FRONTIER EXTENSION DISTRICT, Kan. – Every year, National 4-H Week sees millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni come together to celebrate the many positive youth development opportunities offered by 4-H. The theme for this year’s National 4-H Week, Opportunity4All, is a campaign that was created by National 4-H Council to rally support for Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program and identify solutions to eliminate the opportunity gap that affects 55 million kids across America.

With so many children struggling to reach their full potential, 4-H believes that young people, in partnership with adults, can play a key role in creating a more promising and equitable future for youth, families and communities across the country. In 4-H, we believe every child should have an equal opportunity to succeed. We believe every child should have the skills they need to make a difference in the world.

Frontier Extension District and Osage County 4-H will observe National 4-H Week this year by highlighting some of the inspirational 4-H youth in our community who are working tirelessly to support each other and their communities.

“We believe youth perspectives are so important and a solution to eliminating the opportunity gap, because young people come with new ideas and new ways of seeing the world,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of National 4-H Council.

By encouraging diverse voices and innovative actions, 4-H believes that solutions can be found to address the educational, economic and health issues that have created the opportunity gap.

“This year has shown us just how important teach life skills to our youth can be,” said Jessica Flory, Frontier Extension 4-H program assistant. “When our communities faced a global pandemic our 4-H youth and alumni were able to grow their own food, cook their own meals, fend for themselves when national institution failed.”

Shelby Harris, of North Osage 4-H Club, used her sewing skills to make around 50 masks for people in her community. She continues to help her mom make hundreds of masks for their community, helping people through this difficult time.

In Osage County, more than 180 4-H youth and 35 volunteers from the community are involved in 4‑H. Volunteers spark youth’s interest in many areas for hands-on learning. Some of those projects are rocketry, small engine, visual arts, ceramics, poultry, and bucket calves and many leadership roles for older members such as the new Ambassador program.

For more information on how to be involved in 4-H, visit Kansas4-H.org or 4-H.org. For more information about local 4-H clubs and programs, contact Janae McNally, 4-H Youth Development Agent, jmcnally@ksu.edu, or Jessica Flory, 4-H Program Assistant, jrflory@ksu.edu, or Frontier Extension District at 785-828-4438.