Released: June 14, 2001

4-H Trip Highlights U.S. History, Government

MANHATTAN, Kan. – A trip to the nation’s capital often is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is a meaningful experience for most, but especially so for students who are learning about citizenship and government, said Krista Patton, a Shawnee County 4-Her who will join 49 other Kansas 4-Hers for 2001 Citizenship Washington Focus, an 11-day educational trip to the nation’s capital June 14-25.

"Learning about government is important – we each have a responsibility to learn as much as we can so that we can contribute to our communities," said Patton, who plans to serve as a citizenship leader for her 4-H Club.

Andrew McCandless and Jana Patton (Krista’s twin sister), also from Shawnee County, will participate in the trip, too.

The trio are longtime members of the Shunga Valley 4-H Club. While each credits skill building activities and opportunities to meet others as benefits from their 4-H membership, each also feels a responsibility to ‘pay back’ for what they have learned. And, that includes sharing their experiences from the trip with others in 4-H and in the community, Jana Patton said.

While the Patton twins say they also are looking forward to seeing the nation’s monuments, McCandless said that he is particularly interested in learning more about public policy. He is a high school debater and looks to the Washington, D.C., trip as an opportunity to learn more about current issues from lawmakers.

History and citizenship are integral, said McCandless, who also looks forward to seeing exhibits at the Smithsonian.

Sara Stephens, who is an 11-year member of the Racing Wranglers 4-H Club in Greenwood County, said that she is particularly interested in visiting Gettysburg on the way to Washington.

"We studied American history in school last year; being able to see the battlefield and learn more about it will be exciting," said Stephens, who also is looking forward to seeing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and hoping for a visit to the White House.

Stephens, who credits 4-H with learning experiences that have opened new doors for her, is enthusiastic about the trip. 4-H friends who have participated in previous years describe it as the highlight of their 4-H experiences, she said.

Bob Sawyer, longtime 4-H volunteer and former 4-H parent who will serve as one of the chaperones for the trip this year, agrees.

"This is an opportunity for kids to grow," said Sawyer, who has made arrangements for the 4-Hers to meet with Kansas’ Congressional delegation.

"Meeting our senators and representatives makes quite an impression on 4-Hers," he said.

"The trip usually makes a lasting impression. Sometimes, we can see 4-Hers grow and develop new interests and a sense of responsibility as we travel. The real benefits are, however, likely to be more long-term – students who grow through these experiences learn to be responsible citizens who contribute to their communities. They are our future leaders," Sawyer said.

Carol Wehmeyer, Montgomery County 4-H leader who will share lead chaperone responsibilities with Sawyer, is quick to credit longtime volunteer planner Dorothy Hutchins and associate state 4-H youth development specialist, Lindy Lindquist, for detailed planning that makes the trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Wehmeyer said that she volunteered for a chaperone’s responsibility because the trip was so beneficial to her son Brent, who was a delegate last year.

Kansas 4-Hers age 15 and up are eligible to apply to participate in the educational opportunity. 2001 delegates, who are selected through an application and review process, are listed alphabetically by county:

Brown County – Byron Noll, Amber Schuetz

Chase County – Kyla Scott

Clay County – Kendra Stitt

Coffey County – J. D. Ponder, Bridget Reed

Douglas County – Heather Hinshaw, Michael Moore

Ford County – CandiSu Copeland

Geary County – Kevin Poland

Greenwood County – Sara Stephens

Hamilton County – John Brownlee, Cory McCracken

Haskell County – Eleri Ann Griffin

Johnson County – Rachele Davis, Lori Wadhams

Kearney County – Bailey Sullivan

Kiowa County – Aaron Senst

Logan County – Brent Mannebach

Montgomery County – Clint Blaes, Summer Ott

Morris County – Heidi Andres, Susan Spohn

Nemaha County – Derek Holthaus, Coila Hulsing

Pawnee County – Audra Frick

Post Rock District (Mitchell and Lincoln Counties) – Tracy Splitter

Pratt County – Elly Blasi

Rooks County – Matt Benoit, Brett Gartrell

Saline County – Heather Baumberger, Lauren Hatfield

Scott County – Rachelle Kuntz, Alisa Moore, Mary Claire Radnor

Sedgwick County – Mikaela Voegeli

Shawnee County – Andrew McCandless, Jana Patton, Krista Patton

Sumner County – Kelsey Herbig

Stevens County – Ethan Baughman

Thomas County – Jesse Colson, Johnna Renner

Trego County – Dianne Bollig, Marissa Moeder

Walnut Creek District (Lane, Rush and Ness Counties) – Adam Hanks, John Richards

Washington County – Carissa Blaha

Wilson County – Audrey Vail

Wyandotte County – Daniel Lanham

In addition to Sawyer and Wehmeyer, chaperones who will travel with the group include: Ron and Nancy Honig, from Stevens County; and Pat Moeder, from Trego County.

During their stay in the nation’s capital, the Kansas delegation will stay at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Md.

For more information on educational opportunities in 4-H open to students age seven and up, contact the local K-State Research and Extension office.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Nancy Peterson, Communications Specialist
npeterso@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News