No longer will age be a limit to 4-Her’s who attend the University of Kentucky. The youth organization is growing to encompass college-age students with the birth of the UK Collegiate 4-H Club. Collegiate 4-H is an opportunity for students to maintain their involvement in the 4-H program by participating in service activities and maintaining social interactions with old friends. Mark Mains, University of Kentucky 4-H Extension Specialist, is excited about the formation of the new UK club. “4-H is a great organization and participating in the collegiate 4-H program helps these students develop a life long commitment to community involvement and service,” Mains said.

Currently at UK, there are many past 4-H members, including several State Teen Council delegates along with both past and current State Officers. The establishment of the collegiate chapter will allow these 4-Her’s to continue past friendships and create new ones. In addition, they will maintain their ties with an organization that has meant so much to them throughout the years.
“4-H has always been an important part of my life,” Brennan Smith, past Kentucky 4-H State Treasurer said. “The collegiate club will allow me to stay active and keep in touch with my friends that I would never have met had it not been for 4-H.”

Collegiate 4-H began at Oklahoma State University as a way for past club members to keep in touch. Over the years, it has developed into a National Organization with clubs at colleges and universities from Washington to West Virginia. Now with the establishment of the UK chapter, Kentucky’s 4-Her’s will be able to connect not only on campus, but also on a national level with students who share the same dedication to the organization. “I feel that there is a bright future for UK Collegiate 4-H. It will be a way to be involved in the community and with activities that are fun and make a difference,” Curtis Coombs, the current Kentucky 4-H State Vice President said.

Planned activities for the club include monthly meetings, along with eventual service projects. Club members are also planning social gatherings to keep the club fun. Attendance was high at the first two meetings that have been held.
“I think that as the word spreads more and more about the club, we will eventually have a large number of active members,” Coombs said. “That is what we are all hoping for.”

The UK chapter hopes that they will soon become an officially recognized club, sanctioned by the National Collegiate 4-H Organization.