(Insert your name here)

Data collected in the summer of 2008 Data collected at county fairs or 4-H club

meetings at the end of the project 1,843 surveys collected 30 counties collected data

Record Keeping Community Service Leadership Public Speaking Decision Making Problem Solving

Because I’m in 4-H…1. I know how to keep records2. I know how to do community

service3. I take leadership roles4. I can give a talk or a demonstration5. I can make good decisions6. I can solve problems

1. Yes – Always2. Usually3. Not Often4. No - Never

I have been in 4-H for…◦ It’s my first time◦ 1-2 years◦ 3-4 years◦ 5 years or more

Age – Jr, Int, and Sr. Grades – 3-6, and 7-12 Gender Open ended comments

Years in 4-H Frequency Percent

1-2 years 510 27.8%

3-4 years 530 28.9%

5 or more 643 35.0%

Fist time 153 8.3%

2 years and less = Quasi-control group

3 years or more = Treatment group Chi Square analysis

Life Skill Average or Overall

Member1-2 years

Member3-4 years

Member5 or more

Decision Making - NS 98.2% 98.0% 98.5% 98.5%Problem Solving** 97.6% 96.2% 98.1% 98.3%Community Service** 96.6% 94.4% 98.0% 99.4%Record Keeping** 93.0% 90.3% 94.5% 96.5%Public Speaking** 92.7% 87.2% 93.9% 97.2%Leadership** 75.3% 64.6% 73.4% 88.4%* P < .05 ** P < .01 NS = No Significant difference

Life Skill Average or Overall

Member1-2 years

Member3-4 years

Member5 or more

Decision Making - NS 98.2% 98.0% 98.5% 98.5%Problem Solving** 97.6% 96.2% 98.1% 98.3%Community Service** 96.6% 94.4% 98.0% 99.4%Record Keeping** 93.0% 90.3% 94.5% 96.5%Public Speaking** 92.7% 87.2% 93.9% 97.2%Leadership** 75.3% 64.6% 73.4% 88.4%* P < .05 ** P < .01 NS = No Significant difference

4-H membership makes a positive difference in the lives of young people regarding the six life skills analyzed in this study.

The NS difference in Years in 4-H x Decision Making is not a bad thing—because of the high response rate of all 4-Hers to this question.

The low raw response to years in 4-H x leadership is not a bad thing—because of the significant increase in older members of this higher level skill.

**4-H Makes a difference in the lives of young people!