Lebanon County is celebrating 4-H Week with nearly 460 youth members and over 90 adult volunteers participating in various activities, including a proclamation at the county commissioners meeting recognizing the program’s impact. The county’s 4-H program, supported financially by the commissioners and run by Penn State Cooperative Extension educators, has grown to include 12 clubs for ages 5 to 18, featuring new additions like a Shooting Sports Club, a livestock clover buds program for younger children, and a new horse club. These clubs offer diverse educational experiences in areas such as archery, livestock care, and equine activities, with some members recently achieving notable successes at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

The program also emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and career exploration, highlighted by a collaborative “Zoom in the Wild” event series with ZooAmerica and a field trip to Elmwood Zoo. Adult volunteers are crucial to the program’s success, and there is a call for more leaders to support potential new clubs, including a rifle club and a small pet club. The 4-H Shooting Club has been especially popular, reaching its participant capacity quickly, reflecting strong community interest in expanding youth development opportunities in Lebanon County.