1986
4-H-682
INDIANA
4-H
LEADER
HOME
STUDY
COURSE
WHAT IS 4-H?
PURDUE UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
Congratulations for your decision and willingness to become a 4-H leader. As a 4-H leader you will face both responsibilities and opportunities. 4-H members will look to you as their friend, teacher, guide, and helper. Your job will be a challenging one taking time and effort. But you can gain untold satisfactions as you see boys and girls grow and develop.
You may have been a 4-H member yourself, or you may have heard of 4-H only recently. As a leader you will want to know what 4-H is all about today. Let’s look at it.
Definition and Purpose
4-H is a voluntary, educational program designed to meet the needs and interests of boys and girls. 4-H members, parents, and leaders have great fun in learning and working together in club activities, project groups, special interest groups, and endless special interest events. Specifically, 4-H programs help the individual:
•	Develop leadership skills.
•	Gain knowledge and skills in various project areas.
•	Become self reliant.
•	Use scientific methods in making and solving problems.
•	Explore careers.
The emblem is a four leaf clover with an H in each leaf. This symbol is well known, yet it means different things to different people. The letters in the emblem stand for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health — the foundation of all 4-H programs. As a leader you’ll help your members develop their:
HEAD—learning to think, making decisions, understanding the “why’s,” and gaining new and valuable knowledge.
HEART—being concerned with the welfare of others, accepting the responsibilities of citizenship, determining values and attitudes by which to live, and learning how to work with others.
HANDS—learning new skills, perfecting skills already known, and developing pride in work and respect for it.
HEALTH—practicing healthful living, protecting the well-being of self and others, and making constructive use of leisure time.
These together are a fourfold development. Each leaf, each H is vital to every individual. You need to make sure all four of the H’s become equally important to your members.
Who Can Be a 4-H’er?
Membership is open to boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 19 years old. Youth may become 4-H members if they will be 10 years of age during the calendar year. They may continue their membership through the calendar year in which they become 19. Youth of all races, places of residence, socioeconomic situations, and educational backgrounds are welcome. There is a place for any interested youth in 4-H.