The National 4-H Conference to be held in Washington DC in April is the annual premiere national civic engagement opportunity for 4-H members across the country. The conference is held at the National 4-H Center and there will be teens in attendance from every state in the nation.
Mikey Hughes, a Barton County 4-H member was one of five teens selected to represent the great state of Kansas. The other delegates are: Greyson Collins, Stafford County; Janae McKinney, McPherson County; Gatlin Clawson, Meade County and Marissa Randel, Nemaha County.
After completing a written application, a state team reviews the applications and several candidates are chosen to interview at the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum with a panel of experienced 4-H staff and volunteers. The interview also includes a group interview in which candidates are asked to divide into two groups and within 15 minutes the group must develop three main ideas which they believe will benefit the 4-H program.
An additional part of being selected as a National Conference delegate is serving on the State 4-H Youth Council for a two year term. State Council plans many of the state leadership events such as KYLF (Kansas Youth Leadership Forum), CIA (Citizenship in Action) and Campference.  
Other Barton County youth attending the Kansas Leadership Forum were Zeb Hughes from the Ellinwood Energizers 4-H Club, Katherine Hicks from the South Bend Jolly Workers and Nate Larkin from Hoisington Jets 4-H Club. The Barton County delegates served as voting delegates, attended workshops and learned ballroom dancing from Brandon Lee White, our weekend motivational speaker.
Wendy Hughes was a delegate to the adult portion of the Leadership weekend. She was a participant in the leadership workshop by Ron Alexander from the Kansas Leadership Center in Wichita. Through a partnership with the Kansas 4-H Foundation, the KLC staff will be sharing their curriculum with Kansas 4-H volunteers at monthly sessions across the state. For Barton County, the closest training will be in Hays on Saturday, March 5th. Give me a call at 620-793-1910 for more information on this leadership training or more information can be found at
 www.kansas4-hfoundation.org/klc
Berny Unruh, Barton County 4-H Youth and Development Agent, is a guest columnist for The Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at 620-793-1910 or bunruh@ksu.edu