Effingham County Cloverleaf 4-H members learned the importance of responsible leadership, goal setting, communication and teamwork during the 2015 leadership officer training.

The 4-H staff facilitated a workshop that will serve as a positive foundation for youth to transition into the many leadership opportunities through 4-H and other organizations. Students participating in the leadership training rotated through a series of four stations during the afternoon, where they were able to be hands-on with activities and learn how to work together and problem solve; each station was led by 4-H staff and high school 4-H teen leaders. The training ended with 160 officers receiving certificates and pins for their training at an officer installation ceremony.

The Cloverleaf 4-H program is an in-school model that meets in every fourth and fifth grade classroom. Each class is considered a 4-H “club” and has officers that assist in the facilitation of the business meeting. The officers include president, vice president, health chair, and recreation chair.

One of the skills 4-H wants to instill in the youth of Effingham County is responsibility through leadership. This is accomplished with each officer having specific jobs each month as well as working as an officer team. 

“We want 4-H members to have the opportunity to not only be a leader, but also to be successful at it,” said Effingham County 4-H Agent Abby Smith.  “Shaping young leaders is a matter of working with students to identify and appropriately apply the skills they already possess.” 

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development found that youth involved in 4-H are 3.4 times more likely to contribute to their communities when compared to youth who do not participate in 4-H.  

For more information on the 4-H program in Effingham County, contact the Extension Office at 754-8040.