Experience Ignite
Ignite by 4-H continues to be the premier experience where teens find their spark and build career and life readiness skills that prepare them to become Beyond Ready for the future.
Ignite 2026 will offer six dynamic programmatic tracks. Each teen will select one track to dive into—focusing on their passions, developing key skills, and exploring meaningful career pathways.
Through peer- and educator-led hands-on workshops, offsite experiences, and immersive activations, teens will explore what fuels their interests and what it takes to succeed in life and work. Explore Workshops provide opportunities to attend sessions outside of their selected track and discover new areas of interest.
AND... it's not just for teens, adult chaperones and mentors can participate in curated workshops and Positive Youth Development (PYD) immersions to stay current on the latest research and strategies to support youth in becoming Beyond Ready.
Our Programming Tracks
Agriscience
Teens in the Agriscience track will explore the science and sustainability of modern agriculture and food systems. From environmental conservation and soil science to hydroponics, urban farming, renewable energy, and pollination, this hands-on track emphasizes plant-based systems and sustainable innovations. Participants will strengthen problem-solving, creative, and critical thinking skills while uncovering exciting career paths in agricultural science and environmental stewardship.
Animal Science
The Animal Science track is for teens passionate about animals, biology, and their impact on food systems and communities. This immersive experience focuses on the science and care of animals through hands-on learning in fields such as veterinary science, meat science and production, ranching, livestock management, and equine science. Teens will gain practical knowledge in animal health, nutrition, and agricultural practices that support ethical, sustainable animal care.
Community Accelerators
Community Accelerators is a dynamic track where teens learn to drive change at the local level through social entrepreneurship, service learning, and community-based problem solving. Teens come together to collaborate, share ideas, and develop innovative solutions for real-world challenges—creating transformative progress that benefits all communities. By harnessing their creativity and passion, participants become catalysts for meaningful, lasting change.
CWF @ Ignite (Civic Engagement)
This track remains our cornerstone leadership experience for teens passionate about civic engagement, public policy, and advocacy as pathways to community change. Participants will strengthen their understanding of the democratic process and cultivate leadership skills rooted in civic responsibility. With this foundation, they’ll discover how local action can spark impact on national and global levels.
Note: the CWF track will begin one day earlier, and registration costs will reflect the additional hotel night.
Healthy Living
(featuring our Soccer sub-track)
Our Healthy Living programming empowers youth to be healthy in both body and mind by helping them develop the knowledge and skills to make informed choices, lead active lifestyles, and face life’s challenges with confidence. Through interactive workshops, teens in this track will dive into topics like nutrition, food inequity, food waste reduction, and mental and emotional well-being—preparing them to take charge of their health and become leaders in their communities.
Soccer sub-track: The National 4-H Soccer Tournament offers a fun way to stay active while building teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship. The tournament brings youth together through the power of play, friendly competition, and shared goals on and off the field.
Note: Teens that wish to participate in the Soccer sub-track of Healthy Living will need to sign up as part of a team. More information will be available soon regarding the Soccer sub-track at Ignite.
STEM
In the STEM track, teens will experience innovation in action through hands-on challenges in robotics, engineering, coding, and emerging technologies. They'll dive into fields like artificial intelligence (AI), computer science, physics, and chemistry—developing the technical and analytical skills to thrive in a technology-driven world. This track encourages experimentation, creative problem-solving, and future-focused thinking.
With these additions, Ignite 2026 continues to provide teens with opportunities to explore traditional and emerging career paths, build confidence, and connect with peers from across the country (and even world).