DeKalb Seeks Students To Attend March 4H State Congress Event

DeKalb County 4H is seeking 9th and 10th grade 4H members to attend the Tennessee State Congress in March.

The 4H Congress event takes students to Capital Hill in Nashville where they can experience how laws are made through mock legislative sessions. UT Extension 4H Leader Mykaela Young said the event offers an invaluable educational opportunity.

“This is an open opportunity just to have those students get the opportunity to go to Capital Hill and see where their bills come from and where their laws come from and kind of have a part to play in that and understand how that all works,” Young said.

Students will also get to meet state senators and representatives including those from their district. The deadline to sign up to attend the event is Friday. The opportunity is available to other 4H students across the Upper Cumberland. Contact your local 4H office.

Young said the event could also provide some unexpected experiences.

“Governor Lee last year came and spoke to all the students, which was a surprise to them, which was really cool,” Young said. “He talked about his love of 4H, the importance of the program it has in students’ lives. He discussed agriculture as well. He also talked about how important our kids are for our state and for our world as well.”

Young said she expects signups to be busy as the deadline approaches.

“A lot of the things we do in 4H are looking toward the future,” Young said. “All of the things we do are really great right now, but our goal really is to encourage our students and to better them for their adult life.”

This year is the 77th Annual 4H Congress. The Congress registration fee is $330. Those who attend must have a speech prepared about Congress.