Florida 4-HYou've experienced what 4-H can do for you. Now imagine shaping that experience for the entire state. As a Florida 4-H State Council Officer, you'll step into a role that challenges you to lead, represent, and inspire 4-H'ers across Florida, bringing your passion for the program to every level from your county to the state stage. If you're ready to make your mark, this is your opportunity.
State officer candidate applications are due by July 6. All information regarding applications, candidacy, and being a state officer can be found below.
Access recording of our live Q+A at Ask 4-H About State Officer Candidacy (youtube.com).
This goes through the lived experiences of two current officers that just experienced this process last year. It also highlights some logistics included here on this page.
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Eligibility & Preparation
You are eligible if all of the following are true:
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- You have been an active 4‑H member for at least three years, and one of those years is the current 4‑H year.
- You are an official voting delegate to the Council. No more than two people from the same county may run for a State Council office. Not sure if this applies to you? Check with your local 4-H professional.
- You have permission from your parent or legal guardian.
- You have approval from your local 4‑H professional.
- You have served at least one full term (one 4‑H year) on the State Executive Board and completed all responsibilities.
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Once you have determined your eligibility and interest, we recommend that you:
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- Read the officers' job duties and responsibilities outlined in The Constitution of the Florida 4-H Council and The Bylaws of the Florida 4-H Council.
- Read the rest of this page in it's entirety.
- Talking with a trusted adult about your priorities and whether you are able to meet the expectations of a state officer while balancing your other commitments.
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Applying to Be a Candidate
Applications will only be accepted through the online form accessed at State Officer Candidate Application (ufl.qualtrics.com).
Completing this application includes:
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- Filling out your contact information
- Uploading your 4-H resume and business-like headshot
- Indicating your appointed position preference
- Answering the essay question - What is a belief about leadership that you've previously held that you've changed your mind on? Tell us about the change, what influenced it, and how it's affected the way you show up for the people around you.
- Filling out contact information for your local 4-H professional
- Including signatures from you and your parent/guardian
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Your local 4-H professional will receive an email with all the information they need for approval after you submit your application.
Once you submit this application, you should be automatically directed to the Executive Board application. Completing it shows your interest in serving on the Executive Board if you don't become a state officer.4-H Resume
We encourage you to use the same resume as the Scholarship Application. If you did not submit a Scholarship Application, go to pages 10-16 of Scholarship Packet (florida4h.org) or What is a skills based resume? (youtube.com).
Do NOT include your address, phone number, email, social media, or any other personal contact information. We have what we need from your application.
Upload as a PDF with file name formatted as LastName-FirstName_County_PositionYou'reRunningFor_Resume (Ex: Clover-Chrystal_Levy_Reporter_Resume)
Business-like Headshot
We ask that you upload a clean, clear, and put together headshot; not a selfie. This may be used to highlight your campaign during 4-H University.
Format file name as LastName-FirstName_County_PositionYou'reRunningFor_Headshot (Ex: Clover-Chrystal_Levy_Reporter_Headshot)Using AI as a Tool to Support Your Application
AI can genuinely be useful to help you dig into your experiences and surface ideas that you may not have gotten to on your own; but, we want to hear from you, not a chatbot.
The essay question within the application is designed to focus in on a real-life experience you've had. If you're going to use AI, make sure to use it as a tool to help you think through your ideas. AI should be asking the questions, not writing the answers. If you're reading more than you're typing, something's off.
When answers start sounding like everyone else's, they stop telling us about you. A lot of answers in recent Executive Board applications started with versions of "As a member of the Florida 4-H Executive Board, I hope to..." Seeing that made us pause and wonder who we were hearing from.
Here are a few prompts designed to make AI a thinking partner rather than an answer generator:
To surface the real belief change: "I need to answer a question about a leadership belief I've changed my mind on. Don't write anything for me; just ask me questions one at a time to help me figure out what that belief actually is. Start by asking me what I used to think good leadership looked like."
To dig into the story behind it: "I think my belief is [X]. Ask me questions to help me find the specific moment or experience that changed it. Keep pushing me if my answers are vague or could apply to anyone."
To make it personal and honest: "Here's what I've written so far: [paste draft]. Tell me which parts sound like something anyone could say, and ask me questions to make those parts more specific to my actual life."
