This paper describes the evaluation of the 4-H youth program (serving ages 9 through 19) in Yolo County, California. The paper concentrates on the first component of the evaluation plan, a telephone survey of community needs and perceptions regarding services for youth which was conducted in November, 1984. The originally perceived questions concerned the involvement of 4-H members and volunteer leaders. Regarding youth involvement, the major concern was a recent pattern of enrollment decline. Extensive questions regarding youth involvement were categorized under the general areas of community assessment and program marketing. The purposes of the community survey were to gauge community feeling about educational topics most needed for young people; to determine public awareness and understanding of 4-H; and to investigate the most useful sources for families seeking information on the 4-H program. From a randomly drawn sample of 500 households, 246 interviews were completed. The empirically-based conclusions will aid 4-H staff to inform families about currently available 4-H services. The process provided a useful example of the role that formative evaluation can play in the consideration of programmatic issues. The phone survey instrument and results are appended. (PN)