Illinois 4-H Ambassador Application-2026

Illinois 4-H Ambassador Application
Application Due: December 31, 2025

The Illinois Youth Ambassador Teams represent Illinois 4-H at various state and national events. These teams provides an invaluable “youth voice” to our University of Illinois Extension State 4-H program. Each team's activities differ throughout the year, but our purpose remains the same, to represnt the Illinois 4-H members. Representing Illinois 4-H means embodying the values of our organization: Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. If selected as an ambassador, you will serve as a positive role model for youth and adults, promoting the life-changing opportunities that 4-H provides. You will be a passionate advocate for our programs, sharing your experiences and inspiring others to join the 4-H family."
For your application to be considered you must:

♦ Demonstrate leadership skills in your club, community and county.

♦ Fill out and submit this application no later than December 31.

♦ Have a Reference Evaluation Form completed by a University of Illinois Extension staff member, school staff person, or a professional youth worker such as a youth pastor, teacher or after-school program director. This form will be completed and submitted by your reference. These are due December 31.

♦ Due to the high volume of applicants the State 4-H Staff will review applications and videos to make the team selections.

♦ Meet the age requirements of the team you are applying to.

♦ To review requirements for each team (click team name for more info):
- 4-H Influencers
- Creative Collective Art Ambassadors
- Food Advocacy Team
- Healthy Living Ambassadors
- IDEA Leaders ((Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access))
- Livestock Ambassador Team
- STEM Ambassador Team
- Youth Leadership Team
**Please direct any questions to Katie Duitsman at pilcher3@illinois.edu.**
Tell Us About Yourself...
Your Name

First NameLast Name
Your Email
example@example.com
Your Cell Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
Your Age
Your Birthdate

MonthDayYear
Your Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Parent or Guardian E-mail (If Younger than 18)
example@example.com
Parent or Guardian Cell Phone (If Younger than 18)

Area CodePhone Number
Year in School as of 9/1/2025

9th Grade10th Grade11th Grade12th GradeCollege
If you are a graduating senior or currently a college student please list college/university:
Polo Size
T-Shirt Size
Are you a current 4-H member? (If not, we will be able to assist you in the enrollment process)*

YesNo4-H AlumniUnsure
County
4-H Club
Please upload a photo of yourself.

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This does not affect the application process, the headshot will be used for social media announcements if selected on a team. Cancelof

Which Illinois 4-H Team are you interested in applying to? (Select all areas of interest)

4-H InfluencersCreative Collective Art Ambassador TeamFood Advocacy TeamHealthy Living AmbassadorsIDEA Leaders (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access)Livestock AmbassadorsSTEM AmbassadorsYouth Leadership Team
Which team is your first choice?
Which team is your second choice?
Which team is your third choice?
If not selected on your top 3 teams, are you interested in the Illinois State Staff placing you on a remaining team based on your experiences and expressed interest?

Getting to Know You
Tell us about your leadership experience.
What skills, talents or abilities do you have to offer the Illinois 4-H Ambassador Teams?

0/500
Please describe your current college & career plans.
Upload a 3-5 minute video, tell us about yourself and your 4-H experience. What do you hope to gain from your experience as a 4-H ambassador? This must be a YouTube unlisted video. Please paste the URL link in the box below. *

Team Specific Questions
4-H Influencers
4-H Influencers- Please list any current and past social media or photography experience?
4-H Influencers- Tell us about a time that communications or planning was lacking in a school event, club, or something else and that you stepped in to help reach a goal.
4-H Influencers- Tell us about a time that communications or planning was lacking in a school event, club, or something else and that you stepped in to help reach a goal.
4-H Influencers- Tell us about a time you made a big commitment and stuck to it.
4-H Influencers- Show us your social media skills! Submit an Instagram Reel, TikTok, or YouTube video telling us what 4-H means to you! You are welcome to include other youth, but we'd like to see your on camera skills as the main part of the video. Please keep the video to 1 minute to 1:30 long, share your name and county in the video.

