Pennsylvania 4-H’ers make their voices heard in D.C.
As part of an effort to bring youth voice to high-level government discussions, 10 Pennsylvania 4-H members attended the National 4-H Conference, April 14-19, at Hyatt Regency Crystal City near Washington, D.C.
The 4-H’ers representing Penn State Extension were Melody Wright and Ariana Cook, of Bradford County; Madison Conn and Jaidyn Goodman, of McKean County; Alyssa Bergenstock, of Montour County; Crystal Clark, of Potter County; Sami Jo Hayman, of Somerset County; Garrett Franck, of Union County; and Grace Ziegmont and Eliana Fetters, of York County.
During this event, 4-H members ages 15-19 participated in roundtable discussions on pressing national topics. After a few days of brainstorming and preparation, the youth presented their ideas to a federal agency.
“Every year, this program reminds me of the power in youth voice,” said Jeanette Stackhouse, 4-H teen program manager with Penn State Extension. “Many in our society look down on teenagers, but this conference reinforces to me that they are our future, and they have great ideas to share to solve big problems.
“One of our 4-H’ers formulated a social media campaign in response to this year’s challenge question,” Stackhouse said. “Not only did the agency pick up the idea and start promoting the hashtag the very same day, but several in the group were offered internships on the spot. Seeing such influential people giving youth a chance to be heard is amazing to witness year after year.”
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Goodman said she noticed personal growth during the conference. “I was able to use my public speaking, leadership and teamwork skills, all while making them better,” she said. “I felt encouraged to set goals and chase them. We were reminded how much is out there for us outside of our small towns and shown that so many government officials started their journey in their local 4-H clubs.”
Fetters expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend the conference. “I met many new people, learned about multiple different cultures and worked with a group of wonderful people on large-scale ideas that could affect thousands of lives,” she said. “This taught me a lot about cooperation, big-picture thinking and organization.”
Fetters’ roundtable group presented its ideas on international exchange to the U.S. Department of State. “The individuals I was paired with were insightful, passionate and interested in making the presentation as good as it could possibly be, and I am very thankful to have met them,” she said.
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Franck’s roundtable discussion focused on safe communities. The group delved into concerns that youth have in their communities and explored ways in which youth and adults can collaborate to address these issues. They presented their findings to the U.S. Department of Justice.
“This was my favorite moment from the conference,” Franck said. “Seeing everyone’s work come together so smoothly was incredible to witness.”
Goodman’s roundtable group provided insights to the U.S. Senate on how extension programs could assist in providing mental health aid to farmers and adults living in rural communities.
Along with the roundtable discussion, Goodman said she enjoyed meeting new people from different parts of the U.S. and touring Washington. Youth delegates took a night tour of Washington monuments and spent a day on Capitol Hill engaging with their senators and representatives.
“The National 4-H Conference made me a better leader, listener and speaker, and I will carry that with me for the rest of my life,” Fetters said.
Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-H.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Pennsylvania 4-H’ers make their voices heard in D.C.
