Apple and 4-H: Empowering a New Generation with Technology
August 21, 2024
UPDATE
Apple and 4-H Unite to Introduce Technology to the Next Generation
When you think of 4-H, you might picture teenagers involved in agricultural tasks, such as raising animals or mastering culinary and sewing skills. While these traditional activities remain integral to 4-H, the organization has significantly evolved over the years, embracing modern technology to support and educate young people across the United States for more than a century.
At the Franklin County Fair in Columbus, Ohio, 4-H members showcased livestock and displayed handmade quilts. However, a closer look revealed something new and innovative. Outside a 4-H mobile classroom bus parked near the fair’s midway, children were seen using iPads to drive Sphero robots. Inside, they were coding with Apple’s Swift and composing music using GarageBand.
In a nearby barn, 15-year-old Calum Williams was preparing to show one of his ducks by reviewing notes on his iPad.
“I like how 4-H is very inclusive,” said Williams. “Even if you’re not interested in livestock, sewing, or cooking—things 4-H is traditionally known for—there are many other activities that involve technology, like STEM projects. 4-H has evolved a lot and continues to change.”
Expanding Horizons: From Agriculture to Technology
4-H is the largest youth development organization in the United States, reaching over 6 million young people annually across every county and parish. It is directly tied to land-grant universities established in the late 19th century to increase access to higher education, particularly in agricultural and engineering fields.
In recent years, 4-H has expanded its focus to include greater access to technology, thanks in part to support from Apple and its Community Education Initiative (CEI). Since its launch in 2019, CEI has offered coding, creativity, and career opportunities to tens of thousands of students in 99 countries and regions and across all 50 states, with an emphasis on communities traditionally underrepresented in technology. CEI is part of Apple’s broader commitment to education and educational equity, a dedication that has spanned over four decades.
Apple’s efforts to bring cutting-edge technology to one of America’s most cherished community programs began in Ohio in collaboration with The Ohio State University. Apple provided hardware, financial support, scholarships, educator resources, and access to Apple experts. This initial partnership has grown significantly. Between 2019 and spring 2024, Apple-supported 4-H programs reached thousands of educators and over 90,000 young people across Ohio, New Jersey, Michigan, and Florida. The initiative also extended to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). By the end of this summer, nearly 8,000 more students will have been introduced to the program, with expansions into Illinois, Kentucky, and Idaho. North Carolina is set to begin programming this fall in collaboration with North Carolina State University.
Hands-On Learning: The 4-H Mobile Classroom
Jobie Thinthapthai, a 12-year-old who has been part of 4-H for four years, recently experienced the 4-H mobile classroom bus at the Franklin County Fair. In addition to showing the pig and rabbit she raised, Thinthapthai explored the bus, which is outfitted with iPad stations for activities like robotics, coding, music composition, and art.
“It was really cool, and I especially liked working with the robots and drawing on the iPad,” said Thinthapthai, who aspires to be a doctor. “Medicine is constantly advancing with technology, so learning about it can help with my future. Technology is giving us more tools for our projects, so we’re learning skills that we can use later in life.”
Mark Light, an educator who runs the 4-H bus, started his career as a civil engineer before joining 4-H to lead STEM programming in Ohio.
“In our state, we have 200 different 4-H project areas for kids to explore, and only 10 percent are related to livestock or agriculture,” said Light, who was also a 4-H club member in high school. “Technology is a big part of 4-H. When kids pick up an iPad or Apple Pencil on the bus, it ignites their excitement about learning new skills. I love when parents say, ‘It’s time to get off the bus and go on fair rides,’ and the kids don’t want to leave because they’re so engaged.”
Expanding Technological Horizons Across States
In New Jersey, Apple partnered with Rutgers University-Newark and 4-H clubs through the 4-H Computer Science Pathways project in 2021. This program employs peer mentors from college and high school to engage young people and build skills in STEM.
“The magic of this program, and of Apple technology, is that the hands-on experience makes our young people realize they can succeed in STEM fields,” said Rodrigo Sanchez Hernandez, who studied mechanical engineering and now helps run 4-H programming in New Jersey. “When they see someone who looks like them and is close to their age teaching these advanced topics in a relatable way, they think, ‘If they can do it, why can’t I?’”
Since 2021, the program has expanded to 4-H clubs throughout New Jersey, including this summer’s STEM Explorers camp in Trenton. Over the month, several dozen students in grades 7 through 9 participated in iPad-based workshops covering digital media, robotics, coding, and engineering. The digital media week concluded with a learning lab based on Apple’s Everyone Can Create curriculum, culminating in each student designing a project to raise awareness about environmental issues.
In Michigan, Apple collaborates with Michigan State University and 4-H to provide young people with the skills necessary for careers in technical and creative disciplines. This initiative focuses on the Detroit area and Michigan’s Tribal Nations and communities. This summer, nearly 80 young people, many affiliated with a tribal nation, attended a 4-H camp in the Hiawatha National Forest. They used iPads and Apple Pencils to create Keynote presentations on building robots.
Real-Life Impact: Calum Williams’ Success Story
Back at the Franklin County Fair, Calum Williams had just finished his duck judging. He had been preparing for months, recording his duck’s changing weight in Notes since it hatched and taking photos with his iPad’s camera.
After all competitors had presented their animals, the judge announced the results. Calum won second place, and the only person happier than him was his mother, Danielle Moeller Williams.
Moeller Williams was a 4-H club member during her youth, which inspired her to have her son join the organization.
“When I started, there weren’t as many projects as there are now,” said Moeller Williams. “With all the advancements in technology, there are so many more opportunities. 4-H has shown Calum how to use technology to prepare for his future, and I’m incredibly proud of how he’s embraced it and the young man he’s become.”
Conclusion: A Brighter Future with 4-H and Apple
The collaboration between Apple and 4-H exemplifies how integrating technology into educational programs can empower the next generation. By providing tools and resources, they are equipping young people with the skills necessary for future careers in various fields. This partnership is not just about learning to code or create digital media; it’s about inspiring young minds to see the endless possibilities that technology can bring into their lives.
For more information, you can reach out to:
Press Contacts
- Rachel Wolf Tulley
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This initiative is a testament to the power of education and technology working hand-in-hand to create a brighter future for the next generation.
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