Meet Karen Bogdanowicz, a community based instructor with University of Nevada, Reno Extension. Karen leads Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program in Churchill County. It’s a job that she’s passionate about and that makes a difference in her community.

“I’m second-generation 4-H,” Karen said. “My dad showed steers, and so 4-H is very important to me. I love that it’s also very important in our community. Churchill County is passionate about 4-H, they love 4-H, and I’m grateful for that because I too love 4-H.”

Through clubs, in- and afterschool activities, and summer camps, 4-H provides youth ages 5 to 19 with hands-on learning experiences, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to explore STEAM disciplines in fun and interactive ways.

Under Karen’s leadership, Extension now offers over 30 4-H Clubs in Churchill County on topics ranging from pets and livestock to arts, crafts and sign language.

“The club that scares me the most,” Karen said, “is the Herpetology Club. I’m not a fan of snakes.”

Karen said youth in her local 4-H Clubs have gone on to become county commissioners and hold other important leadership roles in the community. This isn’t uncommon for 4-H youth. A 10-year study by Tufts University shows that 4-Hers are four times more likely to give back to their communities and two times more likely to be civically active.

“I always tell our volunteers that they don’t know the positive impact they will have on a child’s life,” Karen said.

An example from her own life illustrates this point.

“I’ve always been very grateful to my 4-H Horse Club leader, for not only teaching me professional horse skills, but also encouraging me to try things outside of the arena,” Karen said. “That helped me a tremendous amount with self-confidence, my ability to speak in front of audiences and a whole host of other things. To this day, she is still someone that, when I go home, I always go and talk to. She’s been an important part of my life.”

About 45 people volunteer with Karen, doing for local 4-H youth what Karen’s 4-H leader did for her.

“As volunteers,” she said, “they need to know that they are important. 4-H plays a big important role in my life and continues to be an important role in the lives of kids here in Churchill County.”

Extension is a unit of the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources engaged in Nevada communities, presenting research-based knowledge to address critical community needs. It is a county-state-federal partnership providing practical education to people, businesses and communities. To learn more, visit Extension's website.