New 4-H year begins, bringing new opportunities for Kansas youth
Maass urges families to reach out to local extension offices
At a glance: Kansas youth have a fresh slate of opportunities to learn, lead and grow as the new 4-H year began Oct. 1, according to Sarah Maass, program director for Kansas 4-H Youth Development.
More information: Sarah Maass, 785-5352-5800, semaass@ksu.edu
Related: Kansas 4-H Youth Development
Oct. 6, 2025
By Pat Melgares, K-State Extension news service
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas youth have a fresh slate of opportunities to learn, lead and grow as the new 4-H year begins Oct. 1, according to Sarah Maass, program director for Kansas 4-H Youth Development.
“4-H has been around for over 100 years,” Maass said. “At the State Fair next year, we're going to wrap up our 120th year of Kansas 4-H.”
From science and leadership to gardening and public speaking, the organization has long been a staple for youth development in both rural and urban areas across the state.
“The big thing with 4-H is helping youth develop soft skills and life skills that they're going to use throughout their life,” Maass said. “Through their project work, through working with caring adults and volunteers and parents, they gain a sense of community and find their place within it.”
Listen to an interview by Jeff Wichman with Sarah Maass on the weekly radio podcast, Sound Living
Young people can begin their 4-H journey as early as age 5 or 6 as “Cloverbuds,” a non-competitive way to introduce them to 4-H. At age 7, youth become full 4-H members and can participate through high school.
This year, Maass said, brings exciting additions — including a new 4-H Engineering and Technology specialist starting at the end of September.
“We’re really excited about the programmatic opportunities within engineering and technology that we will be able to see in 2025-26 and beyond,” she said. “Youth today have not known a time without the internet. We need to help them navigate that world.”
Maass said 4-H continues to evolve to reflect the lives and interests of Kansas youth.
“You just never know what’s going to inspire a young person,” she said. “Whether they live in the city or on a farm, 4-H offers them the opportunity to imagine what could be and make it their own.”
4-H projects span from animal science to urban gardening, often blending rural and urban experiences.
“There’s a lot of crossover,” Maass said. “We learn from one avenue and apply it to the next.”
Leadership development is a cornerstone of 4-H, starting with simple club demonstrations and talks.
“It’s a safe space for youth to explore, achieve, and even fail — with their peers encouraging them,” Maass said. “There’s nothing more heartwarming than seeing a young person help another young person move toward their goals.”
Maass emphasized the importance of finding the right club. Her advice to families: “Visit more than one (club). You never know where your child is going to find the best fit.”
Volunteers are essential to the program’s success.
“Without our volunteers, we could not do what we do,” Maass said. “If anyone has a talent to share or wants to explore what it might be like to be a volunteer, I encourage them to reach out to their local extension office.”
A new initiative, 4-H Beyond Ready, is also launching nationally and in Kansas.
“It’s all about preparing our youth to be ready for work and life,” Maass said. “(The concept) is not new to 4-H, but this initiative is helping us be more intentional about developing leadership and communication skills.”
Maass said 4-H’s reach goes beyond its official members. School enrichment, after-school, and library programs bring 4-H to many more young Kansans.
“Our goal is that every youth in Kansas, at some point in their childhood, has a 4-H youth development experience,” she said.
One statewide initiative, 48 Hours of 4-H, which takes place Oct. 11-12 this year, encourages youth to identify and meet local community needs through service.
“It’s all about belonging,” Maass said. “Giving back helps them see how they fit into the bigger picture.”
More information about Kansas 4-H Youth Development is available at kansas4-h.org, and from local extension offices in Kansas.
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