Reconnecting Youth with Agriculture: The Impact of 4-H Ag-Venture Day
Reconnecting Youth with Agriculture: The Impact of 4-H Ag-Venture Day
Melissa Bright, Somerset County 4-H Agent, Rutgers University
The 4-H Ag-Venture Day program is a hands-on educational initiative designed to reconnect youth with agriculture and foster a deeper appreciation for local food systems, animal science, and environmental stewardship. Aimed at youth in grades 1 through 6, the program provides interactive, immersive learning experiences through agriculture-themed workshops and farm tours, helping young participants explore the origins of their food and the importance of farming in their communities.
Once an agricultural hub, Somerset County has become increasingly suburban, leading to reduced public awareness of farming. Although 452 farms still operate across 35,862 acres, many youth lack direct exposure to agriculture—a gap widened by the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on hands-on 4-H programs. In response, Ag-Venture Day was created to address this need through a community-driven initiative.
Launched in February 2023, 4-H Ag-Venture Day brings youth face-to-face with agriculture through engaging, age-appropriate activities. Workshops such as CowaBunga, Alpacas in Agriculture, The Worm Workshop, and You’ve Goat to Be Kidding Me give participants hands-on experiences with live animals and agricultural practices.
Objectives include:
Youth will understand sustainable farming and land stewardship.
Educate youth on food supply chain and farm-to-table concepts.
Introduce youth to animal health as it relates to farming.
Teach youth the importance of strengthing community support for local farms.
Now held twice a year, the program thrives through support from Rutgers faculty, 4-H clubs, local farms, and county departments. Staff, volunteers, and teen Agriculture Ambassadors help lead workshops and farm visits.
The Spring Break 2025 edition of Ag-Venture Day, held April 14–17, welcomed 31 youth across 8 workshops and 4 farm tours. Workshops included aquaculture, farm safety, dogs in agriculture, small animal science, arts, botanical dyeing, mozzarella making, and equine science. Youth toured Abma Farms, Duke Farms, Swallow Hill Alpaca Farm, and Carnevale Farms—all located in Somerset County, NJ. Since 2023, 148 youth and 45 volunteers have participated. Youth participants completed a post-evaluation based on a Likert scale (1–Strongly Disagree to 5–Strongly Agree).
The results are as follows (n=137):
100% learned something new about agriculture or animal science because of Ag-Venture Day
100% learned something new about the 4-H Program
89% plan to use what they learned in the future
81% learned more about the farm-to-table process
80% understand more about animal health
76% learned where our food comes from
Sixteen teen Agriculture Ambassadors served as counselors annually and completed a post-evaluation based on a Likert scale (1–Strongly Disagree to 5–Strongly Agree). The results are as follows (n=16):
100% have strong self-belief and maintain a positive self-view
100% initiate independent programs
76% communicate effectively in a group and with youth
68% inspire enthusiasm and foster belonging
64% adapt to changing situations and teach effectively
59% manage personal feelings and prioritize others' needs
59% adapt well to different personalities
45% take full responsibility and supervise youth
20% find peaceful conflict resolutions and embrace diversity
Innovative teaching strategies have been central to Ag-Venture Day’s success. The program uses:
Needs assessments to tailor content.
Stakeholder engagement to align with community goals.
Pilot testing and feedback to refine workshops.
Educational kits, agricultural tools, and diverse curricula for various age groups.
In addition to on-site learning, technology supports registration, outreach, and communication, ensuring accessibility and continued engagement.
Looking ahead, 4-H Ag-Venture Day will continue to evolve. A youth-as-partner model is being implemented to deepen leadership opportunities and ensure content remains engaging and relevant. The next iteration is scheduled for November 6–7, 2025, featuring new workshops focused on agricultural innovation and sustainable practices.
Through its comprehensive, experiential curriculum, Ag-Venture Day not only cultivates agricultural literacy but also inspires a new generation to value and support farming, environmental stewardship, and local food systems. The program stands as a model for community engagement, youth empowerment, and sustainable education in agriculture.