Union County marks 4-H Week, celebrates youth leadership programs

Union County Commissioners designated March 15-21, 2025, as Pennsylvania 4-H Week, putting a local spotlight on a Penn State Extension program that reaches boys and girls ages 5 to 18 and centers on hands-on learning, leadership and public service.

Penn State Extension says Union County members can join different clubs, each with its own meeting time, meeting place, frequency and projects. The county’s club offerings are built around activities that teach children about nature, animals, art, music, food and health, giving youth a direct link to practical skills as well as community involvement.

The recognition carried weight in a county where agriculture and volunteer-led youth programs remain closely tied. Pennsylvania 4-H says it serves more than 204,000 Pennsylvania youth each year, and a Sept. 7, 2023, Northeast Extension Directors article said volunteers are critical to the success of positive youth development programs. In Union County, that volunteer base helps keep clubs moving from one project season to the next, with parents, leaders and Extension staff all playing a role.

The county observance also fit into a broader statewide celebration. Pennsylvania 4-H posts and county notices showed that March 15-21, 2025, was marked as Pennsylvania 4-H Week in communities across the state, reinforcing that Union County’s program is part of a much larger network rather than an isolated local club structure.

The county’s 4-H connection did not end with the proclamation. In 2026, Pennsylvania 4-H listed Garrett Franck of Union County among the recipients of the Allen L. and Richard H. Baker Memorial 4-H Scholarship, a concrete example of how the program can carry students into college support and recognition beyond their club years.