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Cooperative Extension at The University of Arizona understands the importance of helping children and youth find that 鈥渟park,鈥� and its 4-H program sets out to make that happen.

Cooperative Extension, part of the university鈥檚 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, serves as a link between the University of Arizona and individuals in an effort to help improve lives, families, communities, the environment and economies.

4-H, one of its programs, is considered the 鈥榝irst class鈥� of the University of Arizona as it works with youth to encourage them to work with others and prepare for their futures.

鈥淥ur main objective is around positive youth development,鈥� Jeremy Elliott-Engel, associate director of 4-H youth development within the Cooperative Extension at the University of Arizona, said. 鈥淪o, the idea is that we help a young person find a spark and help that young person develop mastery in that interest.鈥�

He explained that 4-H鈥檚 objective helps build the 鈥�5 Cs鈥� for its participants.

When 4-H first began, it focused on agriculture. Now it offers programs and learning opportunities for a variety of interests.

鈥�4-H nationally realizes that only 2 percent of our population grows up on a production farm, and 20 percent of our population has parents in the workforce dealing with the [agriculture] industry,鈥� Elliott-Engel said. 鈥淲e have an opportunity to share more about where our food comes from because we are in that space in non-[agriculture] participants. And then also, we do lots of work around STEM and leadership and healthy living reaching those other populations.鈥�

In addition to the participants鈥� specific interest, 4-H encourages financial preparation.

鈥淭here鈥檚 encouragement to understand it as a business. If they鈥檙e raising a steer, then they鈥檙e asked to do the financials on that,鈥� Elliott-Engel said.

He explained, 鈥渢hey鈥檙e also asked to do a budget, how they鈥檙e expending, are they making any money? And they might not. But, at least they know how much it is they鈥檙e spending on those hobbies that鈥檚 an interest of theirs.鈥�

Providing a wide range of programs allows children and youth, who are often unsure of their path, to find something that piques their interest.

鈥淚 think it all goes back to this idea of the spark, you know? There鈥檚 lots of young people that just are like, 鈥業 don鈥檛 know what it is I鈥檓 interested in.鈥� And that鈥檚 OK,鈥� Elliott-Engel said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l take in people and say, 鈥楽how up.鈥欌��

4-H provides children and youth with useful skills and prepares them for their future endeavors. One example of this is Ethel Branch, the Attorney General of the Navajo Nation and former 4-H participant.

“In my high school, we didn鈥檛 do a lot of writing. But to do the demonstration projects for 4-H, you’d have to do research, and prepare and organize your presentation in writing,鈥� Branch said in a press release. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very similar to being a lawyer in terms of organizing your arguments, having your exhibits and being able to respond to questions from the people you’re presenting to.”

Elliott-Engel said, 鈥淭here鈥檚 just so much opportunity to give voice to young people and to allow them to see their future in their own community, and to make an impact in their community. I think Ethel embodies that.鈥