BROOKINGS, S.D. — It’s time for South Dakota 4-H members 16 to 18 years old to apply for the 2018 National 4-H Conference held in Chevy Chase, Maryland April 7 – 12, 2018.
“This is an amazing opportunity for South Dakota 4-H teen members,” said Amanda Stade, SDSU Extension State 4-H Events Management Coordinator.
As a delegate 4-H members will attend training workshops, become acquainted with government and have the opportunity to meet with state leaders. They visit various Federal Agencies to present on topics that they have researched during the week. They also go on tours of the Monuments on the Washington Mall.
“This conference gives 4-H members an opportunity to engage in personal development experiences that increase their knowledge, resources, and skills while they discuss topics affecting youth and 4-H programming nationwide,” said Matthew Olson, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor for Pennington County. “During the conference they are empowered to create positive social change in their communities and have the opportunity to practice and apply their skills in a real-world setting.”
For South Dakota 4-H members, the National 4-H Conference trip is sponsored and fully funded by the South Dakota 4-H Livestock Industry Trust Fund.
Application deadline is Jan. 1, 2018. To apply, youth should fill out the electronic application found at this link: http://igrow.org/up/resources/01-4047-2017.pdf. Youth must be 16 – 18 years old by the date of the event. Applicants should submit their applications to their local SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor. A complete listing can be found at www.iGrow.org under the Field Staff icon.
Once received, a designated selection committee will review applications and notify youth who are selected to attend National 4-H Conference as a delegate.
More information can be found with the application materials.
Conference overview and history
The National 4-H Conference is a premier professional and leadership development event for 4-H members, ages 16 – 19, across the U.S. and its territories.
The conference is administered by the National 4-H Headquarters of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Held annually, except for several years during World War II, the camp’s mission is to assist in the development of the next generation’s leaders. Delegates attend training workshops, become acquainted with government and have the opportunity to meet with state leaders. More information on National 4-H Conference can be found at http://4-h.org/parents/national-4-h-conference/#!about.
This experience has been a tradition for 4-H members since 1927.
In 1958, the event name, formerly known as the National 4-H Club Camp, was changed to National 4-H Conference.
Prior to 1959, delegates slept in tents on the grounds of the National Mall in front of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, DC. In 1959, the meeting moved from the National Mall to the newly founded National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, MD (right outside of Washington, D.C.).
— SDSU Extension
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