Vision 2045 | MU Extension

4-H Beyond Ready: Having the Most Fun, Doing the Most Good

Throughout his Extension career, Missouri 4-H Senior Program Director Dr. Tim Tanner has observed one common thread in successful 4-H programs: People want to be part of something good. But good does not happen by accident, it requires shared vision to be met with daily action.

So, early in 2026, he travelled throughout the state to discuss a shared future for the Missouri 4-H program. Through these 17 listening sessions, a durable yet flexible vision was co-designed to meet the needs of the next generation of 4-Hers and our state. Youth voice was given top priority.

The result? Vision 2045’s four key action features are summarized below:

Growth Mindset

Improve our outlook and operations so that we impact 2.5x more youth in the next 4-H generation (by 2045).

Durable Skills

While others chase shiny objects, we help youth build the durable readiness skills that prepare them for work and life.

Service & Fun

Reverse the youth mental health crisis by enhancing service-learning opportunities, in-person social experiences, and connections to the outdoors.

Thrive Here

Improve the vitality of Missouri farms, towns, and neighborhoods so 4-Hers can see themselves as part of their community’s long-term future.

Stated simply: Stronger youth, stronger communities! Just like the 4-H pledge and in honor of our founding purpose, this shared vision strikes a balance between personal and community value. It also addresses current youth needs at the root level—which takes time and intention (see the Solving the Roots menu below).

More information about each action item is available by clicking on the icons below. You can also listen to the May 2026 4-H Volunteer Vibe podcast which shares important insights.

Growth Mindset

Durable Skills

Service & Fun

Thrive Here

Solving the Roots

Decades of research demonstrate that active 4-H participants have better outcomes than their peers. 4-H helps them navigate the long-common youth issues such as peer pressure, bullying, expectations to perform, and immature decision-making. We achieve these results in 4-H not by attacking symptoms, but by strengthening roots. That is, we build durable skills in young people that help them prepare for life and work.

But that is no longer enough. Today’s landscape is particularly hard for our youth as recent surveys suggest they face three heavy challenges:

Feelings of isolation/loneliness, purposelessness, or lack of daily utility.

Potential 4-H Solutions

Events/activities specifically designed for social connection/fun
Increased connections to the outdoors
Summer camps
Intentional fun and connection during club meetings
Continue interest-led, project-based learning with quality mentors

Dimming perceptions of college access and long-term job prospects, general outmigration trends from rural Missouri, and fears of democratic instability in the U.S.

Potential 4-H Solutions

Tailored apprenticeships with succession planning opportunities
Thrive Here entrepreneur & farm mentoring programs
College access partnerships
Durable skill building efforts
Enhanced community and service-learning connections
More youth-led civic engagement opportunities

Worry about becoming obsolete due to AI as well as ubiquitous brain “re-wiring” addictions (e.g., time spent on devices, online dating, gaming, sports betting).

Potential 4-H Solutions

Trainings in responsible use of technology/AI literacy
upport for phone free school zones
Skill building for positive social media communications
Research and partner to “move the summer break” so youth can enjoy the outdoors in better weather
Continued emphasis on hands-on, in-person learning opportunities

These are heavy, inter-related topics and youth see through thin messages of “this too shall pass.” They are highly aware that this era is different and they are facing it with eyes wide open. They need 4-H to be at its best.

So, as you browse the Vision 2045 pages, keep these three challenges in mind. Though we also have some regular 4-H items to address, responding actively to the three items above are the true North Star for Vision 2045. We will help youth connect, serve, and see a bright future for themselves, their communities, their country, and their world.

Thank you for building some roots with us. Our youth are worth it!

Growth Mindset

Improve our outlook and operations so that we impact 2.5x more youth in the next 4-H generation (by 2045).

The Growth Mindset action item is sustained by five supporting goals:

First-timer friendly

Design and communicate all 4-H systems through a first-time participant’s lens.

Grow with purpose

Adopt and publish clear growth goals and benchmarks.

Improve operations

Develop basic structures—budget, staff, training—with growth in mind.

Reduce barriers

Reduce the participation barriers that are within our control.

Tell the 4-H story

Collect valued impact data and continue telling inspiring 4-H stories.

