Four youth have been selected to join the North Dakota 4-H Ambassador program.

The new team members are:

• Abby Dahl, Ramsey County, Devil Lakes High School
• Noah Helgoe, Pembina County, Cavalier Public School
• Katrina Just, LaMoure County, LaMoure High School
• Mollie Robbins, LaMoure County, LaMoure Public School

Because of COVID-19, the state 4-H Ambassador elections were held online during the week of June 15 using a Zoom video conference platform. This virtual event was run by election co-chairs Dietrich Schlichtmann, Traill County, and Raquel Bata, Cavalier County, during the Extension Youth Conference (EYC), which changed its name to EYCv because it also was held virtually.

“Our elections co-chairs did a great job, quickly pivoting from an in-person to virtual process and provided a positive and engaging experience for youth running to become an Ambassador,” says Hannah Nordby, 4-H Ambassadors co-adviser and a North Dakota State University Extension agent in Adams County.

“This was my very first EYC and I had a lot of fun on EYCv,” Helgoe says. “At first, I was very skeptical on how everything would work out online, but everything was extremely organized, which helped the process of elections flow with ease.”

The election process begins with candidates completing an application and providing references.

“Once the application is received in the state 4-H office, then candidates must commit to the selection interview process,” says Sue Quamme, North Dakota 4-H Ambassadors co-adviser. “They must attend in person (or in this case, virtually), where they participate in various events that include a formal interview, impromptu activity, problem-solving event and formal speech.

“Each portion is judged with a rubric,” she adds. “Having an online event meant judges were able to be secured from throughout the state, enabling the various events to be judged by 22 Extension agents and alumni Ambassadors.”

Bata commented, “We are so grateful for these people taking time out of their day to make this event possible.”

Just shared her excitement about being elected an Ambassador.

“Being a positive role model is an important part of being an Ambassador and I am ready to do just that,” she says. “I look forward to assisting at 4-H events and will proudly wear my new green Ambassador polo and khaki pants.”

Robbins says, “Being elected through virtual EYC was both a challenge and exciting experience. I hope 4-H continues to open up and that this fall I can meet the Ambassador team in person.”

Schlichtmann says, “We are very proud of all the candidates and their efforts. We are excited for those who got in and would encourage others to run again in November.”

Information on the November election can be found at https://www.ndsu.edu/4h.

“This event is just another great example of how innovative and committed the North Dakota state 4-H Ambassadors are to North Dakota 4-H youth,” Nordby says.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - June 23, 2020