Michigan 4-H Youth Development


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4-H Youth Development Michigan State University 160 Agriculture Hall East Lansing, MI 48824-1039 USA Phone: 517-432-7575 Fax: 517-355-6748 Email: msue4h@msu.edu Disclaimer & Indicia

Frequently Asked Questions About the Michigan 4-H Youth Participation Fee

Why a Fee?

Why has MSU Extension (MSUE) implemented an annual youth participation fee for 4-H?
For 100 years, Michigan 4-H has offered youth a breadth of program options that reflect both traditional areas of interest (such as livestock, crafts and food-related topics) and emerging areas of interest (such as computers and technology, communications and entrepreneurship). Declining levels of funding for MSUE from the State of Michigan and from many county governments has made it increasingly difficult to continue offering both the quality and quantity of programs Michigan’s youth expect, deserve and need from 4-H. In order to maintain the quality, depth and relevance of 4-H programming in Michigan, several options for making up the funding deficit were explored. Charging a small, annual youth participation fee emerged as the best solution.

What other funding options were explored?
MSUE looked at increased fundraising at local, county, regional and state levels; an attempt by the legislature to provide increased funding directly to 4-H; reducing expenses; and charging a “per event” participation fee, in addition to the annual youth participation fee.

Why was the annual youth participation fee chosen?
MSUE always presents a strong case to the legislature for increased funding during each budget cycle and will continue to do so. However, given Michigan’s tough financial position, we can’t place all our eggs in that basket. Increased fundraising will also be pursued at all levels, but the outcome is uncertain and inconsistent. A “per event” fee could price many events out of reach for some participants and have a negative affect on event registrations. It also unfairly places the financial burden on fewer shoulders, rather than spreading the cost out among all 4-H youth participants.

It has become very common for parents to pay fees for their kids to participate in most community and school activities. In a survey of 4-H families, nearly 70 percent said they are willing to pay at least $10 or more as an annual youth participation for 4-H, and 85 percent said they were willing to pay at least something to have their child/children participate in 4-H. Nearly two-thirds of 4-H families responding to the survey preferred a one-time annual $10 fee to increasing all 4-H event fees by 10 percent.

How was the decision made?
A statewide task force made up of 4-H staff members, volunteers and youth was created to gather as much input as possible. Input was sought in many ways, including electronic and hard-copy surveys of members and their families, volunteers, and state and county 4-H staff members. The task force analyzed the information and made a recommendation to the MSUE director in the spring of 2006.

In April 2006, one Michigan legislator proposed that $300,000 be included in the state budget, specifically to support 4-H programming. A final decision on implementing the participation fee was delayed, pending the success or failure of the proposed $300,000 in 4-H funding. The proposal for $300,000 in 4-H funding failed to make the final budget in August 2006, and the MSUE leadership made a decision later that month to proceed with implementation of an annual 4-H youth participation fee.

Michigan 4-H Youth Participation Fee Information FAQ's :