4-H University Event Helps Youth Prepare for Careers

Utah State University Extension 4-H recently held their first-ever career readiness event, 4-H University. Youth who participate in 4-H from around the state came to the USU campus and the Logan area to explore postsecondary education and career options. The career readiness event was designed for youth in grades 6 to 8 and was limited to 40 students for the pilot year.
 
Youth in attendance were able to choose their area of interest and participate in hands-on career exploration activities in animal science, STEM, family and consumer sciences or leadership. Teen and collegiate 4-H leaders partnered to teach workshops about scholarship preparation, career readiness, degree exploration and healthy living. 
 
Kelsey Romney, USU Extension 4-H specialist, said one of the benefits of 4-H is that the projects youth participate in can provide them with life skills that industry wants and needs. She said the basis for the event was to help youth connect the passion and skills they are currently learning in 4-H with a successful career in the future. 
 
“For the first attempt at something like this, I was excited it filled up so quickly,” she said. “Registration was full in a week and a half. We may have to look at expanding this event in the future.”