This year’s theme, “Our Changing World,” reflects the question, “As the world changes, how do we enhance 4-H to ensure it remains significant and relevant for today’s youth?” An exciting new program component, “Citizenship Excursions,” will be included this year. These structured educational excursions in our nation’s capitol will set the foundation for round table discussions and a dynamic Town Hall Meeting. These conversations will lead to the recommendations the youth will share with the Secretary and our partners.

National 4-H Council, the private partner of National 4-H Headquarters, was able to secure funding to enhance the conference program thanks to The Farm Credit System Foundation and Fleischmann’s Yeast. This funding is being used for scholarships to increase participation from the 1890 and 1994 land grant partners. Ten land grant colleges and universities received scholarships to send youth and adult delegates to the conference. Scholarship recipients include Alcorn State University, Crownpoint Institute of Technology, Delaware State University, Langston University, Lincoln University, North Carolina A&T State University, Prairie View A&M University, Southern University and A&M College, Tuskegee University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

This 77th National 4-H Conference is the first year that a 1994 Land Grant University (Crownpoint Institute of Technology) is sending a delegation to the conference, and they are presenting a workshop as part of the program. Altogether, more than 350 conference delegates will represent their Land Grant University at the conference. Conference leadership includes 19 youth and adult members of the Conference Planning Committee and 20 Collegiate 4-H members who serve as conference facilitators.

To learn more about National 4-H Conference, visit 4hconf.4-h.org. The April 2007 issue of Clover Corner News will feature stories of the conference.