August 2021 State Council Corner

2021 State Council Team Update by Tayler Garges, 4-H State Council Reporter and Historian

On August 11, the council was able to attend Ag Progress Days in State College. Ag Progress Days is a three-day event held in August that is Pennsylvania's largest agriculture exposition. There were over 400 exhibits that showcase educational programs, current research, and innovations in equipment and technology.

The first event the council was able to attend was the town hall entitled Transitioning AG Businesses: Positioning for the Future. During this meeting, there were various members of the agriculture community talking about transitioning. Whether it be transitioning into retirement or transitioning your farm into a different type of business, it is important to start the discussion early.

Some of the speakers on the panel had gone through transitions such as passing the farm from one generation to the next, converting the farm into a wedding venue, or switching from one type of farming to another in order to fill the consumer's needs and wants.

President Livy Jumper said, "The Transitions Town Hall was educational and empowering, as it taught listeners from all generations about the task of transitioning. It was inspiring to those who own farms, as well as those who might not know anything about agriculture. The panel of knowledgeable leaders in the field gave excellent advice about a topic that may have otherwise seemed frightening or dreadful, and their answers to the audience's questions were very supportive and helpful. Overall, the transitions town hall was well worth the time spent to listen, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for some insight about generational and agricultural transitions!"

The second event that the council had the opportunity to attend was the DC Update Hosted by Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson, House AG Committee. Along with the Representative, Secretary of Agriculture Russel Redding, and Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Richard Roush shared from their perspectives of working with the state and local levels. During the meeting, they discussed policies that were passed and that are being worked on such as the next Farm Bill.

Topics such as the 2020 Farm Bill and broadband were talked about during the session. Questions about food waste, cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, the African Swine Flu, and others came from the audience and were addressed as well.

The third stop council made was a meeting with Secretary Redding. We were able to meet with him and talk about our goals for the year. We primarily focused on our service project of collecting winter jackets to donate back to the community, as well as our theme, Be Different Together, and how we have been incorporating it in our efforts throughout the year.

At the end of the day, the council was able to meet with some of the past council members and get some of the famous Farm Show milkshakes. Two of the past council members gifted this year's group with flower boxes that they have been making as part of a community action plan to help people find and develop a passion for gardening and 4-H.

Some of the council members were able to stay over and work at the 4-H booth in the youth building the next day. They helped younger children plant Lima beans in a plastic bag using a cotton ball, gave out prizes for completing a scavenger hunt, and were able to talk to people about the 4-H program.

The State Council is plugging ahead on planning the State Leadership Conference Junior. The event will be held on October 9 on Penn State's University Park campus. The event is for youth age 10-13. It will focus on helping to instill leadership and communication skills within the attendees while having fun along the way. The council will also be incorporating their theme into the event by having different opportunities to learn about cultures, holidays, traditions, and even different clubs that are offered in the 4-H program.