There are several delivery modes for 4-H programs, such as camps, afterschool, community clubs, project clubs, 4-H school enrichment, Instructional TV or video, competitive events, 4-H in-school clubs, and independent studies, to name a few. Many of us, however, may not pay attention to other unique modes of 4-H program delivery, such as an outdoor classroom or laboratory. This is one unique mode of program delivery used by the St. Lucie County 4-H program to reach more than four thousand adults and youths annually. To be more specific, the 4-H

Farm serves as an extensive outdoor classroom or lab that compliments the neighboring city school’s formal education system with Agriculture Awareness subject matter. Annually hosting about 17 educational field trips and a Family Farm Festival Outreach (formerly called 4-H Spooktacular) qualifies the 4-H Farm as an outdoor classroom, tutorial farm, or lab).

Opportunity for research demonstrations, educational exhibits, and display.  

I used the term “a unique mode of program delivery” as well as the term “extensive outdoor classroom or lab” to describe the 4-H Farm for the following reasons:

• We are the only county in the Southeast Extension District that owns and operates a 4-H Farm and uses it for community outreach, educational field trips, demonstrations, and a rent-a-pen opportunity, allowing the limited resource audience to raise show animals for the county fair.
• We have fifteen animal species, allowing us to conduct nine separate animal stations.
• We have two gardens – a demonstration vegetable garden and a pollinator garden in succession towards Florida Friendly Landscape (FFL) compliance.
• We have an Ag-activity Center for recreation and experiential learning.
• With the abovementioned, we better serve the area public school and the homeschool community and provide an extended 4-H project experience to our enrolled 4-H members.
• Most significant is the provision for community service-learning, such as our collaboration for Eagle Scout projects or volunteer opportunities for youth and adults.
• We provide a rich experience of demonstrating where our food comes from, teaching the roles of each animal on the farm, comparing the different breeds of the animals within a species, and how one animal depends on the other for protection and companionship.
• Each 4-H club gets to promote, market, and display their club’s projects, talents, and accomplishments.
• We are considering innovative technology to include but not be limited to AI as a new way to demonstrate STEM in agriculture.

Collaboration and partnerships.

The 4-H Farm is supported by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the UF/IFAS Extension County Office, the 4-H Association Board, and our generous farm sponsors such as those you can see in this video: https://youtu.be/6XQQVrTDMAU?feature=shared.  I want to extend my appeal to the business community to continue their effort in sponsoring the 4-H Farm as our unique mode of program delivery and outreach towards Positive Youth Development (PYD) throughout St. Lucie County.

For more information, contact the 4-H Extension Agent @ john.ferguso@ufl.edu, 4-H Program Specialist Candace Wickham @ wickham.c@ufl.edu, Terri Zuidema @ tzuidema1@ufl.edu, or Wren Underwood @ e.underwood1@ufl.edu.

Prepared by John Ferguson (4-H Extension Agent).

An Equal Opportunity Institution. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Andra Johnson, dean for UF/IFAS Extension. Single copies of UF/IFAS Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county UF/IFAS Extension offices.

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