The Cooperative Extension faculty in Ohio established a correspondence course for new 4-H leaders. The course included topics designed to meet the most significant needs of the leaders. This study had as its objectives: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of the course by determining whether knowledge about 4-H and desirable practices performed in 4-H clubs would differ between leaders who participated and those who didn't, (2) to explore relationships which may exist between the leaders' knowledge of 4-H and the performance of desirable practices in their clubs, and (3) to compile and summarize demographic data on the new 4-H leaders. One county was selected from each of Ohio's ten Extension administrative areas. County faculty mailed the course lessons at regular intervals to leaders in the experimental group. Leaders in neither the experimental nor the control group knew that they were involved in a research project. The new leaders' knowledge about 4-H was measured by a 20-item multiple choice test. A forced-choice instrument was used to determine the extent to which desirable practices were performed, and a series of l2 questions sought demographic data. Conclusions are: (1) The course was an effective teaching tool; (2) Increased knowledge had not transferred to the practice; (3) A 61% response rate was an adequate representation of the entire population. (CK)