The Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference (SRTLC) is an event that brings together youth from across the southern U.S. to foster leadership, community involvement, and connections with peers from different states. This year, Hickman County was proud to send two delegates to the 2024 conference, which had 400 total participants. For many attendees, this was their first regional leadership event, which proved to be an inspiring experience. 

Key takeaways from the conference include:

• Increased Confidence: 85% of participants reported feeling more confident in their leadership abilities after attending the event.
• Community Service Commitment: 90% of attendees were motivated to engage in community service projects upon returning home.
• STEM Kits Service Project: Participants worked together to create over 100 STEM kits for back-to-school events. These kits encouraged 4-Hers to explore science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on activities.
• The “Southern Showdown” Competition: A team-building challenge that promoted teamwork and problem-solving, with participants competing for the coveted Golden Horse trophy.

Survey results from the event revealed that:

• 87% of attendees felt supported by their peers.
• 91% felt inspired to take on leadership roles within their communities.

For Hickman County’s 4-H program, the success of the SRTLC underlined the value of providing youth with progressive opportunities to find their spark, develop leadership skills, and positively impact their communities for good.