/IFAS and Florida A&M University (FAMU) Extension and supported nationally by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
4-H believes every young person has potential. Our programs build that potential by equipping young people with the skills and tools they need to navigate the real world and strengthen their capacity to influence and serve their clubs, communities, and the world. Programs focus on four mission areas: Agriculture, STEM, Healthy Living and Leadership and Civic Engagement.
What 4-H Builds: Life Skills That Stick
Polk County 4-H intentionally develops life skills using the 4-H Targeting Life Skills framework (often shown as the “life skills wheel”). In simple terms: We build Head (thinking and decision-making), Heart (relationships and empathy), Hands (practical skills and service), and Health (well-being and resilience). These ideas are deeply rooted in the 4-H Pledge, which generations of members have used as a guide for how they grow and serve their communities:
I pledge my Head to clearer thinking,
my Heart to greater loyalty,
my Hands to larger service,
and my Health to better living,
for my club, my community, my country, and my world.
How Youth Learn in 4-H: Do, Reflect, Apply
Also known as Experiential Learning, following Kolb’s model in which youth learn through experience, reflection, and real-world application. For example, a youth who learns to create a budget for a woodworking project can apply that same financial planning skill later when managing personal finances, preparing for college, or starting a business. That application step, connecting learning to real life, is what turns activities into lasting life skills.
Leadership, Service, and Community Impact
The impact of 4-H extends beyond individual youth; it strengthens the entire community. In the past year, 1,325 youth participated in Polk County 4-H programs, supported by 134 adult volunteers who led clubs, camps, and events. Together, these volunteers contributed 4,727 hours of service, representing an estimated $155,000 in community value. Since 2017, volunteer contributions total more than 57,000 hours, representing over $1.6 million in community impact.
Leadership, civic engagement, and community service are intentionally woven into the Polk County 4-H program. Leadership often begins at the club level, where youth serve as officers, project leaders, or activity leaders. At the county level, members of the Polk County Youth Council take on larger responsibilities, this year planning the county’s annual recognition banquet while gaining experience in needs assessment, event planning, and budgeting. Youth can also explore civic engagement through opportunities such as Florida 4-H Legislature and 4-H Day at the Capitol, where they learn how policymaking works and how young people can engage with issues that affect their communities.
Leadership and service in 4-H often come full circle. For example, three Polk County 4-H youth qualified through the Florida 4-H State Contests and were selected to represent Florida and Polk County at the National 4-H Avian Bowl competition. After returning home, they gave back to the program by mentoring younger members in the inaugural 4-H Chick Chain project. One youth led a session on poultry showmanship, and all three volunteered as judges for showmanship and skillathon activities, offering encouragement and constructive feedback to participants. In doing so, they demonstrated how 4-H youth move from learning and competing to mentoring others and giving back to their community.
Polk County 4-H creates a cycle where youth learn, master, apply, and then give back by mentoring others, creating a cycle of leadership and service.
Polk County’s Small Farms Program Collaboration With 4-H
The Polk County Small Farms Program, led by Luis Rodriguez, has partnered with 4-H to deliver workshops and day camps focused on agriculture-related topics such as honey bees, backyard chickens, and urban agriculture. These programs aim to help 4-H participants of all ages to develop lifelong skills that will support their future success.
Each session incorporates hands-on learning activities designed to enhance knowledge, encourage active participation, and promote the development of leadership skills that participants can apply in their future careers. The activities are both educational and engaging, promoting a fun learning environment while increasing agricultural awareness and emphasizing the vital role of agriculture in Florida.
Find Your Place in Polk County 4-H
No matter what your child is interested in, animals, agriculture, nature, leadership, mechanics, cooking, community service, woodworking, fishing, archery, or creative projects, there is a place to belong and a pathway to grow in Polk County 4-H.
Join: 4-H is open to youth ages 5–18 (as of September 1 of the current program year). Families can explore community clubs, camps, and special interest programs offered throughout the county.
Volunteer: Adults can get involved by mentoring youth, starting 4-H clubs, sharing skills, helping with events, supporting a club, or leading a project area. Training and ongoing support are provided.
Partner: Polk County Public Schools, local businesses and community organizations can strengthen youth opportunities through partnerships, sponsorships and in-kind support.
To learn more or get involved, contact Shree Ghosh at Shreemoyee.ghosh@ufl.edu or call at 863-519-1067. For more information follow us on social media and check out our website.
Polk County 4-H Website
Polk County 4-H Facebook
Luis Rodriguez is the Polk County Small Farms and Pesticide Education Extension Agent. You can reach him at lrodriguezrosado@ufl.edu or 863-519-1049. Shreemoyee Ghosh is the 4-H Youth Development Agent. You can reach her at 863-519-1073 or shreemoyee.ghosh@ufl.edu. You can also reach Amanda Dominguez, 4-H Educational Specialist, at 863-519-1067 or asanchez2@ufl.edu.