4-H Youth Development

Building a ‘spark’ in 4-H for urban and underrepresented families

Traditional programs in Oregon State University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development in Jackson County have seen success over the years. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the deadly and destructive 2020 Almeda fire, shed ...

Jul 2022 | Impact Story

Career Connect Day draws 200 students and job seekers in eastern Oregon

For decades, schools in rural Umatilla and Morrow counties have experienced declining high school graduation and college-going rates. More support and resources are needed for high school students to be prepared for college or ...

Jun 2022 | Impact Story

4-H Investigators at Home provides STEAM activities to students

During the 2020-21 school year, most Oregon students were participating in school through distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although online learning is an important means to continue education, it often lacks ...

Feb 2023 | Impact Story

Students enriched through OSU Extension Sherman County after-school program

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the Sherman County School in Moro to eliminate its successful three-day-a-week after-school program. The rural school of about 250 students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12th didn’t attempt the ...

Apr 2022 | Impact Story

Teen learning experiences transformed by dive into VR app creation

Coupled with broad, societal misconceptions about food and agriculture, an aging crisis is threatening farming. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, the average age of an American farmer is 57, 10 years older than the ...

Feb 2022 | Impact Story

Institute provides nature experiences, education for Portland-area youth

Research shows that people of color are far less likely to engage in nature-based outdoor recreation activities, with historic discrimination being a large underlying factor. People of color are three times more likely than white ...

Feb 2023 | Impact Story

Washington County 4-H assembles, donates 1,300 STEM Kits for youths

Through the Oregon Summer Food Service Program, free lunches are offered to all Oregon residents 18 and younger. In Washington County, Oregon’s second-most populous county behind Multnomah, free summer lunch sites include parks and...

Feb 2022 | Impact Story

'Healing Through Art' show provides outlet for Portland-area youth

In the summer of 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing and marches for social justice taking place across the United States, youth in the Portland metro area were turning to art to express themselves. Around the ...

Nov 2021 | Impact Story

Gardens address pandemic food insecurity in Warm Springs community

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that it wouldn’t be possible for the Oregon State University Extension Service to conduct in-person learning garden classes at the Warm Springs K-8 Academy and OSU ...

May 2021 | Impact Story

Despite pandemic, county fairs and livestock shows go on for 4-H exhibitors

County fairs and livestock shows are one opportunity for 4-H youth to demonstrate their knowledge and mastery in their project areas. The COVID-19 pandemic led to in-person cancellations and others that had to be postponed or ...

May 2021 | Impact Story