To connect it to behavior change: "Ask me how this belief change has actually shown up in the way I treat people around me, not in theory, but in a specific real example."
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Officer Expectations
Commitment & Priorities
Being a Florida 4-H State Council officer is a great honor that comes with great responsibility. State officers are representatives of the Florida 4-H Program and have a duty to be knowledgeable in all facets of the program. With many competing priorities in life, those considering the role must reflect on whether they are able to make it a high priority without compromising their wellbeing.
Representation, Finances & Travel
Officers will have the opportunity to represent and speak on behalf of the Florida 4-H program as ambassadors before a variety of audiences, including local, district, state, and out-of-state events. These opportunities are typically optional, and attendance is at the discretion of each officer. Funding is the responsibility of the officer and their family, though Florida 4-H will cover costs when noted and possible.
Registration for Florida 4-H events is processed at the county level. Funding currently covers registration for the First, Second, and Third Executive Board Weekends and 4-H Day at the Capitol, though this is subject to change. If travel is a barrier, officers and families should reach out to their counties and advisors as early as possible, as assistance is not guaranteed.
Uniform
The Florida 4-H Foundation will provide each officer with:
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- Official Florida 4-H green blazer
- Green short sleeve polo shirt
- Name tag
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Officers are responsible for providing:
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- White collared dress shirt
- Black tie
- Black dress pants or skirt; khaki dress pants or skirt - must be knee length with slits no longer than 2"
- Black dress shoes and brown/tan shoes - must be closed heel and toe, no more than 2" tall; no boots, sandals, open-toed shoes, or tennis shoes
- Black and brown dress belts
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Executive Board Committees & Workshops
Officers play an active role in the planning and implementation of Executive Board Weekends, including co-chairing an event committee and co-facilitating workshops. Officers are expected to communicate regularly with their collaborators in preparation for Executive Board meetings and any other relevant events.
Communication & Attendance
If an officer is unable to meet any expectation of their role, they should communicate with the relevant leaders as soon as possible. The earlier a conflict is raised, the better their teams can plan and ensure responsibilities are covered in the officer's absence.
Should missing an Executive Board Weekend be unavoidable, the officer must coordinate with their collaborators to ensure their responsibilities are covered. Missing more than one Executive Board Weekend may result in removal from office.
Officers should also expect virtual meetings or trainings to be called by the president or advisor(s) at any time and are expected to attend the majority of these.
Conduct & Accountability
Officers must abide by the Florida 4-H Code of Conduct and are expected to maintain a high standard of personal conduct and act as a positive role model for other 4-H members. This includes their words, actions, and online presence both in and outside of 4-H events. Officers are personally responsible for their online presence and postings. Officers may not:
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- Claim or imply that they are speaking on behalf of the UF/IFAS Extension 4-H Youth Development Program unless given permission
- Post content that is detrimental to the program or its participants, including comments that are discriminatory, defamatory, harassing, or sexually suggestive
- Post photographs of other participants without their express approval, or any photographs containing alcoholic beverages or illegal substances.
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An officer may be removed from their position at the discretion of the State Council advisor(s) and State Program Leader if they are unable to fulfill their role or if their conduct is found out of order with stated expectations.
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Calendar of State Officer & Executive Board Related Events
Please note:
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- Officers are typically required to arrive the day before an event begins. The dates on this calendar reflect that arrival day, even though advertised dates only list the event days themselves.
- All dates are subject to change. Florida 4-H has the right to add/change events when needed.
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Calendar Legend
*Mandatory
**Mandatory if part of the planning committee for the event
***Highly encouraged, not mandatory
*July 26-30, 2026 | 4-H University | Gainesville
*July 30-August 4, 2026 | State Officer Training | 4-H Camp Cherry Lake in Madison
***September 17-20, 2026 | Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference | Tennessee
*October 22-25, 2026 | First Executive Board | 4-H Camp Timpoochee in Niceville
*January 21-24, 2027 | Second Executive Board | 4-H Camp Cloverleaf in Lake Placid
***February 3-4, 2027 | Florida State Fair Opening Day Festivities | Tampa
***February 4-15, 2027 | Florida State Fair | Tampa
*March 23-24, 2027 | Day at the Capitol | Tallahassee
*April 22-25, 2027 | Third Executive Board | 4-H Camp Timpoochee in Niceville
**June 3-6, 2027 | iLEAD: Intermediate Leadership Conference | Gainesville
**June 20-25, 2027 | 4-H Legislature | Tallahassee
*July 25-29, 2027 | 4-H University | Gainesville
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Uniform
Official Dress
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- White collared dress shirt
- Black tie
- Official Florida 4-H green blazer
- Name tag
- Black dress pants/skirt
- Black dress shoes/heels
- Black belt
- Black socks
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Casual Dress
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- Green short sleeve polo shirt
- Name tag
- Khaki dress pants/skirt
- Brown belt
- Brown/tan shoes
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Campaigning & Elections
Early Arrival at 4-H University
All state officer candidates are expected to arrive on Sunday, July 26 for 4-H University to receive an orientation for the week ahead and set up their campaign materials.
