4-H Experiences Translate into Job Skills

Youth who participate in traditional 4-H programs and projects for many years discover that they can market their 4-H experience and the life skills they learn into jobs and a place in the workforce.

Colorado State University Extension's 4-H Youth Development Program strives to teach youth the skills and values represented by the 4-H clover--Head, Heart, Hands and Health. Jan Carroll, Extension youth development specialist, said that each petal of the clover symbolizes character traits that youth develop and internalize throughout their 4-H experience. "These traits and skills also transfer into the work world as the foundation for work ethics, which are so valuable for future employers," she said. These skill-sets are:

• Head skills: decision making, problem solving, goal setting, resiliency, keeping records, planning, organizing, and critical thinking;
• Heart skills: sharing, empathy, concern for others, conflict resolution, cooperation, communication, and social skills;
• Hands skills: leadership, teamwork, self-motivation, volunteerism, community service, and responsible citizenship;
• Health skills: self-esteem, building character, managing feelings, stress management, self-discipline, personal safety, and healthy lifestyle choices.

Youth learn these skills systemically by participating in various activities, events and programs that 4-H offers. Whether youth choose to participate in sport fishing, photography, model rocketry, entomology, sewing, performing arts, dog obedience or community service--each life skill mentioned above is woven into each activity, curriculum, project and record book. For example, when 4-H members commit to a project, they learn organization, goal-setting and decision-making, or when they are asked to present their projects, they learn communication, self-esteem and critical thinking skills.

"We integrate these workforce preparation life-skills into everything we do," said Kathy Wolfe, Extension 4-H agent in Larimer County. "Youth who participate in 4-H are seen as great community resources who are knowledgeable, responsible, and good communicators."

Louise Welsby, Extension 4-H agent in Pueblo County, noted that "the 4-H program is like a stage for youth; they can practice and then demonstrate life skills that enable them to become productive adults."

Joe Bottini, a Pueblo County 4-Her from 1978 to 1987, was especially interested in woodworking, market and breeding sheep, and leadership projects. He now owns two businesses in Pueblo--Bottini Wood Products and Precision Landscaping. He said that the skills he learned through 4-H leadership and project work helped him become a successful businessman and taught him how to work with people.

Geri Catulli Lane was a Pueblo County 4-H member from 1970 to 1978. In looking back on her 4-H experiences, she said, "4-H gave me with the tools necessary to learn how to problem-solve and make decisions--no matter how difficult the path in front of me. The program provided me with opportunities for which, with hard work, there could be no outcome other than success."

Not only do members gain skills and experiences by participating in 4-H, but 4-H also teaches them how to package and market these skills to potential employers. Carroll, a specialist in workforce preparation, said "we teach youth how to summarize their 4-H experiences on resumes, give them tips for successful interviews, coach them how to find and keep their first job, and review with them how to complete job applications and compile references."

Each summer, Wolfe and fellow Extension 4-H agent, Gary Small, organize a Science, Technology and Career Tour for a group of teens aged 12 to 18. They visit high-tech businesses to help youth explore interesting professions, and to open their eyes to the many types of jobs that require a science and math background. They have visited manufacturers and developers of electronic parts, industrial robots, aerospace equipment, water analysis instruments, hurricane predictions, three-dimensional computer modeling, and wind-energy generation. One trait that managers and business owners overwhelmingly emphasize to the students is the importance of record keeping in daily business operation. Since record keeping is a fundamental 4-H experience, the teens are impressed to see a direct correlation to the "real world" from what they learn in 4-H.

Many employers have expressed satisfaction with 4-Hers as employees because of their ability to handle responsibility, make decisions, and follow-through on commitments.

Kate Coleman, 29, a 13-year employee of King Soopers in Fort Collins, said that the public speaking and decision-making skills she gained through 4-H helped her with her first interview for a clerk position through numerous promotions to her current position as scan coordinator. "Junior leader and group experiences were what gave me the most confidence," she said.

Tiffany Young, 20, former eleven-year Colorado 4-Her, said, "I recommend 4-H for every kid. It taught me leadership, responsibility, communication skills, and how to get along with others…plus I met many long-lasting friends." She began as a Clover Bud member and later participated in shooting sports, leathercraft, ceramics, cake decorating, dog obedience and junior leader. Young used her networking connections to channel her skills into a unique job at the Loveland, CO., Baskin Robbins store, where she has worked for five years decorating all their ice cream products and interacting with customers. Sherry Baker, former manager for Baskin Robbins, said, "Tiffany was really a life saver the way she just came here with all the experience and talent to do this job. She is a great employee-she's dependable, has great customer service skills, and is a team player. I wish I'd had a dozen more just like her."

--Colleen Rodriguez

For more information, contact your local Colorado State University Extension office.

Go to top of this page.

Uploaded Tuesday, September 25, 2007

© Colorado State University Extension. 1995-2004. Contact Extension Web Manager. Home Page: www.ext.colostate.edu. Issued in furtherance of Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Milan A. Rewerts, Director of Extension, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.