August 16, 2024
Kansas 4-H Project Partnership Teams
For over a century Kansas 4-H has been deeply rooted in volunteer and teen leader involvement. Throughout the years, we have had various groups and committees, working across the 4-H project areas to deliver programmatic opportunities, make recommendations for project advancement, and the list goes on. These teams have played an integral role. As we get ready to begin the new 4-H year in a few weeks, it is time for us to recruit members for the 2025 year for our 4-H Project Partnership Teams (introduced in 2024).
What are the Kansas 4-H Project Partnership Teams? Kansas 4-H Project Partnership Teams (PPT) serve to bring youth, volunteers, and K-State Research and Extension professionals together to:
- Enhance learning through project pathways,
- Provide leadership in the development of a project subject matter,
- Review, recommend, and provide professional development opportunities for KSRE professionals and volunteers on curriculum and other resources, and
- Provide leadership in planning and conducting one or more state educational experiences.
The Kansas 4-H Project Partnership Teams assure grassroots involvement, provides leadership opportunities, and creates a group of informed, motivated individuals across the state. Project Partnership Teams may either be ongoing or convened for a specific time to design and implement a specific program or initiative.
The role of the Program Partnership Team is to provide guidance, and leadership in the development of a project subject matter or program including conducting and managing major state events or educational experiences of the Kansas 4-H program. Areas of responsibility are to be outlined for each team by the 4-H Specialist with the approval of the Kansas 4-H Youth Development Program Leader. Final accountability for accepting team recommendations and implementing Kansas 4-H programs rests with the designated 4-H Specialist(s) and the Kansas 4-H State Program Leader.
The Kansas 4-H Project Partnership Teams are:
- Animal Science
- Communication & Expressive Arts
- Consumer & Family Science
- Discovery Days**
- Engineering & Technology
- Leadership & Personal Development
- Natural Resources
- Plant & Environmental Sciences*
* This will be a 4-H Project Partnership Team that will be coming in the future.
** Discovery Days also needs a team to help deliver this educational experience, and it will follow the same application process as the Project Partnership Teams and be considered as such.
When you look at the Kansas 4-H Project list, there are several projects that fall under each Kansas 4-H Project Partnership Team. We need individuals with interests in all of these areas to serve on each team. We really want to have a diverse group of teens, adult volunteers, and Extension Professionals to serve on the 4-H Project Partnership Teams.
This also means that a sub-committee of additional youth, volunteers (need to be screened and appointed by their local Extension unit), and Extension professionals may be needed to carry out an educational experience. These individuals do not need to be a member of the project partnership team to help plan, conduct, and manage the educational experiences. In fact, it is encouraged to recruit additional help on special projects to assist the Program Partnership Team, as needed. These individuals would serve as a non-voting member and would help carry out the educational experience(s) as outlined by the Project Partnership Team. At least two Project Partnership Team members will serve on any sub-committee.
Details for the application of membership:
- Prospective Program Partnership Team members must apply for membership.
- As terms end, those who wish to renew will complete a renewal application.
- The application deadline is September 16. Applications are processed and reviewed by the 4-H Specialist and the chair or an adult representative of the 4-H Program Partnership Team. Final appointment will be made by the 4-H Specialist in cooperation with the State 4-H Program Leader or designee. Notification of appointment will be communicated by the 4-H Specialist.
- Extension Professionals will have to have their Regional Director approve their application. The application will automatically be sent to the Regional Director after it has been submitted for approval.
- An annual Project Partnership Team Summit will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Rock Springs 4-H Ranch. All appointed members are expected to be in attendance.
For more information on the Kansas 4-H Project Partnership Teams, please go to the website where you will find additional details, the link to the application, and the role description.