Grateful for the experience, two Meigs County 4-H members participate in Citizenship Washington Focus
Pictures: Meigs County Delegates Laura Pullins and Gage Smith, along with Educator Michelle Stumbo, recently attended 4-H Citizenship Washington Focus. Along with touring the sites in DC, they met with legislators and were able to visit the Commission of Agriculture chambers and balcony. Submitted Photo.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two Meigs County 4-H Members, Laura Pullins and Gage Smith, attended a recent 4-H Committee meeting in order to thank the Committee for supporting their participation in 4-H Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF.)
Each year during the Fair, Meigs County 4-H presents two Outstanding 4-H’er awards. These two members are eligible to attend the CWF program held at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, MD the following summer. Pullins and Smith were the 2015 Outstanding 4-H’ers and attended CWF during the week of July 4, 2016.
CWF is designed to build leadership and citizenship skills in youth while forming friendships with others from around the country. Youth meet with their Legislators on Capitol Hill, tour the sights of Washington, D.C., attend workshops to help develop their skills, make a plan to help build their communities and, of course, make new friends and build connections with youth from across the country.
When asked what their favorite part of the trip was, Pullins mentioned all the friendships she had built with teens from across Ohio. Smith spoke about how the visit to Capitol Hill prepared him for his future.
Meigs County 4-H Educator Michelle Stumbo was able to serve as a chaperone for the trip this year. Following the trip, Stumbo had this to say about the experience, “In a week where we have seen some of the worst sides of our country, I have been blessed to witness some of the best. I got to see our nation’s Capital through the eyes of teens who had not lost all faith in those who work these. I got to see them share experiences, learn new skills, and learn about our nation’s history. Through some hot, wet and soggy weather, their attitudes remained awesome and they impressed us with their seriousness in reflective moments. I got to see them rally around each other & provide support without judgement or need of recognition. In short, I got to spend my week helping to ensure that the next generation is ready to lead, and I think many of them will be ready before we know it!”
The 2016 Outstanding 4-H’ers will be announced during the Jr. Fair Awards ceremony on Friday, August 19, 2016 of the Meigs County Fair.
Ohio 4-H is the youth development program of Ohio State University Extension, with more than 285,000 young Ohioans participating in 4-H clubs, groups and special interest programs. For more information about the 4-H program in Meigs County, please contact Stumbo, 4-H Extension Educator, at 740-992-6696 or [email protected].