Platform
Your platform is the foundation of your campaign, showcasing your vision, priorities, and goals for serving Florida 4-H. It helps voting delegates understand your commitment and how you plan to work collaboratively within the larger Cooperative Extension system to make a positive impact.
When building your platform, be specific and intentional by focusing on goals that align with the broader direction of Florida 4-H and contribute meaningfully within the organization's framework, while recognizing that impactful change often requires collaboration with your team and the broader 4-H community. Seek input from peers, mentors, and advisors, and feel free to contact us for feedback or guidance as you refine your ideas.
Please note that any programs or initiatives proposed within your campaign must be approved by the State Council advisor(s). Be open and prepared to adjust based on need, capacity, and sustainability.
Speeches
Prepared Speech
During the first State Council meeting at 4-H University, candidates will deliver a prepared campaign speech in which they emphasize how they plan to have a positive impact on the Florida 4-H program and its members.
Presidential candidates will have three minutes; all other offices will have two minutes.
Impromptu Speech
During the second State Council meeting at 4-H University, the outgoing officers will ask a question to each candidate seeking their particular office.
Presidential candidates will have three minutes to respond; all other offices will have two minutes.
Selection Process
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- Voting for the five elected positions will take place during the second State Council meeting at 4-H University.
- Voting will occur through an online platform utilizing preferential voting where all voters rank each position's candidates in descending order of who they'd prefer.
- Any candidate who does not win an elected position is eligible for an appointed position.
- A group interview will be conducted by the five elected positions and advisors with all candidates being assessed simultaneously in one setting rather than individual interviews.
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Materials
Materials to Consider for Campaigning
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- Fliers and banners
- Yard signs (allowed outside of dorm)
- Give away items with your name and desired position
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Forbidden Campaign Materials
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- Consumables (food, drink, etc.)
- Stickers
- T-shirts
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Price Limit
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- Each candidate’s total campaign budget, including in-kind donations, must not exceed $200.
- All materials—pre-existing, purchased, or donated—must be documented with receipts, researched prices, or signed letters from donors indicating approximate values.
- Candidates must submit a Campaign Finance Report by 11:59PM on the day before 4-H University begins.
- Candidates exceeding this limit will be required to remove materials of their choice to comply with the budget cap.
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Rules for Hanging
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- Candidates are not allowed to hang any banners or posters on handrails, doors, painted walls, or windows.
- Candidates may only use the painters tape provided by the event to hang items in the dorms. This tape will be provided upon arrival at 4-H University.
- No signs are to be hung anywhere on campus except for the dorm area.
- Candidates must take hanging items down when prompted by State Council advisor(s).
- Any damage or required excessive cleaning reported by the University housing staff in this regard will be added to the final bill for our event and may result in the staff no longer allowing us to post campaign signs in the future.
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Forbidden Campaign Actions
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- Using social media for campaigning. This is due to youth protection guidelines and potential barriers to equal access by all candidates.
- Directly contacting county extension offices and voting delegates.
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Campaign Assistance
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- Candidates are allowed to recruit campaign assistance from fellow 4-H youth members.
- Parents, volunteers, and 4-H professionals are not allowed to campaign.
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Candidate Disqualification
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- In the case of a violation of campaign rules by the candidate or their campaign assistants, a candidate may be disqualified.
- The candidate is responsible for informing their campaign assistants of the rules.
- There will be one warning issued for any campaign violations.
- In the event of a second warning for any reason, the candidate may be disqualified.
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Information Contact