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Welcome to the Shasta County 4-H Program

Cows & Cooking?   Rockets & Rabbits?    Plants & Pigeons?

4-H is not just large animals!

You do not need to own an animal to be in 4-H nor do you need to live on a farm.

4-H is a youth program with more activities than you can imagine.

4-H has rural, suburban and urban members who not only take part in the livestock area, but in foods and nutrition, dog care and training, sewing, arts and crafts, woodworking, and public speaking, just to name a few.

4-H members participate in events, contests, projects, exhibits, summer camp, international programs, scholarships, and more.  4-H members can learn about leadership, learn new skills, and have the chance to participate in workshops, county and state activities, and more.

Many teens become leaders who help the younger and newer 4-H members.  There are special citizenship projects for Shasta County, California, and Washington D.C.  A positive attitude, the willingness to learn new skills, meet new people, perform some type of community service and, most of all, have a big smile and have fun are all that are required.  

4-H Mission

The mission of 4-H is to help young people develop their potential.  This is done by encouraging them to participate in practical real-life experiences. As a result of this involvement, members should be better able to lead satisfying lives as responsible, self-directed members of society.

Who We Are

4-H’ers across the nation are responding to challenges every day in their communities and their world.

With an expansive network reaching every corner of the country, 4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization. More than 6 million 4-H youth in urban neighborhoods, suburban schoolyards and rural farming communities stand out among their peers: building revolutionary opportunities and implementing community-wide change at an early age.

As the youth development program of the nation’s 109 land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System, 4-H fosters an innovative, “learn by doing” approach with proven results.  The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development, a longitudinal study conducted by the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University, shows youth engaged with 4-H are:

  • Nearly two times more likely to get better grades in school;
  • Nearly two times more likely to plan to go to college;
  • 41 percent less likely to engage in risky behaviors; and
  • 25 percent more likely to positively contribute to their families and communities.
Unparalleled Reach and Scope

With 540,000 volunteers, 3,500 professionals, and more than 60 million alumni, the 4-H movement supports young people from elementary school through high school with programs designed to shape future leaders and innovators. Fueled by research-driven programming, 4-H'ers engage in hands-on learning activities in the areas of science, citizenship and healthy living.

Leading by Example

The caring support of adult volunteers and mentors inspires young people in 4-H to work collaboratively, take the lead on their own projects and set and achieve goals with confidence. 4-H’ers chart their own course, explore important issues and define their place in the world. 4-H’ers stand up for themselves and their communities.

These pivotal experiences build a foundation of leadership and skills for success in their future careers. (National 4H website)

Youth may enroll at any time during the year; however, some projects may have an enrollment deadline that must be met in order to participate in specific events.  Explore this site to learn more! Or call the local 4-H office (530) 224-4900 to be connected with local volunteers to become more informed.