About Michigan 4-H

Always heard of Michigan 4-H but not sure what it's all about?

Michigan 4-H is the youth development program of Michigan State University Extension. It provides fun, hands-on educational opportunities that prepare youth for life and work by helping them find their spark, build real world skills and become resilient, adaptable, lifelong learners.

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! Offered in a diverse array of topics, each year more than 100,000 young people, ages 5-19, explore what interests and excites them with Michigan 4-H. In program areas ranging from animals to archery, engineering to entrepreneurship, and leadership to learning to cook, 4-H provides experiences that allow youth to practice and build foundational skills that ready them for the future.

Based on the experiential learning model, youth in 4-H participate through the learn-by-doing approach. In addition to gaining valuable content knowledge in the subject at hand, this model teaches 4-H members critical life skills such as goal-setting, self-discipline, conflict resolution and teamwork. The development of these life skills are just one of the many positive youth development outcomes that occur from youth’s participation in 4-H and result in a direct impact on not only themselves, but others youth interact with as well.

Data shows that compared to their peers, 4-H’ers are:

2x more likely to have the goal of being a leader;
3x more likely to participate in community service; and
2x more likely to report living life with intentionality and purpose.

*Tufts University longitudinal study of Positive Youth Development, 2021

Parents, are you curious about opportunities for your youth in 4-H?

4-H is building a ready generation in a world of change and is offered in nearly every county in the state – just contact your local Michigan State University (MSU) Extension office! Because Michigan 4-H is part of MSU Extension, the activities your kids will participate in are all backed by and based on child and youth development research. Through hands-on learning in a wide variety of program areas, youth will gain valuable knowledge, enhance their expertise and find their spark. These skills help youth become ready for whatever the future holds: ready to lead, ready to build, ready to serve and ready to contribute to the world around them.

Want to help build a ready generation? Become a Michigan 4-H volunteer!

Consider becoming a Michigan 4-H volunteer today and help to prepare the next generation. By giving your time, talent and skills, you can help ready youth for whatever the future holds. Give an hour a week, month or year - there are volunteer roles for any skill level, time commitment and interest area.

With your help, more kids will be ready to take on the world. More youth, more community, more ready!

Learn more about becoming a 4-H volunteer.

Interested in learning more about Michigan 4-H?

MSU Extension supplies a culmination of data each year for Michigan 4-H. This data tells the stories of the program’s impact on significant topics such as education, economy, college readiness and more. Visit the Michigan 4-H Impact Reports page to learn more about how Michigan 4-H is making a positive impact on youth.

Additional details can be found by visiting the 4-H Essential Elements for Positive Youth Development and the Michigan 4-H FAQ’s.

Contact

For more information on how to get involved as a youth or volunteer, contact your county MSU Extension office or:

4-H Youth Development
E-mail: msue4h@msu.edu
Phone: 517-432-7575