by Shannon Takahashi
For many 4-H youths, the National 4-H Congress is a highly anticipated annual event that celebrates the culmination of a year’s worth of personal growth, hard work, and service-learning.
Hundreds of 4-H delegates gather every year in Atlanta, Georgia to network with other 4-H peers from around the nation, participate in community service events, and attend workshops about leadership, volunteering, global awareness, and inclusion. In the fall of 2022, Hawaiʻi 4-H sent a delegation of 12 youth from Maui accompanied by Hawaii 4-H Military Partnership Coordinator Kate Eickstead and 4-H leader Verna Eguires to represent Hawaiʻi at the Congress.
“National 4-H Congress was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that allowed me to bond with delegates around the nation,” said 4-H delegate and flag bearer Karissa. “The relationships I formed, the friends that I made, and most importantly, the lessons and skills that I learned made the whole trip more enjoyable than I could have ever imagined.
To attend the Congress, members need to demonstrate their practice of 4-H values and submit a record book of the various experiences and accomplishments achieved during their time in 4-H. Delegates are recognized for their excellence and dedication to community service-learning, leadership development, team project work, and personal development. The Congress provides a valuable opportunity for delegates to exchange ideas with other 4-H-ers and bring new ideas home to their local communities.
After returning home, delegates participate in the “Give Back” project to implement the knowledge they have gained at the Congress to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s 4-H program.
“National 4-H Congress was one of the most amazing trips I've ever experienced,” said 4-H delegate Rachel. “It really helped me get out of my comfort zone and boosted my self esteem making new friends. Congress gave me an appreciation for 4-H and my home in Hawaii, I was so proud to represent and be a delegate from where I was from.”
Learn more about the delegates’ experiences at the 2022 National 4-H Congress here.