By Lauren Burdick

Three Michigan 4-H members traveled to Washington D.C. this past April to attend the National 4-H Conference, where they learned about government, 4-H programs offered in other states and the importance of youths’ voices being heard.

The National 4-H Conference is a program where selected 4-H members travel to Washington D.C. to meet 4-H members from different states and Canada. This year, three high school-aged representatives from Michigan attended the conference: Sara Brocklehurst, Forrest Cohn and Megan Innis.

Brocklehurst, a 17-year-old senior at Charlotte High School, says she decided to attend the conference to learn more about 4-H and see what kind of programs other states were offering through 4-H. “I wanted to expand my 4-H horizons,” says Brocklehurst. “At the conference, I met 4-H members from other states and learned about their programs. Now we’re working to try to include in Michigan some of the programs we learned about and get other people interested in attending the conference next year.”

The conference was held April 1-6. Attendees participated in a series of workshops taught by youth that showcased 4-H programs taking place in various states. “All the states are implementing different programs,” says Lisa Campion, national 4-H Youth Directions Council Michigan representative. “The workshops are places where state delegates can try to get others to implement their programs. It’s also a time where our state delegates can get ideas for projects they would be interested in bringing back and introducing to our 4-H program.”

Attendees also took part in groups where discussions were lead on the importance of having the youth voice be heard and ways to do this through youth-adult partnerships. Participants also visited Capitol Hill, where they were able to talk with senators, legislators and the director of USDA. Together they brainstormed ways that the youth could be better heard and included in community decision making.

“The conference is really aimed at how we can improve our youth system and how the youth’s voices can be heard,” says Campion. “Participants also network with other state leaders so they can implement new ideas to help promote growth and youth involvement.”