The following 4-H Youth Development article printed in the quarterly Oldham County Extension newsletter.

4-H is Thankful for our Volunteers

Now is the time of the year when many of us reflect on all of the things for which we are grateful. In Oldham County 4-H, one of the things we are most grateful for is the volunteer support. Our volunteers are leaders, cheerleaders, mentors, and advocates for our youth. It is with their help and service that many young people find their voice or passion and become healthy, capable, caring, and productive adults.

Volunteers assist by leading club meetings, serving as camp counselors, judging speech and demonstration contests, and utilizing their unique interests, skills and abilities to serve the 4-H program and extend it to audiences which would otherwise be unserved. In the process, our volunteers shape future leaders by demonstrating leadership skills, instilling a sense of community, and offering a positive connection with someone from a different age group or generation.

Whether they serve episodically or for many years, volunteers are a valuable and essential component of 4-H. Without their help, most 4-H programs would be impossible to deliver. While they do not serve for praise or recognition, many volunteers get a great deal of fulfillment, self-satisfaction, and enjoyment out of volunteer service, as they watch youth develop self-confidence, self-worth, and leadership skills.

If you are a volunteer, thank you for all that you do. If you are interested in more information about learning how to volunteer with the Oldham County 4-H program, contact the extension office at 222-9453.

Source: Ken Culp, District III, Principal Extension Specialist for Volunteerism, 4-H Youth Development