• By Kathy Hepler
• Posted Thursday, December 13, 2012

Forsyth County Represented at National 4-H Congress

A delegation of 14 North Carolina 4-H youth and 4 adults representing 15 counties including Forsyth County, attended the ninety-first annual National 4-H Congress, which was held in Atlanta, Georgia. The North Carolina delegation returned home from five days in which more than eight hundred youth and adults representing 4-H programs across the country gathered to participate in educational, service and recreational opportunities.

Laura Hutchins, daughter of Brian and Glenda Hutchins of Winston-Salem, represented Forsyth County at the November 23-27, 2012 conference. This year’s theme “Become a Catalyst of Change” focused on ways for 4-H’ers to accept the challenge of global awareness, exploration, service and action. Workshops, speakers and group activities encouraged National 4-H Congress delegates to think broadly and to become a catalyst of change to make their club, community, country and world a better place.

During workshops participants had a chance to participate in sessions ranging from service learning to robotics. National 4-H Congress speakers challenged participants to reach out and to make a difference in the world. One way participants reached out to help others was by donating money to help build the third 4-H Clover Habitat for Humanity house. In a morning set aside for community service, 4-H participants traveled to different parts of Atlanta and surrounding areas to participate in community service activities. The closing banquet featured Miss America 2012, Robin Kaeppeler.

The history of the National 4-H Congress goes back ninety-one years. An educational tour to Chicago was the forerunner to what would eventually become known as National 4-H Congress. Today National 4-H Congress provides a great opportunity for 4-H members from the across the country to come together and learn about community involvement, culture diversity, and service to others while meeting new friends.

For more information on this event or other 4-H programs, please contact April Bowman, 4-H Agent in Forsyth County at 336.703.2855 or visit http://forysth.cc/ces/4-H. North Carolina 4-H has over 235,000 youth enrolled in the program as well as over 20,000 youth and adult volunteers.