About

For more than a century, 4-H has helped New Mexico youth learn by doing. Through NM State University's Cooperative Extension Service, young people in every county explore projects they care about, from raising livestock to building robots, and grow into confident, capable leaders with caring adult volunteers beside them.

What is 4-H?

Learn by Doing

4-H is a hands-on education program for young people ages 5 to 19. Members choose projects, set goals and see them through, building leadership, communication, responsibility and decision-making skills along the way.

4-H is part of the nation's land-grant university system. In New Mexico, it is delivered by NMSU's Cooperative Extension Service through County Extension offices statewide.

¿Por qué 4-H? Video en Español

4-H by the Numbers

33
COUNTIES
4-H is offered in every New Mexico county
5–19
AGES
Programs for young people ages 5 through 19
200+
PROJECTS
From livestock and robotics to cooking and public speaking
125,400
VOLUNTEER HOURS
Given by New Mexico 4-H volunteers each year

Nationwide, 4-H is the largest youth development organization in the United States, reaching nearly 6 million young people with the help of nearly 500,000 volunteers, 3,500 professionals and more than 110 land-grant universities.

What 4-H Builds

Head

Clearer Thinking

Members learn how to think, not what to think, by setting goals, solving problems and making decisions.

Heart

Greater Loyalty

Lasting values such as honesty and integrity, and the confidence that comes from caring adults who believe in them.

Hands

Larger Service

Real work experience, community service and the satisfaction of finishing something they are proud of.

Health

Better Living

Healthy habits, positive friendships and a safe place to belong.

Ways to Take Part

Community Clubs

Year-round clubs led by adult volunteers, where members work on projects together and learn to run meetings.

Special Interest Groups

Short-term groups focused on one topic, such as shooting sports, robotics or photography.

School Enrichment

4-H curriculum brought into the classroom with teachers and County Extension staff.

Project Schools and Camps

Hands-on schools for horse, lamb, goat, swine and steer projects, plus sewing and summer camps.

Leadership

Club offices, county and state officer teams, and ambassador roles.

Events and Scholarships

County, state and national contests, the New Mexico State Fair, and scholarships for 4-H members.

Explore all projects at 4hprojects.nmsu.edu.

4-H in New Mexico

More Than 110 Years
1912
An agricultural train run by the Santa Fe Railway and the college that is now NMSU leads to New Mexico's first organized boys' and girls' club work.
1913
A second train, with the El Paso and Southwestern Railway, helps organize clubs in eastern New Mexico.
1914
The Smith-Lever Act creates the Cooperative Extension Service, and club work across the state grows.
1918
Statewide enrollment reaches 4,181 members.
1921
Clubs promote better livestock and disease-free seed.
1924
Training meetings for local volunteer leaders begin, a tradition that continues today.
1930–31
Terracing contests draw statewide interest in controlling soil erosion.
Today
New Mexico 4-H serves rural, suburban and urban communities in every county, with projects in agriculture, science, creative arts, health and communications.

The 4-H Pledge

I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

Ready to Join 4-H?

Find a club through your County Extension Office and they will assist you with enrollment.

How to Join Enroll Online