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Creative Collective Art Ambassador Team

Please upload four examples of your artwork or performance you have participated in ensuring that each is labeled with your age and date it was created and medium it was created in. If uploading a performance based artistic experience (theater, musical, dance, etc.) you may wish to submit a brief video clip instead of a photo.
Creative Collective Art Ambassador Team- Artwork Example #1

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Creative Collective Art Ambassador Team- Artwork Example #2

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Creative Collective Art Ambassador Team- Artwork Example #3

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Creative Collective Art Ambassador Team- Artwork Example #4

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Creative Collective Art Ambassador Team- Imagine you are leading an art workshop for younger 4-Hers and something doesn't go as planned. How would you handle the situation?
Creative Collective Art Ambassador Team- If you could design one project or event to promote creativity in your community, what would it be, and how would you make it happen?
Food Advocacy Team
Food Advocacy Team- According to the advocacy organization Feeding America, 1 in 6 children in Illinois is considered food insecure. Please provide some of your ideas on what kind of steps could be taken to decrease this level of food insecurity among children. What kind of outreach, programs or service projects would be most effective?
Food Advocacy Team- What are some ways that you would like to see food insecurity addressed in your own community? Have you seen some examples of successful programs or projects you would like to support?
Food Advocacy Team- The ability to learn from others and from your own mistakes is an important part of leadership. Give an example of a time that you learned from a mistake of yours and talk about how that experience has impacted you in the work you do today.
Healthy Living Ambassadors
Healthy Living Ambassadors- What does Healthy Living mean to you and what aspects of Healthy Living are you most passionate about?
Healthy Living Ambassadors- Share about past Healthy Living initiatives you’ve helped plan or lead, and 1-2 ideas for Healthy Living programs or events you’d like to plan or lead in the future.
Healthy Living Ambassadors- What 3 skills or qualities do you think are most important for serving on a youth leadership team responsible for planning and promoting Healthy Living initiatives across the State?
IDEA Leaders (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access)

Please answer 2 of the short response questions below. Each answer should be 3 - 5 paragraphs.
IDEA Leaders- What does diversity, equity, inclusion, and access mean to you personally? How do these values shape your actions?
IDEA Leaders- How would you engage with youth who may be unfamiliar with DEIA concepts to raise awareness and understanding?
IDEA Leaders- What challenges do you think underrepresented groups in 4-H face, and how can the DEIA Committee help address them?
IDEA Leaders- What topics or issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access are you most passionate about and why?
Livestock Ambassador Team
Livestock Ambassador Team- Please describe your livestock activities and accomplishments.
Livestock Ambassador Team- The State 4-H Livestock Ambassador Team will take responsibility for planning and implementing a conference geared towards junior high students, including teaching workshops and planning extra livestock related activities. What ways do you feel you can contribute to planning for this event? What skills would you bring to the team to help with this event? What suggestions do you have for workshops or activities for youth at this age level?
Livestock Ambassador Team- Where do you see yourself in the livestock industry in the future?
STEM Ambassadors
STEM Ambassadors - What is one recent development in STEM (such as artificial intelligence, robotics, or space technology) that you find exciting or important? Why does it interest you?
STEM Ambassadors - How do you think technologies like AI or robotics will impact your community or the world in the next 5 to 10 years?
STEM Ambassadors - If you could design your own STEM challenge or project for other youth to participate in, what would it be about, and what skills or ideas would you teach?
Youth Leadership Team
Youth Leadership Team- What does leadership mean to you, and how have you demonstrated leadership in your 4-H experience?
Youth Leadership Team- What is your experience with planning, or participating in public speaking or facilitating of workshops? *

0/500
Youth Leadership Team- Describe a time you helped others or took initiative in a group or club setting.
Do you have any questions about the application or joining the team in general? An officer or advisor will follow up on any additional questions you may have.

Personal Reference

Due: December 31
Complete the information below on the individual who will be writing your recommendation. References cannot be a family member. Please contact your references and give them the following link to complete the recommendation (we do not send to them):

Send the following link to your Personal Reference: https://form.jotform.com/201188733464155
Your reference's name*

First NameLast Name
Your reference's e-mail*
example@example.com
Your relationship to reference*

University of Illinois Extension StaffTeacherCoachMentorOther
Should be Empty:

Illinois 4-H Ambassador Application

Application Due: December 31, 2025

Tell Us About Yourself...

Getting to Know You

Team Specific Questions

4-H Influencers

Creative Collective Art Ambassador Team

Food Advocacy Team

Healthy Living Ambassadors

IDEA Leaders (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access)

Livestock Ambassador Team

STEM Ambassadors

Youth Leadership Team

Personal Reference