Washington County 4-H members share their stories at Extension and 4-H Voices Day at the Capitol

Members of the Washington County 4-H County Council joined other 4-H members from across Iowa for 4-H Voices at the Capitol, a leadership and civic engagement event that connects young people with state lawmakers and offers firsthand experience with the legislative process. The focus of the day for 4-H members was to help them become Beyond Ready for this world we live in by observing the legislative process firsthand and learning how to share their 4-H story effectively.

Four 4-H members (Elijah Statler, Kennah Robertson, Madi Liska and Allie Whetstine) with two staff (Amy Green and Cherry Sandeen) from Washington County participated, meeting with legislators from across the region to share how 4-H has shaped their leadership, confidence, and involvement in agriculture, STEM, and community service.

“ I was interested in attending Extension and Youth Voices at the Capitol as 4-H has played a huge role in shaping who I am today and I wanted to advocate for the organization and county that have given me so many incredible opportunities,” said Whetstine member of the Limecreek Limelights 4-H Club. “From this experience I learned how important it is for youth to speak up and share with the legislators that make decisions that impact us. Most importantly, I realized that youth voices truly do matter and deserve to be recognized as they can make a great difference.”

Participants heard from two 4-H members who are pages at the Capitol this year, received guidance on communicating with elected officials, and had opportunities to share their personal 4-H stories with legislators, highlighting the impact of Extension programs in communities across the state.

“Taking this group from our program was such a good day of learning, experiencing something new and connecting with each other,” said Green, County 4-H & Youth Coordinator for Washington County Extension and Outreach. “I’m proud of their ideas and their bravery to share. The future looks bright with them in leadership.”

Extension and 4-H Voices at the Capitol also showcased innovative work happening statewide in agriculture, STEM, and leadership — reinforcing how Iowa 4-H prepares young people to contribute to their communities and future careers.

The event was sponsored by the Iowa Extension Council Association and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach with support from the Iowa 4-H Foundation and the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

For more information on Washington County 4-H programs please visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/washington/