4-H Youth Development

4-H is a fun adventure every day.

Meet new friends, across the street and across the state. Explore careers. Win prizes. Build robots. Innovate. Teach. Create. Bake. Craft. Dream. Grow. Serve. In 4-H, you decide what your club does, with the help of caring adult leaders. The more you do, the greater your chances of earning college scholarships and trips to national conferences. 4-H is the place where you belong and are part of a life-changing group of friends. It's where you decide what matters most to you and learn about things that interest you. And, it's the place where you serve in the community where you live.

Parents, in 4-H, your child will build skills they’ll need to be successful—at home, at school, and in their community, while they explore amazing career opportunities. 4-H mentors empower young people to set goals and achieve big dreams. Your child will feel safe and welcomed while they pursue personal interests and build confidence in their skills. 4-H serves all youth from age 5 to 18.  

You may think that 4-H is just for kids who live on farms. That’s just not true! Although 4-H started on farms, it's expanded as families have moved to urban areas. Although some 4-H members own livestock animals, lots of members choose other projects such as aerospace, visual arts, gardening, photography, or robotics. 

You Matter to Us

We welcome all young people. Any youth, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, or disability may enroll as a 4-H member. A youth who enrolls in a 4-H club must attend at least one meeting, tour, workshop, or other activity of that club to be called a 4-H member. And, 4-H members must be enrolled in at least one project. A young person can be a member of multiple 4-H clubs within a county in Illinois. Youth are expected to join the 4-H program in the county where they live.

County 4-H Programs

 

HELPFUL LINKS AND TOOLS

Explore 4-H'ers Impact
See how 4-H is making a difference in the lives of today's youth.
Explore Statewide Leadership Roles
Planning, presenting, teaching, mentoring, advocating and advising ~ you’ll do it all as 4-H Teen Leadership member!
Find your spark in the Illinois 4-H Project Guide
In 4-H, members learn about topics that interest them. These "projects" often spark young people to follow their interests and talents on a new path to career development.
Help bring your club to a new level of excitement, education, and exploration
We've pulled together all of the resources a 4-H club could need in one place.

Opportunities to Get Involved with 4-H

Partner with 4-H
Many programs can be tailored to meet the needs of youth in school classrooms, after-school programs, partner sites, military installations, community groups, and more.
Volunteer with 4-H!
Volunteer with 4-H! As a 4-H volunteer, you can share your skills and experience to help transform a new generation of confident, young leaders.
Give Online
Your gift will help Illinois youth achieve their unique potential and gain confidence that will guide them as adults.
Join the 4-H Alumni Association
Illinois 4-H is seeking to create a lifelong connection to our 4-H alumni through a free membership in the Illinois 4-H Alumni Association, which was established in 2016 and is building a network of 4-H alumni throughout Illinois and beyond.