4-H Members

State 4-H Youth Leadership Team

The Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team (YLT) involves 15-20 older 4-H members and recent 4-H alumni in coordinating and assisting with various regional and statewide 4-H activities. Team members are involved in planning and implementing the Illinois 4-H Jr. Leadership Conference (JLC); assisting behind the scenes with events such as Illini Summer Academies and Illinois State Fair; serving as the training team for the Speaking for Illinois 4-H (SFI4-H) program; serving on various statewide 4-H committees and boards (i.e. Illinois 4-H Foundation Board of Directors, Illinois Farm Bureau Youth Education Committee, Recognition for Excellence Committee) and assisting with 4-H curriculum reviews, among other duties.

Purpose: The Illinois State 4-H YLT offers older 4-H members and recent 4-H alumni an opportunity to give back to the 4-H program while further enhancing their leadership skills. The Team is actively involved in assisting the State 4-H Office in planning, implementing, and evaluating various 4-H events and activities; reviewing 4-H curriculum; representing Illinois at National 4-H Conference; and serving as a "youth voice" of the Illinois 4-H Youth Development Program.

Objectives: YLT members will:

  • Receive training in leadership development, team-building, public presentations and more.
  • Actively participate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Jr. Leadership Conference, including planning and teaching workshops, leading mixers and recreational activities, reviewing budget, and developing marketing and promotional pieces.
  • Actively participate in at least two other regional or statewide events throughout the year or serve as YLT representative to a statewide committee.
  • Be first contacts for opportunities to assist at events such as Legislative Connection, Illini Summer Academies, Illinois State Fair, Ag Day, etc.
  • Be first contacts for serving on statewide committees such as the Illinois 4-H Foundation Board of Directors, Illinois Farm Bureau Youth Education Committee, Illinois State Fair Advisory Committee, Recognition for Excellence Committee, etc.
  • Be first contacts for representing Illinois at National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. each spring.
  • Serve as a resource for county 4-H contacts via quarterly reports and provide a communication outlet for youth and adult partnerships.

Target Audience: Teens must be 16-19 years of age by September 1 of the current  4-H year in order to apply for the Illinois State 4-H YLT. Terms are 2-years in length. Members may apply for a second term a s long as they will be within the age requirements for the entire term.

Dates and Location: Applications are available the spring of each year and are due around mid-June for interviews at the Illini Summer Academies or August 1 for interviews at Illinois State Fair. Team members are named before September 1. At least two face-to-face meetings are held each year, including a 2-day retreat in the fall and the weekend of the Jr. Leadership Conference in February (Friday night through Sunday late afternoon). Teleconferences are held throughout the year. Other dates for commitments vary throughout the year.

Cost: Team members are required to purchase a team shirt and possibly a jacket (approximately $26 for shirt; $40 for jacket) and a YLT name badge (approximately $10). Expenses at face-to-face meetings and registrations to events in which members are assisting are covered.

Requirements of Participants: Team members must be active participants in at least 2 statewide events and the Junior Leadership Conference each year. ("Active" participation includes playing a role of some sort, assisting with set-up/tear-down, etc. - NOT just attendance at the event.). Team members must attend a minimum of 1 of the 2 face-to-face meetings and 75% of the scheduled Telenets each year of their term. Team members are required to make quarterly reports to Extension staff in their assigned counties. Members will complete an annual "self-evaluation" in regards to their involvement on the team.

Contacts:
State 4-H Office - Debra Stocker, dstocker@illinois.edu
YLT Advisors - Joshua Frank (jtfrank2@illinois.edu), Heather Stocker (hstocker09@gmail.com)

Past 4-H Youth Leadership Teams

4-H Member Leadership Opportunities


4-H Members