Posted: December 14, 2022
Pennsylvania 4-H made a mark at the National 4-H Congress, held recently in Atlanta, Georgia. With 38 4-H youth members and nine adult chaperones, Pennsylvania was the largest delegation in attendance. This five-day event hosted more than 800 youth and adults representing 4-H programs across the country.
National 4-H Congress consists of educational workshops and sessions, a half-day service-learning project, and recreational activities. These experiences are designed to develop and enhance leadership and life skills; build awareness, understanding, and inclusion; and provide opportunities to meet, connect, and network with other 4-H members from across the country. National 4-H Congress is aimed at inspiring youth to make an impact on their club, their community, the country and the world while building the next generation of leaders.
"My interest in National Congress began after hearing presentations by older 4-H members," said Chloe Plesic, a 4-H'er from Adams County. "They talked about meeting people from all around the United States and how much they learned and grew as leaders."
Amy Gregor, education program associate for 4-H youth development with Penn State Extension, coordinates the Pennsylvania delegates and chaperones.
"This event brings a lot of different topics together," Gregor said. "It's not just leadership, civic engagement, or agriculture. It has a little bit of everything."
David Arnoldi, a 4-H member from Bucks County, was struck by the diversity of workshop topics. "There was a class on yoga, healthy cooking, and even ocean exploration," he said. "The workshops were unexpected, but very fun to attend."
Other hands-on workshops included "Habits of Highly Charismatic Teens," "Speed Meeting," "Working in Diverse Teams," "Dancing with the Stars," "Coolness of Science" and "Navigating Social Media."
"I was not expecting everybody I met to be so friendly," Arnoldi said. "When many people gather from across a country, different beliefs can be seen, but none of that mattered while we were there. Everybody was civil and kind to one another regardless of who they were and where they were from."
Garrett Schick, a 4-H'er from Venango County, also enjoyed making new friends.
"My favorite part was meeting people from all over and talking about how 4-H is different in each state," he said. "Everyone had just met each other, but we can talk like we've been friends for our whole lives."
The conference featured prominent speakers, including Dan Clark, the primary contributing author to the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series.
"The guest speakers were very eye-opening to me," Arnoldi said. "I had never felt such a connection to a speaker as I did with the ones at the conference. These speakers and 4-H Congress as a whole have changed my way of thinking about the world for the better."
Delegates spent a morning taking part in community service projects around Atlanta, such as assisting with landscaping in parks, carrying out projects for elementary schools, sorting and packing books for a nonprofit organization called Books for Africa, and helping in a food pantry.
"I feel more sure of myself and how I can help others, not just as a 4-H'er, but as a person in a community," Arnoldi said.
The 4-H'ers also chose an educational tour to attend, with options ranging from Zoo Atlanta, the College Football Hall of Fame, the World of Coca-Cola, and the Georgia Aquarium.
"The days went by fast because everyone was having so much fun," Plesic said.
4-H'ers can attend National 4-H Congress only once, unless selected for the design team the following year. The design team leads the event and consists of an adult-youth partnership of extension professionals and 4-H members who participated the prior year.
"I'm excited because we have at least nine 4-H members who have expressed an interest in applying for the design team for next year," Gregor said. "It's a great leadership experience and unique opportunity to be part of a team that plans and executes a national event."
On the last night of the conference, the 4-H'ers dressed up for a formal dinner and dance.
"My favorite part of National Congress was the gala dance on the last night," Plesic said. "It amazed me to see people from all around the country come together as if they were friends for years and dance the night away. Every single person on that dance floor was from a different place, but we all shared a common passion for 4-H."
Plesic said she appreciates everyone who made the event possible. "I left National Congress knowing I grew as a leader, friend, and 4-H member. It was an amazing experience that I'll remember forever."
Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the United States 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 4-H website.
