About Us
Through the 2002 Farm Bill and subsequent legislation the United States Congress established the Rural Youth Development program to assist 4-H, FFA, and Girl Scouts in expanding and strengthening their work in rural America. These organizations increase leadership, citizenship, and life skills in young people and the adults who work with them. They also significantly impact citizens--and the communities in which they live--through the action projects that are implemented. The national logic model provides a thumbnail sketch of this program and expected outcomes.
Although the three organizations have slightly different program strategies, they all identify complex, long-term community issues—or needs--to address. Then they develop, implement and evaluate projects to address those needs.
In this process, they are all working to build “capital” in rural communities across America. Improvements (or building capital) can be divided into seven different areas that are vital for strong communities: Human, Social, Civic/Political, Cultural, Built, Financial, and Natural.
4-H
Youth and adults form strong, action oriented, partnerships through the 4-H “Engaging Youth, Serving Communities” (EYSC) Rural Youth Development program. Teams of youth and adults are trained in how to conduct public forums using a deliberative dialogue process. The forums, which involve a broad array of community stakeholders, involve active listening (deliberative dialogue) to reveal personal values related to community issues. This provides a structure to weigh various options, not debate them.
The goals of the community forums are to identify and prioritize community needs and seek “buy-in” from key community stakeholders. Once the needs are identified and prioritized, teams of youth and adults create, implement, and evaluate community action plans to address the issues.
Get more information on the 4-H “Engaging Youth Serving Community” program or learn how to join 4-H in your community.
Girl Scouts of the United States of America
Through "Challenge and Change: Challenge Yourself, Change the World" (C&C), a curriculum specifically designed for the Rural Youth Development prorgram, girls in grades 9-12 are learning a new way to lead...called social entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurs address social problems using strategies fround in the business world. They measure success by social profit - doing good - rather then financial gain.
Girls participate in an intensive training session. Then, through hands on experiences and working in partnership with adults, they identify local problems, design long-term solutions, and lead community action teams to solve the problem.
Get more information on the Girl Scout “Challenge & Change” program. Learn how to join Girl Scouts or become a Girl Scouts Volunteer.
National FFA Organization
FFA supports the civic engagement of youth through the Rural Youth Development program, “Living to Serve: Developing a Habit of the Heart.” Civic engagement begins with the student partnering with adults in a service learning project. Service learning provides a mechanism to connect classroom learning to real life experiences.
Through curriculum and training specifically designed for this program, young people learn how to identify community issues and assets, develop action plans, and implement projects that impact broad, community issues. This “hands-on” approach connects young people to their communities and gives them a sense of belonging and purpose.
Get more information on the FFA “Living to Serve” program or learn how to join a local FFA chapter.
Annual Report
We invite you to view our 2010 Annual Report to learn more about how the Rural Youth Development grant program is impacting rural communities across America.