Unlocking Potential: Evaluating 4-H for Greater Success
Evaluating my Iron County 4-H programs is always important, and this year we made a big change to how we do it. We decided to match our evaluation with the overall goals of the Wisconsin 4-H program.
A few years ago, the state program started using the 4-H Thriving Model of Positive Youth Development to measure how strong our programs are. Now, we have over three years of data that shows how well the program is doing, both across the state and right here in our county.

The 4-H Thriving Model is based on three key parts that help young people grow and succeed as adults:
Finding their “Sparks”: This means helping young people explore their personal interests and passions.
Creating a sense of Belonging: We offer programs that make youth feel accepted and included.
Building strong Relationships: We emphasize connecting youth with caring adults who challenge them to grow and give them a voice.
When we build our 4-H programs on these three ideas, we help young people thrive. When youth are thriving, they:
- Are eager to try new things and take on challenges.
- Believe that hard work and effort are more important than just being “naturally good” at something.
- Have hope for the future and a sense of purpose.
- Feel connected to something bigger than themselves that gives their life meaning.
- Show positive values like respect, honesty, and empathy.
- Are able to manage their emotions in a healthy way.
- Can set and work toward goals with determination.
When youth thrive through their involvement in 4-H, they achieve key life outcomes. Youth who participate in 4-H are more likely to:
- Be motivated in school and do well academically.
- Interact with others in a positive way.
- Set high personal standards for themselves.
- Give back to their families and communities.
- Be active in their personal and community networks.
- Take personal responsibility for their own lives and for the world around them.
Iron County Summer Youth Camp, Iron County Outpost Camp, and Chopped Day Camp were all evaluated through the Thriving lens this past summer. Check out the results below, which will help us see what we did well and where we can use improvement.