Washington, D.C., Dec. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — For eight years, National 4-H Council and Microsoft have closed the digital divide in rural communities. This collaboration has a track record of turning vision into action \u2014 from the 4-H Tech Changemakers<\/i> initiative that expanded digital skills in rural communities, to reaching 1.4 million youth with the AI Foundations<\/i> curriculum through Minecraft Education<\/i> in 2024. This investment reaffirms both organizations\u2019 shared mission to prepare young people for an AI-powered world through Microsoft Minecraft education.<\/p>\n
By the Numbers<\/b><\/p>\n
Research by 4-H and Microsoft<\/a> shows that young people are interested in AI \u2014 but many don\u2019t feel prepared to use it.<\/p>\n \u201cAI is already part of everyday life. Our job is to make sure young people \u2014 especially those in rural areas \u2014 understand how to use it responsibly today and into the future,\u201d said Jill Bramble, President and CEO of National 4-H Council. \u201cWith Microsoft\u2019s support, we\u2019re giving educators and youth the tools to be healthy, productive and engaged.\u201d<\/p>\n Continuation of Learning and Leading<\/b><\/p>\n This partnership builds on 4-H\u2019s national Beyond Ready<\/a> initiative, which aims to reach 10 million youth by 2030. 4-H and Microsoft will:<\/p>\n \u201cFor more than a century, 4\u2011H has been a cornerstone of opportunity and learning in rural America, helping generations build skills that strengthen communities,\u201d said Justin Spelhaug, President, Microsoft Elevate. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to build on that legacy and deepen our partnership to bring AI education and capacity building to classrooms and counties nationwide. Together, we can ensure that every young person \u2014 no matter where they live \u2014 has the tools to thrive in an AI-driven future.\u201d<\/p>\n A Partnership with Impact<\/b><\/p>\n 4-H youth are already putting AI to work. One example is Henry Zou, an 18-year-old Iowa State University Extension<\/a> 4-H member whose project tackles one of agriculture\u2019s most damaging corn diseases \u2014 Gray Leaf Spot (GLS). Henry developed a deep learning system called DeGLS (Detection of Gray Leaf Spot) that uses artificial intelligence to automatically identify and measure the severity of GLS on corn leaves.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve learned that science isn\u2019t just about experiments \u2014 it\u2019s about solving real problems that impact our communities,\u201d said Zou. \u201cGLS affects farmers and food production all over the world, so I wanted to use technology to make a difference. By combining artificial intelligence with agriculture, my goal is to create a tool that helps farmers protect their crops and strengthen the future of agriculture.\u201d<\/p>\n ABOUT 4-H:<\/b><\/p>\n 4-H, the nation\u2019s largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for careers tomorrow. 4-H programs reach nearly six million\u00a0young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills. Through the Beyond Ready national initiative, 4-H aims to increase that number to ten million youth annually by 2030. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation\u2019s Cooperative Extension System and USDA and serves every county and parish in the U.S. through a network of 110 public universities and more than 3,000 local Extension offices. Globally, 4-H collaborates with independent programs to empower one million youth in 50 countries. The research-backed 4-H experience grows young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n Learn more about 4-H at\u00a04-H.org<\/a> and follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, and X<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n ABOUT MICROSOFT:<\/b><\/p>\n Microsoft (Nasdaq \u201cMSFT\u201d @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.<\/p>\n\n
\n