ICYMI: Senator Coons highlights 4-H and FFA as a way to take onyouth loneliness in new op-ed

“Young people crave the same two things people always have: community and purpose.” WILMINGTON, Del. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) published an op-ed in Bay to Bay News highlighting how Delaware’s 4-H and FFA programs are giving young people a sense of community and purpose at a time when young people across the country are facing a loneliness epidemic. Bay to Bay News : Fair offered encouraging view of youth At this year’s Delaware State Fair, Senator Coons met dozens of young Delawareans involved in 4-H and FFA who challenged the idea that today’s young people are disconnected and disengaged. “While 4-H and FFA (formerly the Future Farmers of America) both began as farming organizations, they’ve grown far larger, providing opportunities and leadership training for students covering a variety of careers and interests,” Senator Coons wrote . “For 4-H, programming begins as young as 5, and kids in Delaware can join FFA as early as middle school.” Delaware has 5,000 FFA members and 36,000 children participating in 4-H programs, roughly one in five kids in the state. These programs give young people a place to belong while helping them develop leadership skills, build friendships, discover their interests, and work on projects that give them a sense of purpose. Senator Coons argues that, on top of that, these programs may offer a solution to the “loneliness epidemic,” providing young people with the kind of connection we all need. Senator Coons attended the Delaware FFA State Fair awards breakfast, an event organized by students, from programming and speeches to food and contests. Across 4-H and FFA, students take on projects ranging from photography and landscaping to plumbing, electronics, and robotics. “These are all skills any employer would want,” Senator Coons wrote . “They’re also the skills needed to start a small business, and they are the skills artificial intelligence can’t replace.” Senator Coons also highlighted his bipartisan Youth Lead Act, which he introduced with Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.). The legislation would invest additional federal funding in youth agriculture and service organizations like 4-H and FFA. “These are the exact types of community organizations we should be building up: locally driven with proven records of success,” Senator Coons wrote . “They bring young people together to help their neighbors by using their unique innovations and creativity.” Read the full op-ed here .