4-H Youth Leaders Represent Chester County at State 4-H Conference

Nearly 30 Chester County 4-H youth members represented the Penn State Extension's 4-H Youth Development program in Chester County at the 2019 Pennsylvania 4-H State Leadership Conference and the Pennsylvania 4-H State Leadership Conference - Junior from February 1-3, at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College, Pennsylvania.

The 4-H youth county delegates were among nearly 600 attendees, representing county 4-H programs from across Pennsylvania, at the state-level leadership conference. The conference was organized by the Pennsylvania 4-H State Council - in conjunction with the Pennsylvania 4-H State Office.

The Pennsylvania 4-H State Leadership Conference was open to all 4-H teens, 13 years and older, and the Pennsylvania 4-H State Leadership Conference - Junior was open to all 4-H youth, 10-13 years old. This year's conference theme was "Leadership in Overtime."

During the conference, 4-H youth participated in interactive workshops to develop and strengthen their teambuilding, decision-making, and communication skills. The skills gained will be used in their 4-H clubs, schools, community, and future endeavors. The conference included motivational speaker Clint Pulver, as well as Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding and his wife, Nina.

Closing ceremonies of the conference, included the installation of the new Pennsylvania 4-H State Council. The council is a premier group of young people selected from around the Commonwealth to be the official spokesperson for the Pennsylvania 4-H program. The new officer team includes:

• Andrew Bowman of Lehigh County, president;
• Kelsey Bish of Clarion and Venango Counties, vice president of operations and events;
• Addison Neff of Dauphin County, vice president of internal affairs;
• Trisha Poorbaugh of Fayette County, secretary; and
• Molly Scheetz of Bucks County, reporter and historian.