Leadership

The 4-H program provides youth with opportunities to develop and practice critical leadership skills. At the local level, members have the opportunity to work as club officers and 4-H Junior Leaders. 4-H offers teen members additional leadership development opportunities through conferences and events at the state and national levels.

Leadership Development in 4-H Clubs

Members of 4-H clubs may be elected or appointed to a position as an officer or committee chairman within their 4-H club. These leadership roles allow youth to begin learning responsibility and accountability as they take on peer leadership roles. Through training and mentoring, 4-H officers and chairmen are taught the fundamentals of planning and conducting a business meeting, facilitating group discussion and the basics of Roberts Rules of Order.

Junior Leadership

The purpose of junior leadership is to teach youth the importance of understanding themselves as leaders and how to apply leadership skills in a team setting, and then assist them in identifying opportunities to practice their leadership skills. Junior leaders learn the value of teamwork, goal setting, and decision making. These skills are put into action as 4-H Junior Leaders assist club leaders in club management and outreach activities.

A 4-H junior leader serves in the role of assisting the adult club leader. In this way, the adult leader serves as a mentor to the teen. The club leader and junior leader work out an agreement about what the role of the junior leader will be. Responsibilities of the junior leader could include: club record keeping, researching local community service opportunities, planning for a club activity such as a recognition banquet or field trip, and teaching younger members. The junior leader documents his/her goals for the year and the knowledge and skills he/she gained in the 4-H leadership project record.

4-H Collegiate Club at UMass Amherst

This group meets on a regular basis on the UMass Amherst campus and is open to all college-age students. Past membership in 4-H is not required to join this group. The Collegiate Club conducts a number of service projects on campus as well as assisting with 4-H events and activities. Group members also help with UMass Amherst campus tours by serving as Collegiate Ambassadors. For more information, send an This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Opportunities at 4-H Camps to be Counselors-in-Training (CITs)

4-H members may apply to be a CIT at any of the 4-H camps. Counselors-in-Training have the opportunity to learn about youth development and develop leadership skills as they work alongside camp counselors to assist youth in having a positive camping experience.

Scholarship Opportunities

4-H members who have excelled in the program are encouraged to check out the scholarship opportunities offered by 4-H.

4-H Leadership Events & Conferences

Massachusetts 4-H Ambassadors Program

Are you a 4-H member who thinks 4-H has a positive influence on your life? Helps you develop great friendships? Assists you in learning about yourself and others? Enables you to develop life skills such as communicating, and decision making skills you will use for the rest of your life? Introduces you to areas that you might pursue as a future career? Then we need your help! 4-H is looking for teens (ages 13 and older) and adults willing to help us tell the 4-H story in Massachusetts.

4-H Ambassador sessions are offered throughout the state to help participants develop and improve their communication skills, including writing speeches, brochures, flyers, and public service announcements, putting together exciting exhibits and delivering persuasive speeches.

We suggest that leaders, parents and Educators nominate 4-H members to be 4-H Ambassadors. To nominate a 4-H member, you must provide information about the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses in the areas of speaking, writing, teaching, organizing, leadership and ability to work alone and as a team member. You must also explain why you feel the member would make a good Ambassador. The nominations go to your local 4-H Educator.

4-H Ambassador sessions are scheduled within each region every few years or may be included as part of a statewide teen program. For information about upcoming Ambassador training sessions, contact your local Educator.

Massachusetts 4-H/FFA Teen Leadership Winter Camp

This exciting event takes place at the Barton Conference Center in N. Oxford, Massachusetts. Sharpen your leadership skills along with FFA and 4-H teens (ages 14-18) from across Massachusetts. This weekend event is usually held in December or January each year. Some of the sessions are facilitated by out-of-state leadership trainers brought to Massachusetts especially for this activity. Workshops and other sessions will have you actively engaged and asking for more! Registration materials are posted on the 4-H website prior to the conference each winter.

National 4-H Conference and National 4-H Congress

Massachusetts sends a delegation of youth to National 4-H Congress in odd numbered years (2009, 2011, etc.) and to National 4-H Conference in even numbered years (2010, 2012, etc.) Delegates are selected based on an application process which is posted on the 4-H website. Each delegate is expected to contribute $200 toward the cost of the experience: all remaining costs are paid by the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation.

Chaperones are needed each year. Any 4-H volunteer wishing to chaperone one of these events should contact his or her local Educator.

National 4-H Congress

National 4-H Congress is the flagship event of the 4-H program. For 80 years, youth from the United States and its territories have participated in this youth leadership development conference. Congress provides youth ages 15-18 a quality educational and cross-cultural experience that exceeds what any state independently provides. It is designed to address the needs and issues of youth while helping to develop capable, competent and caring citizens.
For more information about this program, go to www.national4-hcongress.com.

National 4-H Conference

National 4-H Conference is the Secretary of Agriculture’s premier youth development opportunity to engage youth ages 15-18 in developing recommendations for the 4-H Youth Development Program. The Conference brings together youth and adults from across the United States, U.S. territories and Canadian Provinces. The conference is housed at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Delegates take part in field trips, recreational opportunities and Congressional visits in Washington D.C.
For more information, go to http://4hconf.4-h.org.

Programs