Florida 4-H youth were everywhere in the news this year—representing at our state and national capitols, addressing food security in Rome, diving under Antarctic ice, creating their own business startups and inventing life-saving technology.
“Beyond Ready” is the new nationwide initiative for 4-H, Extension’s youth development program. This look at Florida 4-H youth in 2024 proves that they are Beyond Ready to embrace the future.
Big Heart for a Pig Part
Cameron Swallows is a 4-H member in High Springs. Like a lot of youth in 4-H , 11-year-old Cameron raises animals to show at the local fair. But when his sister’s pig Hank developed a potentially fatal condition, his 4-H technology and creative thinking skills sprang into action and he invented a 3D printed part to save its life.
Revitalizing 4-H Camps
Last February, 17-year-old Winter Merilan joined over 1,000 4-H youth in Tallahassee to advocate for historic 4-H Camp Cherry Lake during the 4-H Day at the Capitol event. Participants in Florida 4-H’s leadership and citizenship programs are experienced with state government and are highly persuasive public speakers. Thanks to their successful lobbying, Florida 4-H secured $900,000 in funding from the state legislature toward rebuilding cabins at the educational camp in Madison County.
Florida 4-H receives nearly $1 million for camp cabin project
Young Entrepreneurs Blossom
Florida 4-H is a business incubator for many young entrepreneurs. The hands-on experience they gain in public speaking, leadership and small business give them the skills and confidence needed to start their own businesses while still in school. Emily Flowers, a 14-year-old 4-H member in Gulf County, turned her knowledge of beekeeping into a honey business, called Awesome Blossom.
Another 4-H alumnus, Taylor Thigpen from Green Cove Springs, recently sold his 4-H-grown plant business for six figures.
Florida 4-H youth launch, grow, sell own businesses as entrepreneurs
When in Rome, Address World Food Security
Speaking of Taylor, the 18-year-old former Florida 4-H state president accepted an invitation to address the World Food Forum in Rome. Representing 4-H and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he spoke about the importance of creating opportunities for youth and other diverse voices to address nutrition, food waste, hunger and other topics.
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/4mkwavyw
Tip of the Iceberg
While Taylor Thigpen was in Rome, another 4-H member was scuba diving under the polar ice cap. John Humphreys, 14 years old, joined a citizen science research expedition to study iceberg formations and change in Antarctica. Knowing that he can accomplish the seemingly impossible, John wants to someday join another expedition, this time to Mars.
Reaching for the Stars
No goal is too lofty for 4-H youth—and that now includes the stars. Florida 4-H is incorporating space science into their STEM lessons, with youth learning about how agriculture and engineering go together. Florida 4-H is teaming up with Higher Orbits to host their premier space-focused event, Go for Launch!, in 2025 and will train 60 4-H teens as “space ambassadors” to teach another 1,200 youth about space science. The goal is to inspire youth to pursue space-based careers, especially in the Sunshine State.
Florida 4-H aims for the stars with space-focused career advancement programs
Apple & STEM
From robot clubs and citizen science to drone piloting and computer engineering, Florida 4-H is deeply invested in giving youth hands-on experience to excel in today’s high-tech workforce. This year, Florida 4-H has partnered with the Apple Community Education Initiative to launch the Clovers CODE program, which introduces youth to both traditional agriculture and computer engineering. Since being introduced last year, the program has engaged more than 300 elementary and middle school children in six Florida counties.
Florida 4-H, Apple collaboration inspires youth to pursue tech careers
UF/IFAS Extension is building a bright and sustainable future for all Floridians, and as our youth development program, Florida 4-H is leading the charge. These youth and thousands more are beyond ready for the challenges of 2025 and beyond.
To learn more about Florida 4-H, visit https://florida4h.ifas.ufl.edu/
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