Posted: April 18, 2022
Pennsylvania 4-H alumna Amanda Hollabaugh, a native of Adams County, served as a roundtable facilitator during the National 4-H Conference, held March 19-24. The conference took place both virtually and in person at Hyatt Regency Crystal City near Washington, D.C.
Amanda Hollabaugh
At the conference, 4-H members ages 15-19 participate in roundtable discussions on pressing national topics, from nutrition security to college affordability. After a few days of brainstorming and preparation, the youth present their ideas to a federal agency.
"Two big themes of the conference are civic engagement and youth voice," said Jeanette Stackhouse, 4-H teen program manager with Penn State Extension.
As a facilitator, Hollabaugh guided her 16 delegates in addressing the "challenge question" posed by NASA: "If you could help NASA by contributing to its research or providing solutions to challenges NASA is currently facing, what would it be and why? And what challenges is NASA currently researching that interest you the most and why?"
Hollabaugh divided the youth into four groups — sustainability, planetary defense, remote sensing in agriculture, and education and outreach — to explore what mattered most to them.
"It's a mission of the National 4-H Conference to make sure all the youth feel heard by the federal agency," Hollabaugh said. "Their voices do matter. They’re going to be the ones changing the world one day."
Lexie McCurdy, a 10th grader from Lawrence County, participated virtually on the wildfire resilience roundtable. The group discussed methods for teaching the public about wildfires. McCurdy examined the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service website and offered suggestions for improvement.
In addition to the roundtable discussions, youth delegates took a night tour of Washington monuments and spent a day on Capitol Hill engaging with their senators and representatives.
"I really liked getting to meet with the representatives," McCurdy said. "That was great because it gave me the voice that 4-H tries hard to give youth and succeeds."
For Hollabaugh, meeting with NASA felt "unreal." After the presentation concluded and they ended the Zoom call, the youth laughed and clapped, celebrating their success together. "That was the most rewarding part for me," she said.
Roundtable facilitators must be 19 to 25 years old and attending college or within one year following graduation. Hollabaugh began her college career at Susquehanna University and currently takes classes at Harrisburg Area Community College while she considers transfer options.
Facilitator candidates apply with a resume and two reference contacts. Although she served as a delegate at the conference last year, this is not a requirement to become a roundtable facilitator.
Facilitators train for six weeks prior to the conference to learn facilitation strategies and prepare lesson plans for sessions with the youth. Travel expenses — including airfare, food, lodging, and registration — are covered for facilitators.
"If anybody has the opportunity to join 4-H, experience the national conference, or become a facilitator and give back to the program, I so recommend it," Hollabaugh said. "I love 4-H and everything it has provided for me."
Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a community of more than 6 million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. Penn State Extension 4-H youth development educators in all 67 counties throughout the commonwealth administer local 4-H programs through nonformal education and outreach. To find your local program, visit the Penn State Extension website.
