Youth development program will be viewed in communities statewide as an invaluable and essential source of non-formal education. Salaried and volunteer staff will be recognized for their expertise in creating dynamic and interactive learning experiences, in actively organizing communities to focus and deal effectively with local youth issues, and in creating opportunities for youth to apply what they learn in the classroom by providing service in their communities. Additional delivery methods used include community and project clubs, school enrichment programming and short-term special interest groups from these clubs. The project groups meet once or twice between school club meetings to focus on project work. Each parish has a volunteer program management system in place.
Volunteers work in partnership with salaried staff to enhance the quality of the parish program.
Volunteers recruit, orient, train and support other volunteers. Volunteers organize and conduct educational programs, events and activities. Agents coordinate parish programming. They are viewed as youth development experts and advocates in their communities. School systems view 4-H as an essential partner in educating youth.