On April 14-19, more than 200 youth from across the United States and U.S. territories will participate in the National 4-H Conference. The conference engages youth in developing a briefing to a federal agency on an issue of interest for both the youth and the agency.

Sophia Gaul is one of seven Minnesota 4-H youth leaders who will attend this year’s event. The youth were competitively selected based on past leadership through 4-H and their interest in growing their skills for future community leadership. At the event, each youth delegate will be placed on a team and paired with a federal agency or department to develop a briefing on a topic of interest to the federal partner. Following their briefings, the delegates will visit their U.S. Representative’s office and meet with our U.S. Senators. Other conference activities include skill-building workshops, networking events, a community service project and site-seeing opportunities.

“The National 4-H Conference provides youth with an incredible opportunity to share their perspectives with federal agencies and partners of the 4-H organization,” said Jacquie Lonning, Extension 4-H youth development director of Civic Engagement & Leadership. “As they develop their briefing, they also build their decision making, intercultural communication and public speaking skills, which prepares them well to be change agents in their communities.”

This experience was sponsored in part by a 4-H leadership endowment at the University of Minnesota Foundation, 4-H Clovermart store, and Murray County 4-H Federation