Modoc Countv's 4-H re-enrollment began declining inihe early 1980s from a 20-year average of 70 percent to 59 percent in 1983. Since the percentage of return membership reflects the degree to which the 4-H program is meeting clientele needs, re-enrollment is the major indicator of the program's quality. To learn why youth remain in, or leave, 4-H in Modoc County, I conducted a study over a three-year period, 1984-86.

The author thanks William Moyles for his help in designing the survey and Marc Braverman for help in analyzing the data.