• By April Bowman
• Posted Monday, April 29, 2013

Forsyth Youth Attend National Conference

A delegation of North Carolina 4-H youth representing six counties including Forsyth County, attended National 4-H Conference in Washington, DC. The North Carolina delegation returned home from a week in which more than 270 youth and adults representing 4-H programs across the country gathered to exchange ideas, gain knowledge to share back at home and develop recommendations to help guide the future of 4-H programs nationally and in their communities.

David Stevenson, Ruby Reaves and Nathan Barrick, State 4-H President, represented Forsyth county at the April 6-11 conference. Through various conference sessions and facilitated discussions, delegates learned and shared information on current trends and issues relevant to 4-H and youth, building effective partnerships, creating innovative 4-H programs, expanding the use of technology, working with diverse groups, and impacting community needs. During roundtable discussions, delegates made determinations as to how 4-H programs can further engage in citizenship efforts and develop young people to meet the challenges of the future.

Delegates also had the opportunity to meet with their legislators on Capitol Hill Day to represent youth from their state and discuss state 4-H programs with congressional members and their staff.

The National 4-H Conference upholds a tradition dating back to 1927 when the first “National 4-H Club Camp” was held on the grounds of the National Mall in front of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Known as the “Secretary’s Conference”, National 4-H Conference continues to be USDA’s premier youth development event.

For more information on the 4-H program in Forsyth county, please contact April Bowman at april_bowman@ncsu.edu

The 4-H program is the youth education program of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, based at North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T State universities. More than 235,000 young people ages 5 through 18 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year with the help of 20,400 adult and youth volunteers.

View photos of Forsyth County 4-H delegates.