The Alaska Community Foundation supports Alaska 4-H districts
4-H youths from the Anchorage District practice CPR.
The first classes taken at UAF by young Alaskans often are provided by the 4-H program. They might learn about raising livestock, public speaking, gardening or even governing.
The idea is to introduce young people to new interests that can transform into educational or career pursuits later in life.
Donations can make a big difference in that effort.
The Alaska Community Foundation, for example, recently awarded the 4-H program $45,000 for the Camps Initiative, a partnership with the Rasmuson Foundation to support youth camping opportunities. The funds were distributed across five districts.
The Alaska 4-H program is part of UAF’s Cooperative Extension Service, which provides education, leadership, training and fundraising across the state.
4-H hosts various programs for K-12 students, including summer camps, presentation contests, Youth in Governance, 4-H STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) Labs, and more. Eugenia Hartsook, who directs Extension at UAF and leads the 4-H program, said introducing youths to such activities advances the 4-H goal of “making the best better.”
4-H youths from the Anchorage district explore horticulture.
Generous support, like the Alaska Community Foundation’s donation, allows 4-H participants to broaden their horizons, she said.
"Funds to support 4-H positive youth development experiences across the state of Alaska have allowed 4-H Cooperative Extension Service staff to form new partnerships and serve new audiences,” Hartsook said.
This year, donations to the equine program, for example, allowed 105 youths to develop skills in horse husbandry, showing and handling.
Also this year, 4-H took seven youths to Juneau to meet with legislators, serve as pages and learn about state government. Similarly, 4-H supported five youths to participate in the national 4-H conference in Washington, D.C., allowing them to learn about the federal government and meet with Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola.
In other career exploration, 200 youths participated in the 2023 Alaska State Livestock Contest.
The livestock program also helps youths market their livestock to local businesses and place them for auction at events. Auctions in Tanana, Kenai and Palmer this year raised more than $500,000 in program support. Three Bears Alaska, an Alaska grocery store chain, bought some of the animals and is selling the meat under the 4-H program’s four-leaf clover logo.
In the process, 4-H participants learned about livestock production and local food supply.
And that, like the other programs, serves the 4-H philosophy of “learn by doing.”