Washington County teen Attends 2018 National 4-H Conference | By Amy Mangan-Fischer

April 2, 2018 – Washington Co., WI – Wisconsin’s delegation to National 4-H Conference in Washington, DC, will join 300 youth and adults from around the country to share ideas and form recommendations in guiding future national 4-H youth development programs in their communities.

Wisconsin delegates attending the conference April 7-12, 2018 include: Bridget Dean, Washington Co., Tyler Franklin, St. Croix Co., Joelle Heller, Waukesha Co., Brianna Jones, Waukesha Co., Veronica Klenke, Chippewa Co., Allison Olson, Eau Claire Co., Linnea Tabaka, Green Co., Sydney Tone, Dane Co., and Camron VanLoo, Fond du Lac Co. Sarah Tarjeson, Sheboygan County Youth Development Educator and Joshua Chrest, Pierce County volunteer will accompany the group as their Adult Advisors.

Conference activities include workshops and other activities that emphasize civic engagement, youth-adult partnerships and professional development. During roundtable discussions and a town hall meeting, delegates will share ideas and form recommendations for the future of 4-H. Additionally, these ideas will be shared with Extension leaders at the national, state and local levels.

While in Washington D.C., delegates will meet with their state legislators during Capitol Hill Day to represent youth from Wisconsin and discuss state 4-H programs with Congressional members and their staff.

In 1927, the USDA implemented the first National 4-H Camp/Conference. This year’s conference marks a long tradition of bringing together the nation’s 4-H youth and adult leaders, volunteers and professionals. Known as the “Secretary’s Conference,” the National 4-H Conference continues to be the major annual youth development event for USDA.

Since its inception, National 4-H Conference has served as an avenue to assist youth and adult leaders in developing recommendations to guide 4-H programs nationally and in their communities. As the sponsor for this conference, the National 4-H Headquarters–located at the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture–seeks to promote positive youth development, facilitate learning and engage youth in the work of the Land-Grant Universities and USDA to enhance their quality of life.

Wisconsin 4-H Foundation provides financial support for the Wisconsin delegation. For more information about this or other 4-H Youth Development Programs, contact your local County Extension 4-H office or visit http://fyi.uwex.edu/wi4hedopp/national-4-h-conference/

Amy Mangan-Fischer

Interim 4-H Youth Development Educator