4-H & Youth Development  
County Extension Agent
Joyce White

      The 4-H and youth Development program of Texas AgriLife Extension can be broken into two components.  The better known program is the traditional 4-H club program.  Youth ages 5 through 19 learn character and life skills through 4-H project work and leadership activities.  Adult volunteers, the backbone of the 4-H club program, spend countless hours working with youth at regular monthly meetings, field trips, camps, educational programs and one on one with individual projects.  Volunteers serve as club managers, project managers, speakers, chaperons, fund securers and transportation coordinators.  They serve on planning committees to coordinate, organize and conduct events for county youth.  Many volunteers devote time outside the county to assist with District 4-H events.

      The lesser known component is the 4-H Curriculum Enrichment program.  Curriculum enrichment programs are available to public, private and home school teachers as well as any other group interested in teaching programs to our county youth.  These programs meet TEKS/TACS requirements and many involve adult volunteers from within the professional ranks of out community to speak and educate about their career fields.