This week, the 91st National 4-H Congress just ended, and our Kentucky delegation returned Tuesday evening. The National 4-H Congress is the flagship event of the 4-H program. For nearly a century, youth from across the United States have participated in this youth leadership development conference. The program is built upon the Cooperative Extension System’s belief that young people can be significant partners in addressing the issues that face our nation, especially those affecting youth.
My Memory Lane
For anyone like me, a 4-H alum who attended the National 4-H Congress, memories from this event stick with you forever. Attending this event as a freshman in college was a watershed moment in my life. I went in 1977 (the 56th Congress) while it was still in Chicago, so did 4-H Foundation Chairman David Wallace that year. He won the trip in the State 4-H Sheep Project – don’t tell him I told you. The theme that year was “Freedom to be,” and I remember that week like it was yesterday. We stayed at the Conrad Hilton Hotel, which was a big deal to a country boy. I won the trip because I was the State 4-H Agriculture Champion in record books. The sponsor of my trip was the International Harvester Company. While at Congress, I was lucky enough to be one of the escorts for the National 4-H Fashion Revue and escorted Barbara McFarland from Indiana. That week shaped who I am today and the many roles I have been fortunate to play.
Why National 4-H Congress
National 4-H Congress is critical because it offers youth, ages 14 – 19, a quality educational and cross-cultural experience that exceeds what any state independently can provide. It is designed to address the needs and issues of youth while helping to develop capable, competent, and caring citizens. The program combines plenary sessions, seminars, discussion groups, and a service learning experience.
Since the mid 1990s, Kentucky has selected its delegates through an application process. Before that, delegates were selected based on 4-H record books, mainly winning a category at the state level, like agriculture, communications, leadership, or sewing. In 2009, the Foundation began encouraging the 4-H Department to create a new Achievement Program to take the place of what was known as the Honors Program. In doing so, the Foundation pledged to raise and provide the funds for an $80,000 per year Achievement Program.
Why a New Achievement Program
You see, from the mid-1990s, if a Kentucky 4-Her won the trip to National 4-H Congress, they got a bill for the trip; there was no national or state level sponsors to help pay for the trip. The 4-H Foundation wanted the awards from the new Achievement Program to mean something, and we wanted National 4-H Congress to be a part of that recognition.
Therefore, the Congress trip, beginning this year, becomes part of the new Achievement Program with the 30 Gold Winners each year receiving the trip to Congress. For now, we intend to pay about 75% of the cost, estimated at a total of $1,000 per 4-Her, and we hope to push that up to 80 or 90% in the next couple of years.
We are still looking for sponsors, especially 4-H alumni that attended Congress and know the value of the experience, to support the trip to National 4-H Congress. Walk yourself down your own memory lane, and you will quickly recall, like I did, the value of this experience. Please consider gifting your experience to one of our own Kentucky youths. Sponsoring one of the 30 delegates takes an annual commitment of $500.
For more information about the new 4-H Achievement Program, or to become a Congress sponsor, please contact me at (270) 735-6130 or KeithL.Rogers@uky.edu. We can reminisce about your trip to Congress.
