4-H is known for its hands-on experiential approach to youth development, and the area of civic engagement is one of the leading programs. Mercer County had 14 youth and 3 adult volunteers participate in Leadership Washington Focus Conference. LWF provides 4-H’ers from across the country with the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. for a week-long conference. Youth had the opportunity to participate in experiential learning that boosts leadership competency in the four key areas of critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and confidence.

The conference allowed youth participants to increase the personal leadership skills thru networking with other 4-H youth from across the nation. They also practiced effective inter-personal communication skills through group discussions and public speaking. This allowed for further development of their self-confidence and motivational skills to lead others in meaningful action.

As a result of the conference, 85% of the youth state they now understand what being a good citizen means. Some of the comments about the program include, “I loved learning about all the different forms of government and how they work. It has made me think more about the future of politics in our country.” Another youth stated, “seeing how many people work together to make a community run.”

LWF was a great opportunity for young people to become better leaders as they experience our nation’s capital in a unique and inspiring way that will, without a doubt, leave them with the experience of a lifetime and the skills to shape a better future today.