July 15, 2017 – West Bend, WI – Grant Peterson, 14, a member of Badger Boosters 4-H Club from West Bend, was one of hundreds of 4-H youth who attended the 97th annual 4-H & Youth Conference at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus from June 26-29 for grades seven through ten.
Peterson and eight other delegates from Washington County joined about 500 other young people representing UW-Extension’s 4-H Youth Development program in celebrating the 97th anniversary of the youth program in Wisconsin at the conference. The adult 4-H leader advising the county delegation was Paula Theisen.
“I got to learn how to change a tire and do other bike maintenance,” stated Peterson. “Dream Bikes is a non-profit used bike shop with two locations in Madison. In Robot Invasion I learned how to program a robot and then do some more advanced movements later in the seminar with more practice.”
The annual four-day conference gives youth a chance to learn about a variety of 4-H and other youth programs, experience hands-on learning in a university campus atmosphere, strengthen life skills such as communication and leadership, gain knowledge to share back home, and exchange ideas and form friendships with youth from around the state.
The delegates attended workshops and assemblies developed around the theme “Leadership…the Road Less Traveled” which highlighted leadership, individual responsibility, goal setting, healthy living, and living up to potential. Students participate in a variety of community service projects designed to stimulate interest in replicating similar projects in their own communities.
“There were also some good keynote speakers who knew how to keep people’s attention and delivered an intriguing message about leadership,” Peterson said, “It was also very exciting for me to get chosen to be in the talent show and play piano in front of all the delegates.”
Workshop topics included everything from communication arts to building leadership skills, healthy living, STEM topics, youth citizenship, and a host of other exciting subjects.
The Wisconsin 4-H Foundation, Washington County 4-H Leaders Association, and West Bend Noon Kiwanis provided financial support for this conference.
For more information about 4-H or other UW-Extension Youth Development programs, visit http://4h.uwex.edu or contact the Washington County 4-H Youth Development office at (262)335-4478.
