4-H Youth Development
4-H Youth Development
4-H is a youth organization committed to building outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today’s global society. 4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults.
What is 4-H?
4-H Youth Development is part of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. Kentucky 4-H believes in providing positive youth development experiences that allow all youth to experience belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity.
The four H's represent the idea of Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. These are the values members work on through fun and engaging programs.
Head Managing, Thinking
Heart Relating, Caring
Hands Giving, Working
Health Being, Living
McCreary County Program Offerings
Cloverbuds Club is for youth ages 5-8 and their parent/guardian. We learn and explore new and fun things through age-appropriate lessons and “learn by doing”.
Cloverbuds prepares youth for entry into 4-H.
Meetings are held twice per month at the McCreary County Extension Office. For more information, contact Ashley Moore, 4-H Program Assistant.
Email: Ashley.moore@uky.edu
Phone: 606-376-2524
Woodchucks is a beginner woodworking club for youth ages 9-18. Activities include building and finishing woodworking projects with basic tools. Woodchucks is a prerequisite to 4-H Carpenters. Parent/guardian must be present at all meetings for safety reasons.
4-H Carpenters is an intermediate woodworking club for youth ages 9-18 who have completed the Woodchucks program. Activities include building and finishing woodworking projects with advanced tools. Parent/guardian must be present at all meetings for safety reasons.
For more information, contact Ashley Moore, 4-H Program Assistant.
Email: Ashley.moore@uky.edu
Phone: 606-376-2524
Signups for 2026 open now!
$75 for 4-H (age 9-18, scholarships available)
$55 for Cloverbuds (age 5-8)
Signup deadline is Friday, December 5th, 2025.
Paperwork needed: Enrollment form (all ages), Ham Contract (age 9-18)
Submit completed paperwork and payment to the McCreary County Extension Office. Cash or check only.
The 4-H Country Ham Project is a statewide program for youth ages 9-18 that teaches the traditional skill of curing a Kentucky country ham.
4-H participants receive two raw hams in January to cure in their county's ham house for several months, culminating at the Kentucky State Fair where they give a speech and select one ham to be judged. The project promotes a culinary and historical tradition of Kentucky.
Cloverbuds are permitted to cure a country ham at the county level, but may not compete at the state level. These can be entered in the Cloverbuds division at the county fair. Cloverbuds will receive one ham to cure.
Contact Tracie Goodman, ANR/4-H Agent, for more information.
Email: tracie.goodman@uky.edu
Phone: 606-376-2524
The Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports program provides youth ages 9-18 with comprehensive firearms education, recreational pursuits, and healthy competition. Through this program, young people develop life skills like teamwork, self-confidence, personal discipline, responsibility, and decision-making.
McCreary County 4-H Shooting Sports offers .22 rifle and archery disciplines led by certified instructors.
New signups begin in February 2026. Contact Tracie Goodman, ANR/4-H Agent, for more information.
Email: Tracie.goodman@uky.edu
Phone: 606-376-2524
The McCreary Jr. Cattlemen's Association is a pathway for youth to transition into the McCreary Cattlemen's Association. Youth do NOT have to own cattle to join! Meetings include educational activities, field trips, and contests.
Yearly dues are $10, which covers membership in the Kentucky Jr. Cattlemen's Association.
Local youth ages 9-18 welcome to join!
Meetings follow the McCreary Cattlemen's Association schedule- second Tuesday of each month at 6pm. Any changes are communicated via text group.
For more information, contact Tracie Goodman, ANR/4-H Agent.
Email: Tracie.goodman@uky.edu
Phone: tracie.goodman@uky.edu
4-H Camp provides a place for youth to explore their interests and passions (sparks), surrounded by Kentucky’s beautiful natural resources. The county 4-H agents, adult and teen volunteer leaders, and camp staff are committed to helping your camper engage in new adventures while making new friends.
2026 Camp Dates: June 16th-19th
McCreary County camps at Lake Cumberland 4-H Camp in Nancy, Ky. Signups begin in early March.
For more information, contact Tracie Goodman, ANR/4-H Agent.
Email: tracie.goodman@uky.edu
Phone: 606-376-2524
Newsletters
It's Enrollment Time!
Enrollment allows you to participate in any county, area, or state 4-H program during the 4-H program year. You may download the form and submit it to our office, or pick up a paper copy.
Any young person ages 9 through 18 may be involved in Kentucky 4-H. What is your 4-H age?
Tracie Goodman
Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources
(606) 376-2524 tracie.goodman@uky.edu McCreary County Extension Office 141 College Street, Whitley City, Kentucky 42653-0278Ashley Moore
Extension Assistant, 4-H Youth Development
(606) 376-2524 ashley.moore@uky.edu McCreary County Extension Office 141 College Street, Whitley City, Kentucky 42653-0278Amy Singleton
Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Family and Consumer Science
(606) 376-2524 amy.singleton@uky.edu McCreary County Extension Office 141 College Street, Whitley City, Kentucky 42653-0278