4-H Youth Development
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One program in which the citizens of Peoria
County have always believed is the Peoria County
4-H program. Each year, young people's lives are
touched, leading them to touch other lives. This programming
emphasis, in addition to touching lives, has
been recognized for excellence, both on the state and
federal levels.
4-H Youth Development can be looked at from two
angles: a traditional club perspective or the school
enrichment perspective.
Here are some "telling statistics" of the Peoria
County 4-H program:
* Community Clubs: Peoria County has 15
community clubs with a total enrollment of 307
* EFNEP Clubs: 9,981 young people participate in
EFNEP 4-H clubs.
* Peoria County 4-H Fair: 525 young people
prepared projects for the 2006 4-H Fair
3,526 projects were shown
52 projects were selected for the state fair
* Fair Tour: approximately 100 participated in the
tours, during the Fair, guided by 4-H teens
* Camp Clover (week-long, 4 hour/day 4-H Camp):
120 youth participated
* State Legislative Connection: Peoria County
Youth participated, along with 1,500 other youth
statewide
* IL 4-H Leadership Convention: Peoria County
Youth participated, along with 120 other youth
* International 4-H Exchange: One Peoria County
4-H participant, Laura Rosenbohm, traveled to
Australia to study raising sheep, while another 4-H
member, Colleen Swanson, traveled to Mexico as a
part of her international exchange. Both trips were partially
sponsored by the Peoria County 4-H and
Extension Foundation.
The Peoria County Office offered diverse
opportunities to the students and teachers of Peoria
County, through our School Enrichment curricula.
* 43 schools in Peoria County participated in
the Embryology program
* 4,710 students participated in short-term
group learning
* 735 students participated in the "Character
Education" program
* 50 students participated in "Leadership
Development through Community Service."
In addition to providing research-based curricula
to students, the Peoria County Office provided
teacher and staff training to 220 teachers. Some of
the topics presented were:
* Terrific Teachable Moments
* Intentional Harmony
* Get Up and Move
* Six Pillars of Character (Character Education)
* Service Learning
* Embryology in the Classroom
In addition to providing life impact here locally,
the Peoria County 4-H program has also been recognized
on the state and national level. The Peoria
County 4-H Federation, under the leadership of 4-H
Program Assistant Cathy Ludolph, have written, produced
and directed a monthly television program called
BK4K (By Kids For Kids).
The BK4K program won both the Communicator
Award and the Educational Technology Award as given
by the Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth
Education and the National Association of Extension
4-H Agents. Congratulations, Cathy and Peoria County
4-H Federation!!
In concluding this 4-H section, there is a
quote that reinforces the belief in the Peoria
County 4-H program. Ashley Christ, in her
ninth year of 4-H, shares theimpact it has
had in her life;
"A leader just doesn't mean ordering
people around, but really getting down to it
and being a servant to others. A person that is willing
to help and serve is a true leader.All of this (activities
and leadership) is credited to learning this from 4-H
early on in my life."
