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| Photo attached: From left: Ella Armentrout, Allison Jenkins, & Aubry Terry |
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Bates County 4-H members Ella Armentrout (County Line 4-H), Allison Jenkins (Summit Go Getters 4-H) and Aubry Terry (County Line 4-H) were among the 360 people attending the largest state 4-H Teen Conference in Missouri history, March 29-30, at the University of Missouri, Columbia. The delegates, ages 11-13, attended workshops to develop belonging, generosity andmastery of new skills, three of the 4-H program’s four “essential elements.” The fourth is independence, and for many delegates Teen Conference is the first big overnight trip away from home.
Teen Conference is led by Missouri’s State 4-H Council, a group of older teens elected annually by their peers, who work for months to plan this annual event. The experience develops the leadership skills of both groups,” said Alan J. Mundey, Bates County 4-H Youth Specialist for MU Extension. “The older teens developing this event build as many leadership skills as the younger ones who attend.”
Delegates attended workshops led by Council teens that focused on leadership skills, character education, and parliamentary procedure. Participants also collected 485 lbs. of food for a local food bank and developed materials for MU Extension 4-H LIFE, a program which extends the 4-H experience to families that include a qualified incarcerated parent.
Missouri 4-H is open to all children ages 8-18. For more information, visit 4h.missouri.edu or contact your local MU Extension Center at 660-679-4167.
Courtesy of Alan Mundey
