October 16, 2001

4-H Agents to Hold National Conference in Bismarck Oct. 21-25

More than 900 members of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents will converge on Bismarck Oct. 21-25 for their national conference.

"The mission of NAE4-HA is to promote, strengthen, enhance and advocate the 4-H youth development profession," says Mike Hanson, North Dakota State University Extension agent from Linton and co-chair of the event.

"We’ve been working on getting the NAE4-HA conference to North Dakota since 1994 and this will be one of the largest conventions ever to be held in Bismarck."

The theme of this year’s conference is "Touching Tomorrow Today." "We meet each year to talk about new programs and curriculum in use around the country and create new networks," Hanson says. These extension professionals care about youth and the future of our country."

One of the speakers at this year’s conference is Joseph Jen, U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics. Jen oversees four agencies within the USDA: the Agricultural Research Service; the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service; the Economic Research Service; and the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The National 4-H Council Board of Trustees will meet in a joint session with the NAE4-HA Board of Trustees. It is the first time those two groups will meet in a joint session, notes Hanson. Also meeting during the conference are the Extension Service directors from each state.

In addition to seminars, keynote speakers, exhibits and organizational business, those in attendance will take part in community service.

"We wanted to participate in some community service because 4-H has always been highly involved in community service," Hanson says. "The 4-H Happy Feet project involves providing tennis shoes to children who are economically disadvantaged. The program was started by the Oakmound 4-H Club from rural Georgetown, Minn. The club will have a booth at the convention to accept donations. The Oakmound club will also do a presentation about the project at the opening event."

Conference attendees will be given a box of pasta to signify that most of the nation’s pasta originates from this region. "We know that not everyone is going to have enough room in their suitcase when they leave Bismarck so they can leave it with us and it will be given to a food pantry," Hanson says.

Those sponsoring commercial exhibits at the conference will be asked to donate items for a silent auction. Money raised from the auction will be sent to a 4-H established Kids Helping Kids fund in New York.

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Source: Mike Hanson, (701) 254-4811, mhanson@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu