While the goal of any 4-H Program is for it to be student-led and run, there are still some skills and knowledge that leaders need to have. 

Henry Craft, 4-H Youth Development Educator with the University of Illinois Extension in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties, explains that all of their network's 4-H leaders were brought together to discuss what they and their chapters need. He notes that while it was called a training, it was more of a collaborative workshop. 

Craft and his counterpart, Haley Jones, spoke at the training on topics like the 4-H Thriving Model, Club Vibrancy, and Youth Voice and Choice. All of these subjects are ways that 4-H can be a better, more welcoming, and thriving place for students. 

At its essence, 4-H is a youth-run program. Craft encourages leaders to take ownership of the way kids are getting leadership opportunities. He notes that it is on leaders to make sure those opportunities are valuable. 

Learn more about 4-H in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties by visiting extension.illinois.edu/dmp or by finding them on Facebook.