The need for young leadership in the beef industry has become a rising concern as the average age of primary operators increases. Extension educators developed a leadership conference for beef producers with the primary objective to educate and develop leadership qualities in young cattle producers. To achieve the objective participants, age 18-40…

This article identifies key strategies for selecting and training chaperones for youth programs. Although substantial research on volunteer core competencies and training exists, very little has been written to specifically address volunteers who serve in a chaperone capacity. We surveyed chaperones who had participated in an international youth…

The concept of a "healthful home" offers the basis for a comprehensive approach to addressing the well-established relationship between health and housing. Many environmental health hazards found in homes--such as lead, mold, environmental tobacco smoke, and pesticides--can be reduced or eliminated through the use of scientifically…

With young people, discussing complex issues such as learning and leading in a focus group can be a challenge. To help prime youth for the discussion, we created a focus group approach that featured a fun, interactive activity. This article includes a description of the focus group activity, lessons learned, and suggestions for additional…

"Empowerment" is the buzzword in youth development today. As youth development professionals, are we truly allowing our youth to be equal partners? Do we provide them the opportunities to practice and gain mastery of the leadership skills we teach them? This article presents a proven model that has successfully empowered youth to lead a…

This article examined the relationships between 4-H volunteer leader competencies and skills youth learn in 4-H. Using a descriptive-correlational research, the study reported found significant relationships between leadership competencies and skills youth learn in 4-H. Regression analysis revealed that two variables--skills and…

This article describes the journey taken by a group of adolescents into the field and practice of youth-led research. The article gives voice to the growing number of youth participating in research and evaluation. The authors give authentic youth accounts of: (1) the process of becoming researchers and evaluators, (2) the benefits and challenges…

A four meeting seminar has been adopted in several Ohio counties for first-year junior leaders in 4-H. (EB)

Based upon questionnaire returns from 4-H leaders, junior leaders, Extension youth agents, and State 4-H staff personnel in East Central Indiana, it is concluded that a balance between the task dimensions and human relations dimensions of leader behavior is important. (AG)

The implications for Extension are discussed in the context of the discovery that there is a positive relationship between leadership effectiveness and self-acceptance. This was determined by categorizing and testing 4-H adult leaders in 25 randomly selected Texas counties. (AG)

Stating that reducing volunteer leader turnover in extension services saves time and money and provides better program support, the author suggests offering better working hours, pleasant surroundings, reasonable work hours, and other inducements to retain volunteer workers. (MF)

4-H Youth for Community Action (4-HYCA) is an after-school leadership development program targeting teens in inner-city middle schools. The program provides opportunities for inner-city youth to learn and practice leadership skills in a service-learning environment. 4-HYCA participants actively engage in problem-solving activities that teach…

Based upon an analysis of the behavior of seventy-seven participants in a 4-H field trip, the article discusses evidence that participation in the 4-H project increased leadership performance. (NR)

Additional volunteer middle managers to work with extension agents in Four-H Clubs are needed for effective organizational structure and quality programs. The article discusses the value of these middle managers and their recruitment, selection, training, use, recognition, and evaluation. (MF)

Presents a process for defining roles of extension 4-H youth program staff--professionals, paraprofessionals, and volunteers. Adapted from the Need Overlap Analysis in the Helping Process (NOAH II), the process is intended to enhance program management by improving the effectiveness of paraprofessionals and thus other staff. (MF)