NATIONAL 4-H:

v      Across the United States, over 5.5 million youth participate in 4-H.  600,00 4-H volunteer leaders lead them.

v      4-H alumni – all the members and leaders who have participated in 4-H in the United States since its beginning – now total over 50 million.

v      4-H type programs are truly international.  Over 80 countries have similar programs, which reach 4 million youth.

STATE 4-H:

v      Nearly 1 in every 6 Wisconsin youth is involved in 4-H!  This makes it the largest youth organization in the state.  Every one of our 72 counties is involved in the 4-H program.

v      4-H reaches 150,000 Wisconsin youth from 50,000 families each year. 

v      A lot of folks think you need to live on a farm to join 4-H!  That just isn’t true!  Over half of Wisconsin’s 4-Hers now live in larger cities, ¼ of the members live in smaller communities and rural areas, and less than ¼ live on farms.

v      There are a lot of opportunities for older members in 4-H.  About 800 teens exchange ideas and make new friends each June during the Wisconsin 4-H Youth Conference in UW-Madison.  About 3,000 participate at the Wisconsin State Fair in August.

v      Nearly 30,000 adult and youth volunteers give their time and talent to 4-H each year.  The average volunteer donates over 200 hours each year to 4-H.

v      4-H is the youth development section of the University of Wisconsin – Extension.  So when youth participate in 4-H, they are an important part of the UW system.

COUNTY 4-H:

v      4-H CLUBS – There are 13 community clubs throughout Ozaukee County.  Four clubs are in the Cedarburg/Grafton area – four clubs serve the Belgium/Fredonia area – Four clubs in the Port Washington/Saukville area – one large club in the Mequon/Thiensville area.

v      4-H MEMBERS – There are over 700 members in the Ozaukee County 4-H program, ranging from Cloverbuds (1^st and 2^nd graders) through one year beyond high school graduation.

v      WHERE ARE THE FARM KIDS – In 1999, 40% of our members lived in communities of under 10,000 people.  This means that some of them lived in small villages and other in rural, non-farm homes.  About 40% of our members lived in towns and cities from 10,000-50,000 population.  This leaves about 20% who actually live on farms.

v      OTHER NUMBERS – We have approximately 550 families in Ozaukee County 4-H.  Around 300 adults volunteer their time each year as adult leaders.  Youth leaders range in number from 85-100 each year.