Abstract
This study examines the effects of participation in the 4-H interstate exchange
program. Prior to this investigation, very little research has been done on this subject.
The study included three case studies with a total of 27 4-H alumni from the three Texas
counties of Gillespie, Comal/Guadalupe (joint program), and Travis, who took part in
exchange between 1983 and 2001. The study first developed a profile of each case
study’s participants, examined the effects of those attributes, and investigated both
hosting and traveling experiences. Data was analyzed both qualitatively and
quantitatively and revealed that within each case study, the exchange experiences
positively impacted not only the participants, but their families as well.
