Characteristics associated with the level of 4-H club enrollment in the Alabama Cooperative Extension System

The study described characteristics associated with the level of 4-H club enrollment in Alabama. This was a descriptive correlational study which determined the extent to which relationships existed between the percentage of the county's youth population enrolled in the 4-H program and county demographics, 4-H program factors, characteristics of Extension agents, and characteristics of 4-H members. Sixty-seven county Extension coordinators (n=67) and the Alabama 4-H statistical summaries for 1988-89, population projections for Alabama counties, and the 1980 population census. The 1988-89 4-H enrollment data were used as the basis for calculating the enrollment level and the percentage of the county's youth population (9-19 years of age). The youth population was 722,056. The 10-14 age group represented 50% of the youth population and 89% of the 4-H enrollment. The 15-19 age group represented 50% of the population and 11% of the 4-H participation. The highest percentage of 4-H enrollment was in rural counties. Ten percent of the youth population (10-19 years of age) held membership in 4-H. Fifty percent of the variance in 4-H enrollment level was explained by the linear relationship with factors: type of county (urban or rural), the number of 4-H television programs, 4-H judging events, economics status of families (percent of the families below the poverty level) and participation in 4-H achievement programs.