4-H Youth

Cortland County 4-H

Cortland County 4-H is the youth development program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cortland County. 4-H is an opportunity for boys and girls to learn life skills to develop into responsible adults. We operate clubs, community events, the Cortland County Junior Fair and a 4-H Camp Owahta. Our focus includes developing life skills, encouraging leadership development, science education, agricultural and livestock skills, and healthy living.

About 4-H

4-H is a worldwide youth development program available in every state and over eighty countries. It is open to all youth aged 5-to-19, who want to have fun, learn new skills, and explore the world. In return, youth who participate in 4-H find a supportive environment and opportunities for hands-on or "experiential" learning about things that interest them. They also get what all young people need to succeed in life--the confidence, compassion and connections with caring adults to make contributions to their communities. The mission of Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development is to unleash the power of youth and adults through a multitude of opportunities that meet community needs.

Nationally, 4-H is a community of 6 million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. The 4-H community also includes 3,500 staff, 518,000 volunteers and 60 million alumni. 4-H'ers participate in fun, hands-on learning activities, supported by the latest research of land-grant universities, that are focused on three areas:

2025 4H Cortland County Fair Senator Webb

Civic engagement is the broadest mission mandate; it incorporates youth voice, leadership, respect, history, community youth development, SET, and Healthy Lifestyles.

2025 4H Cortland County Fair Participant Iron Chef

"Choose Health" is an initiative of the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program intended to help all of us confront and take action to change the statistics of childhood obesity.

two people in front of a classroom full of students. A screen that says Insects and IPM in the background.

Kids who participate in science activities outside of the classroom are more likely to be comfortable with science. This link takes you to numerous 4-H Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) projects that give families science enrichment opportunities and connect kids to Cornell’s science outreach programs.

4-H Advisory Committee

Martha Bush
Joel Riehlman
Matt Sharpe
Yvonne Moore
Joan Ann Lehman

Volunteer with 4-H

Did you know that more than 400 adults volunteer with Cortland County 4-H programs each year? Volunteering is fun and rewarding, and enables you to share your experiences with others. Do you like birdwatching, cooking, gardening or working with animals? There are many interesting projects and fun things to do in 4-H.

Imagine a young person's satisfaction at learning a new skill, or at doing a job well. Imagine your own satisfaction at watching a young person blossom. You can help our young people as they gain confidence and self-esteem, essential ingredients for happy, productive citizens.

Whether you want to be a club leader or work with kids on a short-term project, there's a role for you in 4-H. Many volunteer roles involve working directly with youth while others do not. Some volunteers are engaged with the program for a long period of time, such as leading a 4-H Club for several years. Others volunteer on a one-time, short-term or even an annual basis, for example, volunteering at a special interest workshop, serving as a judge for public speaking or for an event at the 4-H Junior Fair. In whatever role you may choose to volunteer, our 4-H office can provide training, resources and support that can help make your volunteer position as rewarding as possible for everyone involved.

Prospective volunteers complete an application form. In addition, those who volunteer to work directly with youth will be asked to consent to a criminal background screening at Cooperative Extension's expense, as a means of ensuring the safety and security both of our volunteers and of the people we serve through our programs.

4-H Youth Development

Cortland County 4-H

About 4-H

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