4-H Youth In Action Scholarships

The Youth in Action application is now open through April 13, 2026 at 11:59 pm PST.

All applicants and their 4‑H educators are offered access to Media, Interview, and Storytelling Training from National 4‑H professionals. Apply today for exclusive registration!

If you’d like to learn more about the program and application, please register for our info sessions:

4-H Professionals’ webinar will be hosted on January 28, 2026 at 3:00 pm ET

Youth in Action applicants or parents’ webinar will be hosted on March 4, 2026 at 7:00 pm ET

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Youth in Action Application Webinar for Educators. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

2027 Program Guidelines

About the 4-H Youth in Action Program

In 4-H, you’ve developed your passion. You’ve found your purpose. You’ve inspired others – and now you’re moving forward. Share how 4-H propelled you to change your community and you could earn a $5,000 scholarship and the chance to serve as aspokesperson for National 4-H Council!

The 4-H Youth in Action program amplifies the stories and leadership of 4-H youth who are making a difference in their communities every day. It is a premiere community of 4-H’ers who are preparing for their future while showcasing how 4-H changed their lives and equipped them to change the lives of others.

Awards & Recognition

All Youth in Action Program applicants will receive:

Media, interview, and storytelling training from National 4-H professionals.

Admission into our national 4-H story database, providing potential national multi-media and spokesperson opportunities.

Four Award Winners will receive:

• A $5,000 scholarship for higher education, to be paid directly to the institution, including two-year and four-year colleges, trade schools or other advanced learning opportunities.
• A year of personalized professional and media development, training, and networking opportunities and national opportunities to serve as a spokesperson and key thought leader.
• All expenses paid trips for each award winner & a chaperone to travel as the national youth spokesperson.
• An official reference letter from a National 4-H Council leader for educational or career purposes.

Awardees agree to comply with the requirements on the application and the Award Winner agreement sent by

National 4-H Council at the time of selection.

Selection Process

The 4-H Youth in Action Award selection process includes the following:

1. Online Application: Complete and submit the application found at 4-H.org/YouthInAction. Applications will open on January 5th and should be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. PST on Monday, April 13th. You will receive a confirmation email when your completed application is received. Incomplete applications will not receive a confirmation and will not be reviewed. If you are unsure of your status, contact National 4-H Council at YouthinAction@4-H.org.

2. Finalist Selection & Virtual Interview: National 4-H Council will review all applications and select finalists for the scholarship program. Those not selected will receive an email indicating their status. Finalists will be required to participate in a virtual 1:1 interview conducted in May.

3. Award Winner Selection: Finalists will be reviewed by a selection committee and will be notified of their status by National 4-H Council in August. Finalists who are not named Scholarship Winners will be recognized by National 4-H Council on the 4-H Youth in Action website and social media. These Finalists will also serve as key storytellers for national multimedia opportunities throughout the program year.

Scores and/or comments concerning individual applications will not be released.

Short Answer Questions

Respond to short-answer questions regarding your 4-H story and leadership. Your story should highlight a description of experiences, not merely a list of accomplishments. Your work should provide benefit to others & require significant leadership. Each question includes sub-questions you may choose to answer to aid you in your responses.

1. Describe how 4-H impacted you. (max: 2500 characters)

How did 4-H change or improve your life? What have you learned about yourself? Has your 4-H experience helped you overcome something challenging in your life? Did 4- H help you define your interests/passions or gain any skills? Great submissions will provide clear examples of how 4-H has impacted you!

2. Describe a project, program, 4-H activity, or series of activities in which you demonstrated leadership. Detail how your leadership has improved or impacted your community. (max: 4000 characters)

What motivated you to be a leader? What was your leadership role? When & where did your work occur? Is it ongoing? What steps did you take in your work? Did teamwork play a role? What or who benefitted from your leadership? What are the long-term effects of your work? Great submissions will provide clear examples of your leadership in the project!

60-Second Video

Provide a link to a 60-second video answering the following prompt:

4-H exists to equip kids with essential life skills, confidence, and a deep sense of belonging through epic hands-on learning experiences. Give us an example of a skill that 4-H has given you that will help you in your future career.

Your video should:

• Be 60 seconds or less and feature only you speaking (no other speakers or visuals).
• Be recorded with a simple recording device/smart phone. No special equipment or editing, please.
• Be uploaded to YouTube & be viewable by anyone with the link.

Photos

Upload three individual photos. Two should demonstrate your leadership and one should be a headshot. Photo montages will not be reviewed. File formats accepted include JPG, GIF, or PNG.

Questions?

We’re glad you’re interested in applying for the 4-H Youth in Action Awards! We know that the application process is extensive, and you may have questions. Please use the following contacts:

General Award Questions: contact YouthInAction@4H.org

Online Submission Issues: contact webadmin@4-H.org

We look forward to seeing your 4-H Youth in Action submission by Monday, April 13, 2026!