Youth & Family News

Monday, June 19, 2023, 5:30 p.m.  

Happy Juneteenth! Join us for the very first episode of season four of WVU Extension’s Energy Express on West Virginia Public Broadcasting. 

This application is for WV 4-H youth ages 14 - 19 wanting to attend National 4-H Congress in Atlanta (November 2026) or National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. (March/April 2027). Once your application is submitted a follow-up interview will be scheduled in the first two weeks of June 2026. If this interview time does not work for you, please reach out directly to the 4-H Event Coordinator.

Deadline to submit your resume is Monday, May 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

West Virginia 4-H is excited to announce the 2023 4-H State Camps Save The Dates. Be sure to mark your calendars as all of your favorite camps are returning with the addition of a brand new camp!

These camps are open to all that are interested, 4-H member or not. Please read each camp description to determine which age groups are invited to participate.

There are 4-H volunteer training opportunities scheduled around the state from late August through early October. A meal and 4-H club ideas (with supplies!) will be provided to each participant.

The public is encouraged to picture themselves in 4-H this year at the State Fair of West Virginia. The stage has been set for kids of all ages to step into a 4-H club meeting or head off to 4-H camp at the 4-H exhibit in the Cecil Underwood Youth building. Thank you to Gold Ribbon poster winner, Hannah Beckner from Gilmer County for inspiring the exhibit theme this year.

The West Virginia 4-H Youth in Action Program announces four young leader in 4-H pillar areas: agriculture, civic engagement, healthy living, and STEM.

Monday, July 25, 2022, 9 a.m.  

We’re kicking off week six with a read-aloud of “The Earth Gives More” by Sue Fleiss. Read by Lauren Seiler, Director of Development at WVU Extension, and her son Henry, this story details the beauty that Earth has to offer. Next, Meshea Poore gives some great advice on how to deal with new beginnings. Then, we head to the kitchen with Angela Lawrence, a WVU Extension family and community development agent, to get a few tips on how to pack a healthy, balanced lunch for school. Next, a group of West Virginia 4-H’ers talks about how to explore and pursue career pathways in areas related to climate change. To finish off today, Kerri Carte is back to teach us how to make homemade popcorn with flavors even better than the pre-made kind.  

West Virginia 4-H is proud to recognize 24 winners from 17 counties in the 2022 State 4-H Poster Contest

Monday, July 18, 2022, 9 a.m.  

Week five starts with a read-aloud of “Say Something” by Peter H. Reynolds. Tara Curtis, director of marketing and communications at WVU Extension, kicks off this sweet story read by the WVU Extension communications team! Then we pass it over to two 4-H’ers, Megan and Vivian, to talk about climate change. They discuss how to organize and participate in meaningful activism. West Virginia State Senate representative and Minority Leader Stephen Baldwin even makes an appearance to talk about how youth can get in contact with their legislators. Next, Joe Obidzinski, program coordinator and historian at WVU Jackson’s Mill, leads us through the long history of how Jackson’s Mill became the hub for West Virginia 4-H camps. He also guides us on a tour of parts of the campus and explains how the buildings got their names.  

Monday, July 4, 2022, 9 a.m.  

Week three kicks off with Adeola Ogunade, evaluation and communications specialist at WVU Extension, doing a read aloud of “Wish” by Chris Sanders. Next, we jump over to Meshea Poore to talk about belonging. She teaches us that belonging comes from respect for everyone’s interests and differences. Then, Nila Cobb, healthy lifestyle specialist at WVU Extension, talks about how to be a good friend and discusses bullying. She also leads an activity on how to make a friendship chain. For this activity, you will need strips of paper, a marker and a stapler. Speaking of friends, J.R. Davis, 4-H youth development agent, tells us a little bit about the 4-H pen pal program and teaches us how to address and write a letter.