Florida 4‑H officers ask lawmakers for $30 million campaign to revitalize camps and expand reach

Florida 4‑H state officers asked the Senate Committee on Agriculture for continued legislative support Wednesday as they unveiled membership goals and a facilities campaign.

Timmy Hawes, Florida 4‑H state council president, told senators the organization currently reaches "just roughly over 216,000" youth across all 67 counties and aims to reach 300,000 — about 10% of Florida youth ages 5 through 18. Hawes said 4‑H focuses on citizenship and leadership, agriculture, STEM and healthy living and that camping and hands-on programs drive recruitment.

Hawes described a multi-year fundraising plan to modernize 4‑H residential camps and learning sites. He said the organization aims to raise $30,000,000 over the next decade and identified a $13,400,000 campaign specifically to revitalize 4‑H Camp Cherry Lake in Madison County. According to his testimony, 4‑H has secured $2,000,000 from federal, private and university sources for a multipurpose education building and reported an additional $7,300,000 in private and state support from prior sessions. Hawes said the program has a $5,000,000 university PECO request ranked highly by the Board of Governors.

Committee members praised the presentation and asked about recruitment. Senator Burton asked how youth first find 4‑H; Hawes and colleagues pointed to peer outreach, clubs, camps and school programming as drivers. Hawes credited hands-on programming and leadership opportunities for retaining participants and said the program is "climbing every year."

The officers thanked lawmakers for past support and invited continued investment in 4‑H camps and statewide programming to expand workforce and leadership outcomes for youth.