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 Official 4-H emblem | |
| Formation | 1912–1914 |
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| Type | Youth organization |
| Legal status | Federal governmental program administered through Land-grant university system in each state and territory |
| Purpose | "Engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." |
| Headquarters | Washington, DC (offices in Kansas City, MO) |
Region served | United States (affiliated programs worldwide) |
Membership | 6.5 million members in the United States, ages 5 to 21 |
President and CEO | Jill Bramble |
Main organ | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) |
Parent organization | United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) |
| Affiliations | Land-grant university system, National 4-H Council |
| Website | 4-H.org |
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   Standard uniform colors for the 4 H | |||
4-H is a U.S.-based network of youth organizations whose mission is "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development".[1] Its name is a reference to the occurrence of the initial letter H four times in the organization's original motto head, heart, hands, and health, which was later incorporated into the fuller pledge officially adopted in 1927. In the United States, the organization is administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 4-H Canada is an independent non-profit organization overseeing the operation of branches throughout Canada.[2] There are 4-H organizations in over 50 countries;[3] the organization and administration varies from country to country.
The goal of 4-H is to develop citizenship, leadership, responsibility and life skills of youth through experiential learning programs and a positive youth development approach. Though typically thought of as an agriculturally focused organization as a result of its history, 4-H today focuses on citizenship, healthy living, science, engineering, and technology programs. Clubs in today's 4-H world consist of a wide range of options each allowing for personal growth and career success. The 4-H motto is "To make the best better", while its slogan is "Learn by doing" (sometimes written as "Learn to do by doing"). As of 2016, the organization had nearly 6 million active participants and more than 25 million alumni.[4]
- ^ "The California 4-H Youth Development Program - Directions for the Decade Ahead" (PDF). Winter 2003. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- ^ "4-H Structure". 4-H Canada. Archived from the original on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ "4-H Around the World". 4-H (USA). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ "National 4-H Council 2016 Annual Report" (PDF). 4-H. p. 4. Retrieved 17 March 2022.