Portage County Youth in Governance Programs

• The Portage County 4-H program engages youth in leadership and shared governance roles through the Market Animal Committee, Fair Exhibit Committee and Food Stand Committee. For example, the Market Animal committee has 6 youth and 13 adults with equal votes and youth help to teach and facilitate the educational program.
• 17 members participated in 4-H Club Officer training, which was co-taught by youth from the 4-H teen leaders board. Participants increased their knowledge of parliamentary procedure, how to run effective meetings, and reported increased comfort in the officer role.
• The Youth Action Committee planned and coordinated service activities ranging from fundraising for Habitat for Humanity to promoting energy efficient light bulbs. 189 volunteer hours were contributed by youth through this partnership between Extension and the United Way Volunteer Center of Portage County.
• Five youth and twenty-four adults are members of our county's Fair Exhibit Committee. At the fairs when a decision needs to be made a minimum of three people from the committee can be called together to resolve conflict that requires immediate attention. A youth has been part of the majority of on-site decisions.
• The Portage County 4-H program engages youth in leadership and shared governance roles through the Animal Committee, Fair Exhibit Committee and Foodstand Committee.
  
• Portage County Impact Report (1 pg, 67.0 kb)

For more information: Portage County UW-Extension Youth Development