Seen recently at the Franklin County Fair in Columbus, Ohio, 4-H members showcased the skills the organization is known for, with children using iPads and experimenting with coding through Apple’s Swift programming language.
Inside the 4-H mobile classroom bus at the fair, children were seen composing music with GarageBand, demonstrating how technology is now a key component of the 4-H experience.
One of the fair participants, 15-year-old Calum Williams, exemplifies this blend of tradition and technology. While preparing to show his duck, he reviewed his notes and tracked the duck’s weight using his iPad. “4-H is very inclusive,” Williams remarked.
“Even if you’re not into traditional activities like livestock or cooking, there are plenty of opportunities to explore technology through STEM projects. 4-H is constantly evolving.”
Apple’s involvement with 4-H is part of its broader Community Education Initiative (CEI), launched in 2019. This program is designed to provide coding, creativity, and career opportunities to students in underserved communities.
Through CEI, Apple has made significant strides in bringing technology to 4-H clubs across the United States, starting with a partnership with The Ohio State University. The collaboration has since expanded, impacting thousands of educators and more than 90,000 young people in states such as Ohio, New Jersey, Michigan, and Florida.
The integration of Apple’s technology into 4-H programs is having a profound impact on students like 12-year-old Jobie Thinthapthai, who has been a 4-H member for four years.
“It was really cool, and I especially liked working with the robots and drawing on iPad,” said Thinthapthai, who aspires to become a doctor. “Medicine is constantly advancing with technology, so learning about that can help with my future. 4-H is giving us tools to learn skills that we can use later in life.”
Apple’s collaboration with 4-H also extends to Michigan, where the company works with Michigan State University to help young people explore careers in technical and creative fields.
This summer, nearly 80 students, many from Tribal Nations, attended a 4-H camp in the Hiawatha National Forest. There, they used iPads and Apple Pencils to create presentations on building robots.
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