It's my last day in D.C. and I'm really sad to leave. I made a lot of great friends this week from around the nation, and have already planned out a few road trips for the summer. At the conference I had the opportunity to exchange ideas about 4-H with 43 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada. One idea that we came up with was to hold a "4-H Healthy Living"Conference in our home states where 4-Her's would be able to compete in sporting events and learn how to eat and live healthier. I also had the opportunity to meet with my state legislators, including Congressman Glenn Thompson. At my meeting with Congressman Glenn Thompson, we discussed 4-H in the Commonwealth, and how it could be improved. Congressman Thompson also informed us that he was once a member of his local 4-H in his hometown in Pennsylvania. This conference was a real blast, and it was very educational and inspiring. I highly reccomend any 4-Her's to apply to this program and go in the upcoming years.

4-H Conference Comes to a Close

Wednesday was a busy day in our Nation's Capital for all of the delegates. The morning started out at the USDA Building where Azeem Ahmed delivered the delegates message to the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak. I am hoping to have a copy of the presentation to link here with the blog, check bag. His message was there are 6 million 4-H members, 600,000 4-H volunteers and 5,000 4-H Extension Educators we are waiting for your call to serve, we are waiting to serve!

From there we had 3 meeting with our representatives. From Senator Casey's office we meet with Kasey Gillette, from Senator Specter's office Adam Tarr and Jim Youn and we meet with Congressman Glenn Thompson. Nathaniel spoke with each about the mission mandates of 4-H, state programs, local programs and priorities and thanked each for their past support and continuing support of 4-H and Cooperative Extension. Between visits we had time to go to the Library of Congress and visit the House Gallery. Dinner was rounded out with a dinner cruise and dance aboard the Odyssey which traveled down and back on the Washington Channel. It has been a great 6 days meeting with teens and volunteers across the country, Canada and Puerto Rico. I would like to Thank Lisa Hampton, Eddie Mentzer and the program committee for all of their hard work and patience for the last week. They did an incredible job in moving a delegation of more than 300 around DC. Thank You!

One of the pictures above is from a small area about 5 minutes from the 4-H Center, called Kenwood. A 4-H Educator from the University of DC told us about the area where there are Cherry Blossom trees lining both sides of this area. A small group of us took a drive down and was indeed spectacular, thanks. The dog in the picture with Congressman Thompson and Nathaniel is Truman, the Congressman's dog.