Guide to Seasonal 4-H Clubs
4-H Family and Friends E-newsletter

2026, September—The Seasonal 4-H Club Task Force published a handy guide [link when available] for counties wishing to start this novel approach to making 4-H more doable for older youth participants.
2026, September—The All the Little Things Task Force published an internal guide for 4-H staff sharing the simple tips and tricks that improve county 4-H operations and service.
2026, September—Missouri 4-H published its 4-H Policies and Procedures Manual on the website [link when available] so 4-H families know what to expect, including the all new 4-H Culture and Community Standards. This also included a newly defined “self travel” option for youth attending certain national events, so that costs are reduced and opportunity maximized.
2026, July—MU Extension met the 4-H unit’s budgetary request to allow for increased 4-H personnel across the state. In total, we will add five regional 4-H youth specialists and up to 15 additional county 4-H youth program associates (YPA) positions this fiscal year.
2026, May—Deployed a standardized onboarding system for new 4-H employees.
2026, March—To improve travel efficiencies for youth participating in both contests, the state 4-H Poultry and Rabbit Weekend became a combined event.
2026, February—Dr. Tanner shared a white paper entitled “Staffing Blueprint for 4-H Growth: U.S. and Territories Edition” at the National 4-H Leaders Meeting in San Antonio, TX. This was also used to develop the Missouri report that set our growth benchmarks.

Durable Skills

While others chase shiny objects, we help youth build the durable readiness skills that prepare them for work and life.

The Durable Skills action item is sustained by five supporting goals:

Youth voice

Move youth voice and leadership to the frontlines.

Multi-tool futures

Design our programming so youth develop resilient, multi-tool futures.

"All of the above" pathways

Strengthen youth-to-college and career connections.

High honors

Celebrate youth achievement and mastery.

Research for good

Use contemporary research and reverse engineering to strengthen Missouri 4-H programming

$-H Mizzou Ready

2026, August— President Choi announced the 4-H Mizzou Ready partnership which provides a special, direct admissions pathway to high-achieving Missouri 4-Hers who plan to attend the University of Missouri as college students.

Thrive Here

Improve the vitality of Missouri farms, towns, and neighborhoods so 4-Hers can see themselves as part of their community’s long-term future.

The Thrive Here action item is the boldest and longest-term of them all. It is truly aspirational. We may not get it all done, but our youth and state are worthy of the pursuit! At present, there are four community leverage points we think 4-H can help move forward:

Clover Apprentice Network

Existing apprenticeship opportunities available in the state are clustered among the more well-off economic zones. The Clover Apprentice Network will be more focused on the counties that need intentional succession planning, so they do not lose their farmers, small business owners, and other critical local jobs that are essential for a thriving community. There may also be a civic leadership aspect to this one for critical volunteer roles like commissioner, township trustee, first responder, etc.

Fairs as Bestivals

At their best, county fairs are a true community-wide showcase of hard work, talent, and creativity. 4-H will help our fairboard and civic partners to re-establish county fairs as the best festival (bestival!) in each partner county.

Seasonal 4-H Clubs

Seasonal 4-H clubs are a new approach to an old problem—older youth sometimes leave 4-H because they are either a) too busy with jobs and extracurriculars or b) lacking challenge. This new seasonal club option is compressed into one season (usually 8-12 weeks) and focuses on four main components that youth enjoy: service learning, in-person socials/recreation together, personal project development, and career path discovery, such as through local small business tours.

Thrive Towns

What features does a town (and surrounding area) need in order to keep its youth happy and attractive to young adults deciding where they will live? Obviously, jobs and housing are key factors, but there is more to it than that. Many of the “placemaking” features (e.g., civic, recreation, cultural) can be improved with good thinking and partnerships. In many communities 4-H can play an outsized role in this space. Missouri 4-H wants every county in the state to have at least one Thrive Town, and preferably two. Can we do it? Stay tuned.

Missouri Apprentice Network—we hope to one day have the Clover Apprentice Network become the Level 2 version of this existing State of Missouri resource.
Civic Muscle Index—a helpful tool provided by MU Extension that will assist measuring our future Thrive Town pursuits.
Guide to Seasonal 4-H Clubs

Will be added as items are completed.

Service and Fun

Reverse the youth mental health crisis by enhancing service-learning opportunities, in-person social experiences, and connections to the outdoors.

The Service & Fun action item is sustained by three supporting goals:

In-person fun

Youth will view Missouri 4-H as the convener of fun, in-person social experiences.

Service learning

The public will view Missouri 4-Hers as the youth committed to service learning.

Missouri recreation

Grow lifelong interests in Missouri-focused recreation, hobbies, and staycations.

Missouri 4-H Alumni Network
Fun-ify Guide

2026, September—The Fun-ify Task Force deployed a resource of over 100 ways to add fun to local 4-H clubs and gatherings.
2026, August—The Missouri 4-H Foundation initiated the all-new Alumni Network to build connections among 4-H alums. This will eventually offer alumni social gatherings
2026, April—The 4-H Camping Task Force deployed new staff and counselor guides to improve program quality and safety at our local camps. Camps are one of the top in-person social experiences in the 4-H calendar.