Released: February 13, 2002

Kansas Delegates Selected For ’Conversation’ on Youth

MANHATTAN, Kan. – This year marks the centennial of 4-H. The national youth development program could easily bask in the glow of its success. It’s choosing instead to invite representatives from the all over the United States and the territories it serves to talk about new directions and needs for youth development.

"The National Conversation on Youth Development is intended to help set a national agenda for positive youth development. 4-H is serving as the convener and facilitator, but this is not simply an ‘in-house’ program improvement exercise," said Gary W. Gerhard, Kansas State University Research and Extension state leader, 4-H youth development. "The Conversation is expected to focus on how our country can best serve today’s young people. For example, how can we teach youth to develop their potential, while they also learn to be caring and responsible citizens?"

The brainstorming effort, which will include adult and youth delegates, will take place Feb. 28-March 2 in Washington, D.C. It will be similar to sessions that already have been held in the states and territories.

"The state and local efforts to identify kids’ needs will feed into the national dialog. The goal is to acknowledge successful programs and fill gaps identified by communities," said Ann Domsch, who has an extensive career working with youth in the state as a Kansas State University Research and Extension 4-H youth development agent, with a promotion to 4-H specialist serving southeast Kansas.

"Youth have been important in this process," she said. "They’ve met with adults and discussed their perspectives on the current status of youth development and the future. The process is a gift from 4-H back to the people it serves."

In representing Kansas at the national Conversation, Domsch, who is from Pottawatomie County, will be joined by:

* Gary W. Gerhard, from Riley County, state program leader, 4-H youth development;

* Lindy Lindquist, Riley, associate 4-H youth development program specialist;

* David McCandless, Shawneey, representing the Kansas 4-H Youth Council;

* Linda Henningsen, Saline, representing the Kansas Association of 4-H Volunteers;

* Leroy Russell, Shawnee, representing the Kansas Extension Agents’ Association;

* Gordon Hibbard, Riley, representing the Kansas 4-H Foundation; and

* Carolyn King and Megan McKinney, both from Douglas County, representing Haskell Indian Nations University Extension.

Students chosen to attend the national Conversation were selected through a statewide application process. They include:

* Becky Abramovitz, Leavenworth County;

* Ben Glass, Shawnee;

* Kelsey Lee, Finney;

* Kyla Scott, Chase;

* Lucas Shivers, Clay;

* Sara Stephens, Greenwood; and

* Audrey Vail, Wilson.

Lucas Shivers, a 10-year member of the Washington Headliners 4-H Club in Clay County, views attending the national Conversation as an opportunity to "give back."

"When I joined 4-H, I couldn’t have imagined how it would affect my life. I learned how to set goals and make the commitment needed to achieve them. In the process, I also learned time management. I use these skills every day," said Shivers, a sophomore at K-State with a double major in education and communications. He also works part time as an intern in K-State Research and Extension’s News Unit and participates in a long list of activities and service.

"4-H also provides an opportunity for its members to learn – and practice – leadership skills as club and council officers and members of state planning teams. I’ve worked to serve successfully and keep building on the skills – like learning to be comfortable speaking before a group and meeting new people easily – that I’ve learned through these experiences," Shivers said.

The K-State student has served as a Collingwood Leadership Intern with the Kansas 4-H Foundation and as a facilitator for the statewide conversations at the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum.

Gerhard summed it up: "Participating in the National Conversation on Youth Development will allow Kansas to draw from a national agenda for youth development."

For more information on the state and national Conversations or Kansas 4-H youth development programs, interested persons may 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