Kansas State University

Best Practices for 4-H Publicity: What Families and Volunteers Need to Know

Submitted by Sarah E. Maass

At the request of some Extension professionals, here is a newsletter article that you can use in your 4-H newsletter and/or enrollment email to your 4-H families regarding publicity. 

As we begin the 2025–2026 4-H year, it’s important to understand how publicity permissions are handled and how we, as Extension professionals, can responsibly share the stories and successes of you, our 4-H members.

What Is the Publicity Release?

When families enroll in 4-H Online, they are asked to agree (or not agree) to a publicity release. This release gives permission for the use of a member’s name, image, and likeness by:

• Local Extension Units
• Kansas State University (including the State 4-H Office)
• The Kansas 4-H Foundation

This includes use in photos, videos, social media, websites, press releases, and more. If a family selects “I Do Not Agree,” their child’s name and image cannot be used.  Some examples include:

• Kansas State Fair & County Fair entry cards, schedules, or results
• Local or state contests
• Social media posts
• News articles or promotional materials

Additional Consent Questions

To provide more clarity, families are asked to give specific permission for:

• First and last name
• Extension unit
• 4-H club or town name
• Media (photos, video, audio, etc.)
• Print-only media
• Social media
• County fair-related publicity

These responses override the general publicity release and help guide what can or cannot be shared publicly.

Best Practices for Sharing Youth Information for Extension Professionals

Even when full permission is granted, it is best practice to:

• Use first names only in social media posts.
• If no consent is given, refer to youth as:
• “A 4-H member from [Club Name]”
• Or use initials, e.g., “C.C., participant from Cloverville 4-H Club”

These practices help protect youth privacy while still celebrating their achievements.

To view the complete best practices document, please go here.  If you have questions about publicity permissions or how to apply these best practices, please contact your local Extension Office.