In February, Meeker County 4-H?Äôers Savannah Stafford, Adrienne Lipinski, Greta Hulterstrum, Gretta Lemke, and Cora Huhn joined more than 500 youth from across Minnesota gathered to participate in the annual 4-H Building Leadership and Understanding (BLU) youth leadership conferences. The five regional BLU leadership events were filled with exciting and fun activities that help youth learn and practice valuable leadership skills that they will be able to take back with them to their counties and communities, and use throughout their lives.
This year?Äôs conference theme was, ?ÄúThe Golden Ticket,?Äù which taught participants about empathy and respect, and challenged them to apply these skills to their daily lives. The topic was selected by the 4-H state ambassadors based on what they saw as a topic of interest for youth. The youth engaged in small group discussions, educational workshops, and large group activities to meet other youth from throughout the region. The Central Region BLU was held at Camp Koronis outside of
Paynesville. During this event, the youth also listened to a panel about diversity in Minnesota.
?ÄúIn 4-H, we want our young people to learn how they can be leaders in their community, regardless if they hold a leadership title. This year?Äôs topic of ?Äòempathy?Äô challenged the young people to think about the experiences of others that may be significantly different than their own. Building this understanding of their peers and other community members is essential to creating strong communities,?Äù said Jacquie Lonning, Extension Youth Development Citizenship & Leadership state program director.
Using a youth-teaching-youth model, the 4-H BLU leadership conferences are developed and led by 4-H State Ambassadors, Minnesota 4-H youth who have been selected to serve as spokespeople for 4-H, and to educate youth and adults about the importance of youth development, leadership, citizenship, service, teamwork, and other invaluable life skills. 4-H staff, volunteers, and other youth from the area also plan components of the BLU to bring in a regional perspective to the statewide focus.
Meeker County 4-H?Äôers at 4-H Building Leadership and Understanding. They are, from left to right, Savannah Stafford, Adrienne Lipinski, Greta Hulterstrum, Gretta Lemke, and Cora Huhn. Submitted photo.
Meeker County participant Savanah Stafford said she liked that BLU was based on current issues in society. She was able to learn about other people?Äôs cultures.
To learn more about 4-H in Meeker County, contact 4-H Program Coordinator Cassidy Martin, at (320) 693-5275, and visit the website, www.4-H.umn.edu.
About Extension 4-H: 4-H is a youth development program of the University of Minnesota Extension. Available for youth grades K-1 year after high school, 4-H?Äôers participate in hands-on learning experiences in STEM, citizenship & leadership, animal science, creative arts and much more. Through this unique learn-by-doing process, youth obtain essential life skills such as problem solving, decision making, coping and communicating that help them succeed in their school, college, community and career. Research shows that youth who participate in 4-H have better grades and are more emotionally engaged with school, are more than twice as likely to be civically active and contribute to their communities, and are 47 percent less likely to have risky or problem behaviors.