Leadership in Action

Program Overview

The Leadership in Action program is designed to motivate youth in 7-12 grades to identify community needs and develop skills to plan and conduct projects to address those issues. By engaging with their schools, neighborhoods, or counties, 4-H’ers express themselves, build self-esteem, and exhibit leadership competencies.

Application Process

Projects should reflect work conducted from January 1 of the prior year through March 1 of the current year. Applications include two sections, depending on the desired level of recognition.

Part I: Local Recognition

Required for local recognition, this section asks the 4-H’er to describe the:

• • Situation: The community or agricultural issue chosen.
  • Response: How the student built partnerships, educated others, and promoted the issue.
  • Impact: How the involvement improved the situation.
  • Evaluation: Lessons learned and next steps.

Part II: State Recognition

Required for state recognition competition. This includes all materials from Part I, plus:

• • Supporting Documentation: Up to two pages of photos, news clippings, or flyers.
  • Letter of Recommendation: One letter from a community leader aware of the project (excluding agents or family.)

Awards & Recognition

Junior Division (7-8 Grades)

• • State Recognition: Completion of Part II earns a state recognition certificate.
  • Outstanding Community Leaders: Eight winners are selected based on the application alone. These winners do not receive Master 4-H status and are eligible to compete again.
  • Honoree Recognition: 7th-grade winners are recognized at the Junior Conference; 8th-grade winners are recognized at the State 4-H Council. Attendance is not required.

Senior Division (9-12 Grades)

• • State Recognition: Completion of Part II earns a state recognition certificate.
  • Competition: To compete for awards, Seniors must complete Part II and participate in a required interview process held during District contests.
  • State Congress: District 1st and 2nd place winners advance to the State 4-H Congress interview session.
  • State Winners: Two state winners are selected to potentially represent Georgia at the National 4-H Conference or receive a $500 scholarship. State winners are eligible for Master 4-H’er status.

Leadership in Action Project Highlights

The following are additional examples of successful Leadership in Action projects that have made significant impacts in communities across Georgia:

• • Youth Mentorship: Creating an initiative to provide resources, guidance, and support to help youth navigate life challenges and build resilience.
  • Community Arts: Fundraising to provide scholarships that allow local students to attend community theater camps and participate in the arts.
  • STEAM Education: Promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) programs by seeking funding and resources to support student learning in local schools.
  • Veteran Appreciation: Organizing service projects and placing flags to honor veterans and fallen heroes in the community.
  • Shelter Support: Partnering with local organizations to organize donation drives collecting clothing and hygiene products for families in crisis.
  • Pollinator Habitats: Conducting workshops and assisting gardeners in establishing habitats to support pollinator populations and agriculture.
  • Creative Cooking: Developing and distributing simple baking kits to encourage family bonding and cooking skills using accessible, shelf-stable ingredients.
  • Disaster Response: Assembling and distributing hygiene kits to assist community members impacted by severe weather and natural disasters.

Additional Resources

Contact your County Extension Office for detailed rules and objectives, brainstorming map, planning framework, scoresheet, and interview guide.

If you have additional questions, please contact Kelle Ashley at ksashley@uga.edu.