South Dakota 4-H members attended the National 4-H Agri-Science Youth Summit at the National 4-H Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Md. (left to right): Nancy Lilja, CHS Foundation President; Bailey Feistner, Sanborn County; Cassie Richarz, Hamlin County; Jessica Kott, Brule County; Laura Alexander, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor – Brule and Lyman Counties and Jennifer Ringkob, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor – Marshall and Day Counties.

BROOKINGS – Six South Dakota 4-H members attended National 4-H Youth Summits focused on Agri-Science and Healthy Living held at the National 4-H Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Md.

“The National Agri-Science Summit was a positive experience because of all the amazing speakers and workshops. It opened my eyes up to all the different areas and careers in agriculture. In Washington, D.C., I was also surrounded by people, like me, who have a passion for agriculture,” said Jessica Kott, Brule County 4-H Member and State 4-H Agriculture Ambassador.

In addition to Kott, the other 4-H youth who attended the National Agri-Science Youth Summit include: Bailey Feistner of Sanborn County, and Cassie Richarz of Hamlin County; youth who attended the National Healthy Living Youth Summit were Laura Bogue of Lincoln County, Tessa Erdmann of Brown County, and Sydney Hoffman of McCook County.

Travel costs and expenses for the National Agri-Science Summit were covered through a generous sponsorship from the CHS Foundation. Travel costs and expenses for the National 4-H Healthy Living Summit were funded by a sub-grant through the Walmart 4-H Healthy Habits program.

“I learned that living healthy isn’t just about eating right, it’s also having mental wellness, and that sometimes it gets forgotten. My generation tends to lack positive eating, physical fitness and wellness habits,” said Tessa Erdmann, Brown County 4-H member and State 4-H Leadership Ambassador. “Since I am a Leadership Ambassador, I am planning a healthy living program for my school.”

As a State 4-H Ambassador, Erdmann and Kott are among 19 South Dakota youth from counties across the state selected to serve. Developed to expand leadership opportunities for teens, the State 4-H Ambassador program offers opportunities to South Dakota teens because it is designed to engage youth in leadership development through all four 4-H program priority areas including: Agriculture, Health and Wellness, Leadership and Science.

…Read more details about the event in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal!