4-H Week seeks to ‘Inspire Kids to Do’
By Sarah Cato
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Oct. 10, 2018
Fast facts
- 76th annual National 4-H Week is Oct. 7-13
- Theme: “Inspire Kids to Do”
(280 words)
(Download this story in MS Word format here.)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Since 1942 youths, parents, volunteers and alumni have taken one week out of the year to celebrate and promote 4-H. This year, the organization is “inspiring kids to do” as members celebrate the 76th consecutive National 4-H Week.
The 2018 National 4-H Week’s theme, “Inspire Kids to Do,” was designed to motivate youth across the country to seek out more opportunities for service to others,
gaining skills needed to succeed in their lives and their careers in the process.
Priscella Thomas-Scott, 4-H event coordinator for the University of Arkansas System’s Cooperative Extension Service, said National 4-H Week is a way to “show everyone that the program is doing some awesome things in our communities and around the nation.”
“This is a week in which the 4-H program is promoted nationally by every extension service,” Scott said. “It is a time to highlight the successes of the program year, to honor and recognize members and volunteers, and to give thanks to our supporters on the county, state and national levels.”
A long-term study by Tufts University found that 4-H has positive effects on young people. 4-H members are:
- Nearly four times more likely to make contributions to their communities
- About two times more likely to be involved in civic activities
- Nearly twice as likely to take part in science programs during out-of-school time
- Nearly two times more likely to make healthier choices
The 4-H program is operated by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University
of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
For more information about 4-H, contact your county extension office at http://uaex.uada.edu/counties.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
# # #
Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu