Contact: Jack Bailey (304) 766-4109 jbaile19@wvstateu.edu INSTITUTE, West Virginia – West Virginia State University (WVSU) Extension Service’s 4-H program will observe National 4-H Week October 6-12 by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people, and will highlight the remarkable 4-H youths in our community who work each day to make a positive impact on those around them.
The theme of this year’s National 4-H Week is , which highlights how 4-H encourages kids to take part in hands-on learning experiences in areas such as health, science, agriculture and civic engagement. The positive environment provided by 4-H mentors ensures that kids throughout the country ̶ from urban neighborhoods to suburban schoolyards to rural farming communities ̶ are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles and are empowered with the skills to lead in life and career.
“At WVSU, our 4-H efforts have long been designed to expand youths’ interest in such areas as STEM, agriculture and the arts,” said Hannah Payne, assistant program director for 4-H. “Initiatives like our youth gardening program in Cabell and Raleigh counties; our STEM work with students in Kanawha, Raleigh and Logan counties; and our coding clubs throughout the Kanawha Valley are just some examples of how we’re .”
The University is currently working on a pilot project with Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary to introduce a kids’ computer coding program at the school. Other initiatives include a youth agriculture program in downtown Huntington and after-school settings in Raleigh County; mentoring programs in Charleston after-school settings; and a series of popular summer camps on topics such as rocketry, transportation, health sciences and pre-school learning.
4-H, the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization, cultivates confident kids who tackle the issues that matter most in their communities right now. In the United States, 4-H programs empower six million young people through the 110 land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension in more than 3,000 local offices serving every county and parish in the country. Outside the United States, independent, country-led 4-H organizations empower one million young people in more than 50 countries.
National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). To learn more about how you can get involved, visit .
To learn more about 4-H at WVSU, contact Hannah Payne at (304) 553-8218 or .
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