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December 2, 2004 N.D. Teens Attend National 4-H Congress Attending this year’s National 4-H Congress in Atlanta is an experience five North Dakotan teens likely won’t forget. “I thought it was amazing,” said 17-year-old Bobbie Jo Manikowski, who lives near Geneseo. “They had some amazing motivational speakers.” Manikowski, Katlin Anderson of Lisbon, Christan Linderkamp of Cogswell, Lindsey Martinsen of Forman and Joshua Ydstie of Milnor earned the trip through their leadership efforts in 4-H. The North Dakota 4-H Foundation sponsored the trip, which ran Nov. 26-30. “It was really fun,” Martinsen, 17, said. “It was all the different things we got to do.” “Growing into the Future” was the theme of the 83rd National 4-H Congress, which focused on environmental awareness. The program was a mix of educational, community service and recreational opportunities. The delegates also had a chance to go on tours, including ESPN and CNN facilities, and visit the Atlanta Zoo and historical sites such as Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthplace and burial site. Martinsen was part of a community service project called Second Wind Dreams aimed at helping senior citizens fulfill their dreams. A group of 4-H’ers visited with the elderly in a nursing home to discover what they always wanted to do but never had a chance. One woman wants to visit North and South Dakota, Martinsen said. Another senior wants to ride a motorcycle. “It’s like Make-a-Wish for the elderly,” said Julie Hassebroek, a county Extension Service agent for Sargent County. She accompanied the teens on the trip to Atlanta. One of Manikowski’s favorite parts of the National 4-H Congress was visiting a school for children from all over the world, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Liberia. “It was cool to see them all in one classroom really getting along,” she said. The international night that featured food from around the world, along with some background on the meals, was another highlight for her. She said she also had a great time becoming friends with 4-H’ers from places such as Florida, Kentucky and Arizona. About 1,300 delegates from throughout the United States and its territories attended the congress. But what impressed Manikowski most was learning of the impact that 4-H youths have on people’s lives. “We got to appreciate how much people think about 4-H,” she said. Hassebroek said North Dakotans can be proud of the quality of the youth who represented the state. She added that she and the delegates appreciate the North Dakota 4-H Foundation’s support in sending them to the congress. ### Source: Julie
Hassebroek, (701) 724-3355, jhassebr@ndsuext.nodak.edu
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