4-H Membership Recruitment/Retention Problems: A Meta-Analysis of Possible Causes and Solutions

As the largest youth organization in the United States, the opportunity for 4-H to be a positive influence on America’s youth has never been greater. 4-H not only has a mandate to serve the needs and interests of young people today, but to provide a life experience that will enrich their lives and enable them to succeed in whatever path they so choose. 4-H has struggled with recruitment and member retention of certain age groups, especially teenage members. Researchers have sought to determine why youth do not join or drop out of 4-H. This article reviews that literature and summarizes the findings and possible solutions to this important issue. 4-H programs have found simple and innovative methods to retain 4-H members.