Burlington—The 2024 National 4-H Conference provided a platform for 4-H teens to engage in conversation with federal agencies on important issues that can impact their future from climate change and clean energy to promoting inclusivity, improving mobility safety and paying for college.
The conference ran from April 19 to 24 with headquarters at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. More than 300 delegates, ages 15 to 19, from most of the U.S. states, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Italy and Japan attended, including four from Vermont.
The focus of the conference was on empowering youth to speak up about issues facing the country by researching, brainstorming and preparing a briefing to present to a federal partner agency on the final day of the conference. For several of the agencies, this event is among the few ways that they get youth feedback and for some, the only time that they have youth interaction.
Each delegate was assigned a topic for these roundtable discussions and final presentation, based on their interests. Vermont delegates and their assigned roundtable topic and relevant federal agency were:
- Ella McAllister, Morrisville, Green Mountain Moovers 4-H Club; “Building Youth Leadership Capacities;” National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
- Caitlin Packer, Barre Town, Trailblazers 4-H Club; “What Makes You Feel Safe?;” U.S. Department of Justice
- Emma Rowell, Greensboro Bend, Caspian Critters 4-H Club; “Supporting Connectiveness as a Protective Factor;” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Erin Whipple, Bridport, Mountain View 4-H Club; “Climate Change, Preparedness, Community Resilience;” Federal Emergency Management Agency
Molly McFaun, University of Vermont Extension 4-H educator and group chaperone, also participated in a roundtable, “Adolescent Health and Wellbeing,” with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Conference attendees attended a performance of the Coyaba Dance Theatre, took a guided bus tour of Washington, D.C. monuments at night and mingled with other delegates at a farewell dance. The Youth Career Fair, held in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, offered an opportunity for delegates to meet with representatives from businesses, government agencies and non-profits to learn about different career pathways, internships, fellowships and volunteer opportunities.
They also heard from U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and participated in a special 4-H flag raising ceremony at the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) headquarters dressed in their conference T-shirts. In addition, the Vermont delegation enjoyed a special tour by Sen. Peter Welch’s office staff, visited the other Vermont Congressional delegations offices and spent time exploring some of the many historical sites and museums around Capitol Hill.
USDA has hosted the National 4-H Conference since 1927 as a way of encouraging youths to find their voice and discuss issues with federal government officials in the nation’s capital with the goal of fostering change in the country. The annual gathering was originally called the National 4-H Club Camp with delegates sleeping in tents on the National Mall in front of USDA headquarters.
To learn more about the 4-H program in Vermont, contact the State 4-H Office at (802) 656-7630 or (800) 571-0668 (toll-free in Vermont).