Saturday Night Highlights and Sunday Schedule

Hi Everyone, we made it. You definitely have to be careful or you will drive right by the 4-H Center! . There are 43 states, Canada and Puerto Rico represented here this year. Saturday evening kicked off with an Opening Assembly speaker Darrien Pierce 4-H member from Virginia who spoke on the Essential Element of Belonging. He spoke on what attracted youth to gangs was poverty, boredom, and peer pressure. He encouraged 4-H’ers to continue to expand 4-H clubs so others could benefit from a group that includes everyone, offer youth something to do, positive peer pressure and learn how to make and manage money. The planning committee was introduced and then off to Roundtables.

Discussion at the youth roundtables, lead by Collegiate 4-Hers and where no adults are allowed, will stimulate thought around key matters and moving delegates to action in their local communities. A change for this year in the message to the Secretary of Agriculture will not be on what are the issues of youth, but one of we know what the issues are and 4-H is waiting to be called on to meet those challenges. One of the goals in the roundtables and other sessions is that the message is one that will be easily replicated in the states and local programs.

Sunday will be a day where delegates and chaperones will be meeting two of National 4-H’s Mission mandates of Healthy Living and Citizenship. All participants will be taking part in a 5K Fun Run/Walk at Greenbelt Park, a 1,100 acre National Park inside the beltway. After the run, trash clean-up will round out the morning.

Once returning back to the 4-H Center, delegates will continue in their roundtable discussions. The evening highlight will be a Night at the Museum. 4-H’ers will be given a private tour of the new National Air & Space Museum. This museum is much larger than the original in DC. It is large enough to hold the original space shuttle and a 747. We will be able to go into the IMAX theatre and to the simulation air craft control tower that overlooks Dulles Airport. We will be able to listen into the actual conversations between the aircraft and pilots and watch the planes land! We are all looking forward to this great night.

Keep following us as we meet others from around the country, share in discussions and tour DC!