4‑H Youth in Action Program
The 4‑H Youth in Action program amplifies the diverse stories and leadership of 4‑H youth who are making a difference in their communities every day. It is a premiere community of 4‑H’ers who are preparing for their future while showcasing how 4‑H changed their lives and equipped them to change the lives of others.
Each year, program participants receive an exciting year of media training and national opportunities to share their 4‑H story and leadership.
All Youth in Action Program applicants will receive:
- Media, interview, and storytelling training from National 4‑H professionals.
- Admission into our national 4‑H story database; providing potential national multi-media and spokesperson opportunities.
Four Award Winners will receive:
- A $5,000 scholarship for higher education, to be paid directly to the institution, including two-year and four-year colleges, trade schools or other advanced learning opportunities.
- A year of personal professional and media development, training, and networking opportunities and national opportunities to serve as a spokesperson and key thought leader in your program area.
- All-expenses paid trips for each award winner & a chaperone to travel as the national youth spokesperson.
- An official reference letter from a National 4‑H Council leader for educational or career purposes.
About the Youth in Action Application
Applications will open on January 30, 2023 and close March 27, 2023. We will also be hosting webinars for 4H Professionals on February 1, 2023 at 1:00pm ET and on February 22, 2023 at 6:00pm ET for parents and applicants.
Youth in Action Program Sponsors


- To learn more about the program and application, please attend our webinars:
- For 4‑H Professionals on February 1st at 6pm ET
- For applicants and parents on February 22nd at 6pm ET
- All applicants and their 4‑H educators are offered access to Media, Interview, and Storytelling Training from National 4‑H professionals. Apply today for exclusive registration!
4‑H is proud to share the diverse stories and unique perspectives of 4‑H’ers who are leaders in their communities. 4‑H Youth in Action Program winners comes from every corner of America and are impacting their local communities in astounding ways. Check out 4‑H Youth in Action Program finalists below!
2023 Winners
Matias Habib
Agriculture
Matias Habib never aimed to be a leader of sustainable agriculture. However, when the invasive species Japanese Beetle devastated his family’s orchard, Matias spent his summer applying his 4‑H Entomology knowledge to study natural methods to combat the beetle. He presented his research at the...
Sruthi Sudarsan
Civic Engagement
As a child, Sruthi struggled to speak due to her social anxiety, but she found her voice and confidence through her 4‑H club’s puppetry and public speaking projects. Empowered by her 4‑H community and impassioned to civic engagement, Sruthi has in turn taken her rightful...
Norah Carter
Healthy Living
Growing up with a disability saw Norah Carter consistently underestimated. When she discovered competitive therapeutic horseback riding through her local 4‑H club, Norah seized her spark and derived a world of new opportunities. She quickly developed confidence, leadership skills and a dedication to community service...
Nicole Cash
STEM
Like many LGBTQ youth across the country, Nicole experienced rejection and personal loss after coming out. Through 4‑H, she found refuge – a place to belong, helping her discover her passion for nature while cultivating her exceptional leadership skills. These skills proved essential when a...
2023 Finalists
Elaan Bader
Agriculture
Elaan attributes the spark she has for agriculture and the global health of pollinators to 4‑H. Armed with a can-do attitude and a belief the one person can make a difference, 4‑H has provided her opportunities and experiences that have honed her public speaking, creative...
Evelyn Day
Agriculture
In 2017, with Hurricane Irma barreling towards the Florida coast, Evelyn wanted to help. She reached out to Florida 4‑H and offered space at her farm for animals who needed refuge during evacuations. After a 4‑H’er took her up on the offer, Evelyn learned that...
Amiyah Elam
Civic Engagement
Amiya Elam would not be who she is today without 4‑H. She remembers being a little girl with a big voice and not knowing how to centralize it. From the start, she enthusiastically dove into every 4‑H opportunity offered, but the most pivotal and influential...
Reed Marcum
Civic Engagement
4‑H helped Reed Marcum gain the self-confidence, public speaking and leadership skills to organize service initiatives, supporting needs in his community. In 7 years, his 4‑H book bag giveaway has collected more than 27,000 book bags and school supplies to give to students in need....
Jayden Ingalls
Healthy Living
Jayden has always loved how food fosters community, culture, fellowship and joy. Growing up he struggled to find opportunities to expand his culinary education. Through 4‑H, he found the support of an entire community and was provided the experiences that allow him to explore his...
Avani Rai
Healthy Living
Avani’s passion for public speaking didn’t come easily, but it opened up a whole new world to her. On a small stage in Illinois, Avani found her voice and dove into all 4‑H has to offer. As her passion for public speaking and leadership grew,...
Michael Trees
STEM
Living in a rural area, Michael didn’t always have the same resources or opportunities as other kids. Being homeschooled meant no formal computer class or laboratory access for STEM learning. What they did have, however, was a spark to ignite a partnership between their local...
Ronak Suchindra
STEM
With a passion for volunteering and teaching, Ronak believes 4‑H has shown him the value of giving back to his community. Developing a neighborhood program of successful coding workshops during Covid led him to establish Kids Connect—a non-profit aimed at empowering youth with the skills...
2022 Award Recipients
Tashina Red Hawk
Agriculture
Brianna Attey Mouanjo
Civic Engagement
Kristin Osika
Healthy Living
Dhruv Rebba
STEM
2021 Award Recipients
Madelyn Zimmerman
Agriculture
Elizabeth Weidner
Civic Engagement
Mayyadah Zagelow
Healthy Living
Aidan Spencer
STEM
2020 Award Recipients
Janya Green
Agriculture
Breanna Burkhead
Civic Engagement
Micah Palacios
Healthy Living
Joseph Huff
STEM
2019 Award Recipients
Clyde Van Dyke
STEM & National Winner
Mason McClintock
Civic Engagement
Addy Battel
Agriculture
Elisabeth Watkins
Healthy Living
2018 Award Recipients
Cassandra Ivie
National Youth in Action Program and STEM Pillar
Serena Woodard
Agriculture Pillar
Kyra-Lee Harry
Civic Engagement Pillar
Sophia Rodriguez
Healthy Living Pillar
2017 Award Recipients
Amelia Day
National Youth in Action Program and Civic Engagement Pillar
Samuel Sugarman
Agriculture Pillar
Bryanne Sanchez
Healthy Living Pillar
Ava Lonneman
STEM Pillar
Talent is Everywhere. Opportunity is Not.
Help make every kid’s potential count. Learn more and help 4‑H provide #Opportunity4All kids, no matter their circumstances.
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