Posted: October 2, 2026
Aarush Muthukrishnan, a Penn State Extension 4-H member from Pittsburgh, was named a 2027 National 4-H Council Youth in Action Award winner, earning a $5,000 scholarship.
Aarush Muthukrishnan
Muthukrishnan founded the first 4-H artificial intelligence club in his region, giving other young people opportunities to explore coding and responsible use of artificial intelligence through hands-on learning.
Long before Muthukrishnan began working with artificial intelligence, there were LEGOs. As a child, he became so focused on his builds that he sometimes couldn't sleep until he finished a set. That curiosity eventually grew into coding, robotics, and AI.
Through 4-H, Muthukrishnan said he began thinking about the real-world problems technology could help solve. Over the past year and a half, he has dedicated more than 500 volunteer hours to AI initiatives, reaching nearly 1,000 students and educators through statewide hackathons and events.
His own innovation, TerraScan, is a low-cost, open-source AI robot designed to map soil conditions and help small farmers make more informed decisions about fertilizer use. The project earned him first place in his age group in the National 4-H AI in Agriculture Challenge.
Whether teaching other young people or building something new, Muthukrishnan said he wants technology to be a tool for learning, problem-solving, and service.
Launched in 2010, the 4-H Youth in Action Awards recognize 4-H'ers who have applied the knowledge gained in 4-H to create a lasting impact in their communities. In addition to receiving a $5,000 scholarship, Muthukrishnan and the other winners will spend 2027 showcasing their work nationally, networking with prominent 4-H alumni, and sharing their stories as official 4-H spokespeople. This year's other winners are Harrison Crenshaw of Winchester, Tennessee; Lilly Lucas of Castle Rock, Colorado; and Musiq Williams of West Palm Beach, Florida.
"What I love about Harrison, Lilly, Aarush, and Musiq is that none of their stories follow the same path," said Heather Elliott, chief development and marketing officer for National 4-H Council. "That's true of young people everywhere. What makes 4-H different is that it gives them the space to explore what interests them, mentorship from adults and educators to guide their way, and hands-on experiences that help them build career-ready skills like communication, leadership, and resilience."
As 4-H approaches its 125th anniversary, the 2027 winners demonstrate how this next generation of 4-H'ers still use a model rooted in hands-on experiences to help young people discover their interests, give back to their communities, build skills for life and work, and become Beyond Ready for their futures, the National 4-H Council noted. More information about Youth in Action is available online.
Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth development program of the cooperative extension system and the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring, and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Pennsylvania 4-H website.
As the nation's largest youth development organization, 4-H empowers nearly 6 million young people across the U.S. The program 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 1 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 and twice as likely to make healthier choices, be civically active, and engage in STEM programs.
