Tennessee 4-H’ers Have the Opportunity to Get College Credit for Project Work

In partnership with: Tennessee Department of Agriculture

All the hard work that goes into a 4-H project comes with an even bigger reward, thanks to a one-of-a-kind 4-H for Credit Program. A new initiative launched in 2022 enables Tennessee 4-H members to receive college credit for their projects, allowing them to get a head start on their dreams. “We are excited about this opportunity for our youth, and we are the first in the country to have this program for 4-H’ers,” says Ashley Stokes, University of Tennessee (UT) Extension dean.

Launching at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, the 4-H for Credit Program is the first to award members college credit based on their project portfolio. Throughout their 4-H careers, members track project work and achievements in an electronic record book known as a portfolio. Those portfolios can be entered in competitions at Academic Conference, Tennessee 4-H Congress, and Roundup and All Star Conference.

“As our senior youth complete their project portfolio, they can gain college credit for specific courses at UT as long as they have reached a benchmark set by our academic departmental faculty,” Stokes says.

The groundbreaking program is another way to reward the work completed by members.

Record Book Requirements

“Leaders with the state 4-H program and UT Extension came up with the idea to reward mastery with college credit,” says Hadley Brown, Tennessee State 4-H Council president. “Each competition portfolio is scored with points, so once a student reaches the minimum number of points that is considered mastery,

they will be eligible to receive college credit.”

4-H’ers can earn those points by competing within the 29 project areas at Congress and Roundup. Alex Carpenter, the State 4-H Council vice president, is focused on public speaking and communications.

“I use my project area to spread the word about the wonderful opportunities available through 4-H in my county and state,” Carpenter says.

See more: Tennessee 4-H Gives Youth Life Skills Beyond the Barn

The senior-level students in the organization attend and compete through interviews at Roundup and All Star Conference each July.

“All 4-H’ers hope to one day win the level two project area and to then be invited to represent Tennessee at National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia,” Carpenter says.

Win-Win

Brown completed her project work before the 4-H for Credit program was in place, but she remains a supporter of the program for 4-H’ers in the future.

“Though I may not reap the benefit, my younger friends will,” Brown says. “In agriculture, we share our successes and failures. This is a win for all of Tennessee 4-H.”

Carpenter is, however, one of the students who will be considered by the Herbert College of Agriculture for credit hours.

“My 4-H agent notified me when this program started that my portfolio may qualify for up to two hours of college credit in the communications department at Knoxville,” Carpenter says. “This next year, I will be perfecting and adding to my portfolio trying to win my project area. This new program is monumental because members who aren’t majoring in an agricultural field are still considered for the credit.”

Endless Possibilities

While UT Extension has many scholarship opportunities to reward the hard work 4-H’ers put in throughout their career, Stokes says this one is special, and they are glad to be the first to host it.

“We hope to make the entry into college easier while also giving them credit for such outstanding work on their 4-H project and portfolio,” Stokes says.

The new program opens doors for students beginning and nearing the end of their 4-H careers.

See more: Tennessee 4-H: Giving Youth a Firm Foundation

“This change has shown me that 4-H is led by people who want to see the advancement of youth and attempt to do all in their power to see they have the best chance at success,” Carpenter says.

UT Extension plans to continue to grow the program in the future by adding more projects, academic departments and possibly even more UT campuses.

“This change and plan for the future makes it obvious that Tennessee 4-H’ers have a dream team advocating on their behalf,” Brown says. “There are endless possibilities for what will be accomplished next.”