1 State of Arkansas
2 94th General Assembly
3 Regular Session, 2023 SR 14
4
5 By: Senator Gilmore
6
7 SENATE RESOLUTION
8 TO RECOGNIZE THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE ARKANSAS 4-H
9 PROGRAM ON OUR YOUTH AND TO PROCLAIM 4-H DAY ON
10 FEBRUARY 28, 2023.
11
12
13 Subtitle
14 TO RECOGNIZE THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE
15 ARKANSAS 4-H PROGRAM ON OUR YOUTH AND TO
16 PROCLAIM 4-H DAY ON FEBRUARY 28, 2023.
17
18 WHEREAS, in October 1908, a group of about sixty-five (65) boys formed
19 the White County Corn and Cotton Club as a way to learn the latest in
20 agricultural technology resulting in their learned agricultural practices
21 being adopted by their counterparts and this club became the Arkansas 4-H
22 program; and
23
24 WHEREAS, while the activities that the participants enjoy may have
25 changed since 1908, the mission of 4-H to help the youth of this country
26 become productive citizens has not changed; and
27
28 WHEREAS, the seed planted by that first club provided the roots for a
29 program that today reaches more than one hundred forty-four thousand
30 (144,000) youth in school enrichment programs and over two hundred fifty
31 eight thousand (258,000) youth in all program areas, ages five to nineteen (5
32 – 19), across the seventy-five (75) counties in Arkansas, including rural,
33 suburban, and urban youth; and
34
35 WHEREAS, 4-H is the premier youth development program conducted by the
36 Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Arkansas System Division
*MAG064* 2/23/2023 12:47:21 PM MAG064
 SR14
1 of Agriculture; and
2
3 WHEREAS, through informal, scientific, research-based, and experiential
4 education activities, 4-H participants gain knowledge and enhance life skills
5 enabling them to become positive, productive, capable, and compassionate
6 members of society; and
7
8 WHEREAS, 4-H is designed to prepare young people to step up to the
9 challenges in their communities and provide youth with the skills to lead for
10 a lifetime; the core elements of 4-H include youth leadership, youth-adult
11 partnerships, life skills learning, and community service; and
12
13 WHEREAS, 4-H members complete hands-on projects in areas like science,
14 health, agriculture, and citizenship in a positive environment where they
15 receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive
16 leadership roles; and
17
18 WHEREAS, the Arkansas 4-H program fosters an innovative “learn-by-
19 doing” approach with proven results, and 4-H is committed to building
20 outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today’s global
21 society, through in-school programs, on military installations, and through
22 after-school programs; and
23
24 WHEREAS, findings from the Tufts University 4-H Study of Positive Youth
25 Development indicate that, when compared to their peers, young people in 4-H
26 make more civic contributions to their communities, and make healthier
27 choices; and
28
29 WHEREAS, in 2019 the National 4-H Council partnered with Edge Research
30 to conduct a study of all 4-H alumni across the country, and the results
31 found that a 4-H experience correlates with long-term success in life; and
32
33 WHEREAS, 4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization,
34 empowering nearly six million (6,000,000) young people throughout the United
35 States; and
36
2 2/23/2023 12:47:21 PM MAG064
 SR14
1 WHEREAS, the structured learning, encouragement, and adult mentoring
2 provided to 4-H members by the thousands of hours given by Arkansas
3 volunteers play a vital role in helping our youth achieve success,
4
5 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
6 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
7
8 THAT the Senate recognize the positive impact of the Arkansas 4-H
9 program on our youth and proclaim February 28, 2023, as 4-H Day at the State
10 Capitol.
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
3 2/23/2023 12:47:21 PM MAG064