4-H focuses on youth nationally
In lieu of the 4-H program’s 100th birthday, 13 representatives from Utah will be sent to Washington, D.C., in February to organize an official presentation for Congress, USDA and President George W. Bush.
The program being presented is called Conversations.
According to a 4-H press release, Bush signed “the Centennial bill into law authorizing $5 million to support the Conversations.”
Deb Jones, volunteer development specialist for USU’s 4-H extension, said, “4-H is the driving force behind the Conversations concept.”
She said it all started from just brainstorming about what to do to celebrate 4-H’s 100th year. The 4-H program wanted to do something for the community, and a general concept came up about the Conversations, she said. The concept was later presented to the legislators for funding, and Bush approved the funding sooner than expected, she said.
“We are acting as the catalyst and the convener to bring together youth serving groups, agencies, both youth and adult,” Jones said. “We basically brainstorm what we want to see happen in the next three to five years in our communities.”
The core of Conversations, Jones said, is the actual Conversations among community groups based on the values and quality they want to see in their communities. From state level, the Conversations will be taken to the national level, she said.
According to the press release, Conversations at the state level focused on a few different aspects, including: Effective Organizational Systems, Power of Youth, and Access Equity and Opportunity.
One of the agendas in Conversations which will be presented to Congress in February is The Power of Youth, which will to “utilize youth in more decision making opportunities and provide them with the needed skills to succeed in this area.” It also emphasizes in treating “youth as equal partners,” according to the press release.
Lauralee Lyons, a student worker for 4-H and a senior in accounting, was involved in the state-level Conversations. She said the discussions mainly centered on the issues of youth and where they are heading now. The group also talked about how youth can be more involved in the government, she said. Overall, Lyons said, the results were positive and she is excited to see the progress of Conversations.
“The neat thing is the priorities that Utahns came out with are very similar to the priorities that were talked about in California, Minnesota, Idaho and Arkansas,” Jones said. “Because we are all on the same track, basically, we are a unifying voice.”
Because, so far, the United States has yet to have a youth development agenda, Conversations is going to be the beginning of a nation’s clear voice, Jones said. She said she is thrilled 4-H had the opportunity to bring Conversations to the people and the country.
“It’s a simple idea that brought people together,” she said.
To Heather Powell who works for the 4-H Outreach program at the USU Salt Lake County extension, Conversations has brought a lot of positive goals and excitement to the community.
Powell is also one of the 13 delegates chosen to participate in Conversations’ national-level program. She said she will be chaperoning the youth there as well. Because it is only going to be a two-day activity, she said she will be busy.
She said the most exciting part of her visit to the capitol will be the congressional dinner with congressional representatives. It will be a great opportunity for constructive dialogue between the youth and their legislators, Powell said.
To Jones, Conversations is not about what 4-H thinks. In fact, she said, it is about what the people think.
The 4-H program is a volunteer-based program that started 100 years ago in an agricultural town. Volunteers were recruited to teach agricultural skills to youths in small towns. Today 4-H encompasses almost every aspect of practical and educational skills and talents. Volunteers are recruited nationwide as well as internationally to help children and youth all over the world excel in life.
For more information, contact Deb Jones at 797-2202.