Roman Gaul, Murray County 4-H youth member attends the first Ignite 4-H Conference!
A team of 23 Minnesota 4-H teens is in Washington, DC this week, including Murray County’s own Roman Gaul.
They join more than 1,800 youth from across the country at the Ignite by 4 H Conference hosted by National 4-H! Throughout the week, delegates will dive into hands on workshops, hear from inspiring speakers, explore DC’s iconic sites, and build new connections as they develop plans to strengthen their communities back home.
This year’s conference features subject tracks in Agri-Science, Animal Science, Community Accelerators, Healthy Living, and STEM. It also includes a special track for Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF), a long running and beloved 4 H summer experience familiar to many alumni.
In the afternoon, our delegation kicked off the trip with early morning travel, navigating minor delays but arriving in Washington, D.C. safely and in good spirits. After settling into two nearby hotels and adjusting dinner plans, the group visited Ford’s Theatre for a performance of 1776, wrapping up a long but successful first day.
Day two split the group into different experiences. The Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) participants began their program on Capitol Hill, hearing from national leaders and touring the U.S. Capitol. Meanwhile, the remaining delegates explored the National Mall, visited the Washington Monument, toured Smithsonian museums, and stopped at the National 4-H Council headquarters. The full group reunited that evening for the Ignite conference, despite some late hotel check-in delays.
On day three, the entire Minnesota delegation came together for a meaningful visit to Arlington National Cemetery, including the Changing of the Guard and a stop at President Kennedy’s Eternal Flame. The afternoon featured conference sessions, a keynote on leadership and personal growth, and hands-on track activities. The evening concluded with “Lead to Change” project work, where youth began developing creative and impactful community action ideas.
