Posted: November 22, 2021
Young 4-H members from across Pennsylvania recently took part in a day-long event called State Leadership Conference (SLC), Junior. Sixty participants, aged 10-13, attended both virtually and in person at Penn State’s University Park campus. The theme was “Be Different Together.”
"SLC Junior is an introduction to leadership for our up-and-coming leaders," said Jeanette Stackhouse, education program associate and 4-H teen program manager with Penn State Extension, who noted that the event grew out of the larger state leadership conference for teens.
"We saw a need to have something similar for the younger kids," Stackhouse said.
The conference focused on foundational leadership skills to help younger members grow in 4-H. Hands-on workshops were led by teen 4-H members serving on State Council — the highest leadership role in Pennsylvania 4-H.
"It's a neat way for the younger kids to see 4-H teen leaders in action and a good mentoring experience for the teens," Stackhouse said.
The workshops covered confidence, conflict resolution and public speaking. In one session, participants spoke for a minute about a topic with which they were familiar. Many talked about their pets or hobbies.
The keynote speaker was Hidi Horikoshi, who owns a fitness center and dance studio near Danville. To encourage the audience to embrace uniqueness, he shared a personal story about moving from Japan to New York at 12 years old knowing only a few words of English. He said when he walked into middle school orientation, he wanted to cry because he felt different from everyone else in the room.
The 4-H members may also feel different, Horikoshi said. But rather than feeling scared and alone, he encouraged them to "own that uniqueness" by getting involved in something that allows their uniqueness to grow, being confident in who they are, and using their uniqueness to help and serve others.
Reinforcing that message, a photo booth prompted 4-H members to consider their uniqueness by writing down their "sparks" (passions) and posing for a photo against a National 4-H Week-themed backdrop. Sparks ranged from livestock projects to dance to helping others.
The event also included a ceremony for a new leadership role called State Project Ambassador. Throughout the year of their term, ambassadors will provide input from a youth perspective for the 4-H staff who are planning events, writing new curriculum or developing any other initiatives.
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 4-H website.
