HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 10-07-2025; 8-e - 4-H Week Proclamation
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 7, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-e
SUBJECT: 4-H Week Proclamation
DEPARTMENT: Cooperative Extension
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proclamation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jonathon Smith, County Extension
Director, 919-245-2057
PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation recognizing October 5-11, 2025, as 4-H Week in Orange
County.
BACKGROUND: October 5-11, 2025, is National 4-H Week. It is promoted by both the National
4-H Council and North Carolina 4-H, and is celebrated in states and counties from coast to coast.
The overall goals of National 4-H Week are to promote the ways in which 4-H serves families and
youth in grades kindergarten through twelfth, and to promote the 4 -H “learn by doing” experiential
learning model that sparks youth interest in future careers, leadership, and community service.
Orange County boasts eight (8) community-based clubs from Cedar Grove to Carrboro and
continues to grow to meet the needs of Orange County residents.
Orange County Cooperative Extension, a partnership between Orange County Government,
North Carolina State University, and North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University,
continues to promote 4-H Youth Development as the premier vehicle for inspiring youth interest
in the fields of science, technology, engineering, agriculture, arts, mathematics, and more.
Orange County 4-H offers a wide variety of programming across the county, employing the
following modes of delivery: day and residential camps, school enrichment, afterschool
programming, and community-based clubs. Considerable research has been published to
highlight the role 4-H plays in helping youth thrive as participants and throughout life. Samples of
that research include:
● Arnold, M. E. & Gagnon, R. J. (2019). Illuminating the process of youth development: The
mediating effect of thriving on youth development program outcomes. Journal of Human
Sciences and Extension, 7(3), 24-51.
● Noble, R., Hall, K., Hensley, S., & Arnold, M.E. (2021). Aligning 4 -H youth development
frameworks with the 4-H Thriving Model. Available at: https://helping-youth-
thrive.extension.org/.
● National 4-H Council. (2023, January 1). What is 4-H?. 4-H. https://4-h.org/about/.
● Search Institute (2014b). The developmental relationships framework. Minneapolis, MN:
Author.
1
The Strategic Plan for 4-H, as outlined in the National 4-H Council Strategic Plan, states “together
with our partners and supporters, 4-H is creating ready leaders with the skills to lead within their
families, schools, communities and the workforce.”
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this item.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
● GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY
OBJECTIVE 7: Invest in services and programs that improve the health and quality of life
of the community (e.g., recreation and public open spaces, arts, etc.)
● GOAL 5: PUBLIC EDUCATION/LEARNING COMMUNITY
OBJECTIVE 1: Foster collaborative relationships with formal and informal educational
organizations and agencies to provide opportunities for community members to meet,
connect, and learn together.
OBJECTIVE 2: Improve school readiness and educational outcomes by providing access,
training, tools, technology, and other resources needed to thrive.
OBJECTIVE 3: Provide support for workforce development through training, tools,
technology, and other resources.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the Proclamation
and authorize the Chair to sign.
2
4-H WEEK PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, 4-H youth across the nation are leading efforts to solve problems in their communities
and make a difference for their futures; and
WHEREAS, 4-H is the largest youth development organization in North Carolina and the largest in
the nation with nearly six million participants; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, 4-H in North Carolina provided 20,787 educational activities impacting 188,425
youth; and
WHEREAS, Orange County’s 4-H program numbers more than 260 members and more than 40
volunteers engaged in camps, school enrichment, afterschool programs, and eight community clubs;
and
WHEREAS, 4-H, as part of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service of NC State University
and NC A&T State University, is a program where youth are engaged in experiential learning
opportunities in 4-H’s mission mandates of science, engineering, technology, healthy living, and
citizenship; and
WHEREAS, 4-H has connected youth and their communities with the innovative research and
resources from our nation’s 112 land-grant universities and colleges for more than 120 years.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim October 5-
11, 2025, as 4-H Week in Orange County. We urge the people of this County to take advantage of
the opportunity to become more aware of this research-based program that enhances our young
people’s interests in their futures as part of Orange County 4-H Youth Development and to join us
in recognizing this unique partnership between our County and the University of North Carolina
System.
Adopted this 7th day of October, 2025.
____________________________________
Jamezetta Bedford, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
3