How do I become involved with 4-H as an adult?

Question

Where I was growing up (St. Louis county), they didn't seem to have 4-H (or I wasn't aware of it in my area), so I was never involved in it as a kid, so I don't know a whole lot about it.

Now I am about to turn 21 and going to pharmacy school in Kansas where 4-H is a bigger thing. I love animals (especially horses, dogs, and rabbits), and I love teaching people how to care for animals- I am hoping to go into veterinary pharmacy upon graduation. I thought that 4-H sounds like it would be a good place for me to volunteer since I know the kids do animal-related projects, but I don't know too much else about the program.

What do 4-H volunteers/counselors/advisors do? Is there a specific type that works mainly with the animal portion?
Are there requirements to being in these positions (I already have to maintain BLS certification and vaccinations for pharmacy school)?
What would they expect me to know in order to be competent at teaching the kids?
Is this something that a relatively busy person could undertake (~17 hours of college classes a semester, plus I work part-time and have a fiance and horses)?

farm mom · Accepted Answer

Being an adult leader with our local and county 4-H program is one of the most full filling things I have done in my adult life.  You could be a project leader in veterinary science. You could be an activity leader who helps with fund raising  or trips or other special events.  Thee are no education requirements that I am aware of.  What you really need is a desire to be a part of something that will impact kids for the rest of their lives. Who ever you are, what ever you do in life, you have experiences and knowledge that will be helpful to them.  Our state requires that we take a short youth protection class and a background check is done on the volunteers. Contact your local County Extension Office and I am sure they will put you in contact with some local clubs.  I  am a proud 4-H leader, 4-H Mom and a former member. Welcome aboard 4-H needs you!

Anonymous · Answer

Start asking local farmers, or the County Fair Office, until you find a contact.

Veterinary pharmacy?  Interesting. We have a several Pharmacies in town. But only one who 
deals with regular human patients in the main store.  In the back they have a clean room environment where they prepare customized medications for Veterinarians. Dogs, cats, horses, rabbits etc.

soiltx · Answer

look into 4-H and FFA competitions 
i work at a university and we put on the competitions for invit, area, and state (Texas)(we just put on the invitational and are about to have the area).

schools are always looking for volunteers to help at these events. and you can make a lot of contacts with the coaches that will be able to tell you other ways you could help out.

a big part of what they need is money, so they are always trying to raise money...so, one way to help would be to participate in the fund raisers (probably for a specific school), volunteer land, if you have it, so they can practice (plant, range, land, wildlife, etc.) competitions need this desperately, and so on.

depending on the school there is sure to be ways they would love to have you help, and as for the hosting Universities they would probably be more than happy to have you.

**Gamer For Life** · Answer

As an adult you can't actually be a 4-h member but you can be a 4-h leader. I know of people who have been previous 4-h members a kids and when they became adults they became leaders of 4-h clubs why not give that a try!

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How do I become involved with 4-H as an adult?

4 Answers