Nassau County BOCC Recognizes National 4-H Week

On Monday, September 22, 2025, the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) issued an official proclamation recognizing National 4-H Week (Oct 5- 11, 2025). Members of the Nassau County 4-H Teen Leadership Council accepted the proclamation on behalf of all local 4-H youth during a meeting at the James S. Page Governmental Complex in Yulee.

Nassau County 4-H extends its sincere appreciation to the BOCC for honoring the contributions of 4-H youth and the positive impact the program has on our community. We also thank our dedicated families, volunteers, and community partners whose continued support enables young people to develop leadership, citizenship, and life skills.

A proclamation is a formal public statement issued by local government leaders to recognize significant initiatives or causes. This year’s proclamation highlights the lasting influence of 4-H on youth development in Nassau County.

2024–2025 Impact Highlights

Nassau County 4-H continues to make a measurable difference in the lives of local youth:

• Broad Reach: Served more than 10,134 participants through clubs, specialty programs, fun shops, clinics, in-school enrichment, summer camps, and partnerships.

• Volunteer Commitment: Volunteers donated 2,400 hours, an in-kind value of $123,522, to deliver high-quality programs.

• Youth Growth: 95% of club members improved at least one life skill through 4-H participation.

• New Opportunities: Launched six new programs and hosted 12 summer camps.

• Community Support: Received $22,281 in funding through in-kind and monetary donations and grants and awarded $1,297 in 4-H Association scholarships.

• Active Clubs: Maintains 13 active 4-H clubs, with 77% of members participating in state-level programs and competitions and 46% serving as formal club officers.

Program Highlights

• Youth Emergency Team: Graduated over 100 youth in partnership with Nassau County Fire Rescue, Animal Services, Forestry, and UF EDEN, earning multi-year awards.

• Dog Program: Animal Services will graduate its second class of 11 youth this October; the program is nationally recognized for citizenship education.

• Hunter Safety: Eight youth earned official certification through Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation.

• Northeast Fair Partnership: Provides teaching space and support for youth projects at least 17 times annually.

Recognition & Competitions

• Hippology: Multi-award-winning horse education program advancing to national-level competition.

• Archery: Indoor Intermediate 4th place; Junior Team 2nd place; 3rd highest junior individual; FITA Match 5th place team; Field Match 2nd place junior team; State Match Junior Highest Individual of the Year.

• Food Challenge: Junior and Intermediate teams both placed 2nd at District.

• Executive Board: Two senior teens serve beyond the state level on the iLead and 4-H University Event Committees.

• Embryology Program: Reaches at least 1,500 youth annually, teaching the science of hatching chickens.

• 4-H / FPL Public Speaking Program: Provides a free public speaking curriculum for 1,300–2,000 students in grades 4–10 each year.

Fun Fact: Reflecting on the long history of Extension and 4-H in Nassau County. Extension work began here in 1915, sharing knowledge and resources with local farmers and families to improve agriculture, home economics, and community life. According to the 4-H History Book “A Century of Youth Success,” Two years later, in 1917, the first 4-H clubs were formed in Nassau County, with school-based programs for boys and girls, supported by the county commissioners.

Learn more about National 4-H Week here:https://4-h.org/events/4-h-week/

#4HBeyondReady #National4H #National4HWeek

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