Host a Youth Focus Group: statewide 4-H vision and strategic recommendations

We have a draft statewide NY 4-H strategic vision and recommendations and we want to hear from youth all about it! You're invited to host a conversation with youth from your county or program.

The NYS 4-H Beyond Ready Strategy Team, a team of youth, young alumni, 4-H Educators, campus and community partners, have been engaged in discovery process focused on understanding the changing strengths, opportunities, and needs of today’s New York State youth and imagining how NYS 4-H is poised to prepare youth to be Beyond Ready to dream, achieve, and thrive in a changing world. The 4-H Strategy Team has analyzed the data and created a vision statement and strategic recommendations.

We want to hear from youth – how does this vision resonate with what would benefit youth most in growing 4-H? What actions would youth say are most important in realizing this vision?

We’ve inviting 4-H Educators to partner with the 4-H Strategy Team in hosting youth focus groups. You can join in by:

• Hosting a youth focus group in your county

• Inviting youth to join a statewide youth focus group

Host a Local Youth Focus Group

You can find resources, including the Educator Focus Group Training recording, here. We suggest inviting youth ages 14 and older, though you may know younger youth well-suited to this opportunity, too.

NYS 4-H is providing $75 per CCE Association for the first 10 CCE Associations to sign up (request form here) and commit to hosting a youth focus group in your county. These funds can be used for snacks and supplies needed for the youth focus group.

Statewide Youth Focus Group

April 28, 2026 from 6 - 7 PM

Zoom registration

Youth from across the state are invited to join and share their feedback. The 4-H Strategy Team will facilitate the conversation.

Please share questions with Alexa. Thank you!