It Takes a Village- Volunteers & 4-H Clubs

In this episode of The Extension Connection Podcast, Jessica Jackson kicks off the new year by sharing important 4-H updates, including enrollment reminders, goal setting for youth, and exciting programs coming to the Polk County Extension Office. The episode also highlights the vital role volunteers play in the success of 4-H and walks listeners through what it takes to build a strong, welcoming 4-H club using the Eight Key Elements. It’s a warm, encouraging conversation about growing together, giving back, and setting the stage for a successful 4-H year.

Transcript

0:00

Greetings four H Family. I'm your co-host, Jessica Jackson, and I'd like to welcome you back to the Extension Connection Podcast. I'm so glad y'all are here today. Now, can you believe we are already starting off a brand new year? I don't know about you, but the last one seemed to fly by in a blink of an eye. One minute we are gearing up for fall programs and the next thing you know, we're welcoming 2026 and honestly, I couldn't be more excited. A new year always brings fresh energy, fresh ideas, and fresh opportunities, and that's exactly how I'm feeling about it. As we head into this four H year, we have so many exciting classes, programs, and experiences coming up at the Polk County Extension Office, and I truly cannot wait to see our youth jump in and grow as we kick things off. Let's start with just a little bit of housekeeping. Nothing too heavy, I promise. This is your friendly reminder that now is the perfect time to enroll or re-enroll your child in four H online. I know that the process can sometimes feel like a lot and a little, even a bit overwhelming it, especially when life is already busy. But the good news is it's only once a year and it opens the door to everything four H has to offer classes, clubs, competitions, leadership opportunities, you name it. So if you haven't done that yet, I encourage you to go ahead, knock it out early, and start the year stress free. Now, once enrollment is taken care of, I want to challenge our youth and our families to think about something really important, which is goal setting. The beginning of the year is a wonderful time to pause and ask ourselves a few questions. What do I want to learn this year? What skills do I want to improve? Where do I want to step outside my comfort zone? In four H, we talk a lot about personal goals, project goals, and leadership goals, and those don't have to be big or intimidating. Sometimes a goal is as simple as speaking up more in a meeting, trying a new project, or helping someone else succeed. Those small goals add up to the big growth. But now let's talk about something that truly keeps four H strong and thriving, not just here at the Polk County Center, but everywhere, and that is volunteers. Volunteers are the heartbeat of four H, the future growth of Polk County four H. And honestly, any extension program relies on volunteers who are willing to share their time, talents, heart without volunteers. Classes are limited. Clubs struggle to get off the ground, and opportunities for youth become fewer. I also note that there are so many individuals in our community who have incredible skills, whether that's in agriculture, crafts, stem cooking, leadership, or simply caring about kids. And four H is a place where those skills can truly make an impact. Volunteers don't just teach skills. They model kindness, responsibility, and what it looks like to give back to the community. And our youth are always watching and learning from example. So if volunteering or even starting a club has ever crossed your mind, let's talk about what that really looks like. Running a club starts with a fuel Simple things, a club name. A purpose and a vision for what you want youth to gain from being involved. It is also important to think about your audience and how you can manage a club successfully in a way that is fun, organized, and welcoming. In four H, we focus on what we call a few key elements for a successful club, and I want to walk through those in a way that feels practical and real. First, it's a positive relationship with a caring adult. Youth needs adults who serve as mentors, guides, and encouragers. Sometimes that looks like helping a member set goals. Other times it's simply listening. Taking time to get to know members, praising their efforts and involving them in planning goes a long way. And don't underestimate the power of just being present. Sometimes youth really do just need someone that has a listening ear. Second, it's an inclusive environment. Every young person should feel like they belong. Whether that's doing icebreakers, welcoming committees, club traditions, and even something as fun as designing a club logo can help build identity and connection when we celebrate each member's success and the uniqueness. Clubs become places youth want to be at. Third is service. Service projects help youth develop empathy, confidence, and a sense of purpose. Whether it's a community cleanup, a food drive, or mentoring, younger members service reminds youth that they're a part of something bigger than themselves. Fourth is an opportunity for skill development. That brings the motto of learning by doing. We all love that about four H. Hands-on workshops, project demonstrations, peer mentoring allow youth to build real world skills and confidence. When youth share what they've learned, they grow more. Fifth is a safe environment. Youth should feel safe physically and emotionally at every four H activity. That means clear expectations, appropriate meeting spaces, following the four H code of conduct and emphasizing safety at all times. Families should always feel confident that four H is a place they can trust. Number six. Self-determination. Youth need opportunities to make decisions, solve problems, and learn from both success and failure. As volunteers, our role is to guide but not control. When youth help plan activities and set goals, they take ownership of their experience. Seventh is the engagement in learning. Four H should be exciting, hands-on and a connection to the real life. Field trips, guest speakers, workshops, and a county or state opportunity help you see how, what their learning applies beyond a club meeting. And finally, the eighth element, which is preparing you to be active participants in the future. Four H helps young people see themselves as leaders, community members, and future professionals, which can turn into them being alumni speakers, but also that's a way for them to do career exploration leadership roles. These experiences help youth imagine what's possible and believe they can make a difference at the end of the day. There are places where youth practice, communication, teamwork, leadership. And citizenship in a safe, supportive environment. So overall, what do, what else does it take to have a four H Club? You have to have at least five enrolled members, ages five to 18. They must be a guided. They must be a trained adult, volunteer, or volunteers that must be supported by their county four H. Agent clubs meet regularly. Offer leadership service opportunities and are chartered annually. This is a simple structure, but it's a incredibly impactful opportunity. If volunteering or starting a club is something you've been thinking about, I would abso absolutely love to talk to you about it. Four H is stronger because of. People who care stepped up and believed in our youth. As always, thank you for being part of our four H family. We are excited for what 2026 has in store for the Polk County Center, and we cannot wait to grow together this year. Until next time, I'm Jessica Jackson. I'll see you soon on the Extension Connection Podcast.