Sophia Gaul

MURRAY COUNTY 4-H’ER SOPHIA GAUL ATTENDED NATIONAL 4-H CONFERENCE

Seven Minnesota 4-H youth were selected as delegates for this annual conference

On April 14-19, almost 300 youth from across the United States, U.S. territories, tribal nations, and military installations participated 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 was one of seven Minnesota 4-H youth leaders who attended 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 was 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. Sophia delivered a presentation on Intergenerational Collaboration for Environmental Justice to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Following their briefings, the delegates visited their U.S. Representative’s office and met with our U.S. Senators. Other conference activities included 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, inter-cultural 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. To learn more about the National 4-H Conference, go to z.umn.edu/n4hc or contact Jacquie Lonning, civic engagement & leadership director, at 612-624-9117.