145 4-H does more than show to grow: Rebuilding educational opportunities and emphasizing positive youth development in a previously show-only focused program

Abstract

The pandemic temporarily altered program delivery resulting in agents exploring and pivoting to new delivery methods and areas of focus. The Florida 4-H Area North Horse Show Program (ANHS) utilized these shifts to critically evaluate and redevelop its mission. Although a cornerstone of any horse program is competing in shows, it is only one aspect of a positive youth development (PYD) equine program, Eighty-six percent of youth surveyed (n = 22) in 2022 indicated the show was important or very important to their 4-H year, however, < 50% who only participate in the show reported development related to knowledge gain and skill building, which has been an observable long-term challenge. The objective of the ANHS was to adjust and expand non-riding opportunities, building knowledge and skills beyond the arena, and encouraging horseless project engagement. To accomplish this, agents and specialists strategically developed and delivered a suite of educational program activities over 3 years to complement the annual show. Specific program activities included a webinar series (2020+), goal-oriented virtual riding challenges (2020) where youth logged > 780 equine contact hours, 3 multi-county clinics (2020+), and an expert-led youth symposium (2022) to improve comprehension of industry knowledge, horsemanship and sportsmanship. Equine sciencesubject matter included topics in behavior and welfare, pasture management, veterinary skills and emergency preparedness, genetics, body condition scoring and diet management. All program activities incorporated life skills of empathy, sportsmanship, goal setting, responsibility, and independence. When only focused on shows, ANHS reached 65 youth in 2019. As a result of the newly modified programming, the ANHS reached 198 youth in 2022, a 205% increase in total program participation with a complimentary increase in show entries. PYD concepts demonstrated included peer mentorship (97%, n = 40) and increased confidence interacting with peers and industry leaders (97%, n = 54). Additionally, 88–100% (n = 16) of participants indicated improved understanding/intended implementation of applied knowledge (e.g., assessing strengths/weaknesses in their hay storage and feeding practices and comprehension of equine welfare). This adaptive, collaborative approach to providing enhanced educational opportunities for participants has been successful in rebounding post-pandemic interruptions and building a district level culture with further implications for designing PYD horse programs.