Four North Dakota youth have been selected as delegates to the National 4-H Conference in Chevy Chase, Md., on April 6-11.

The four are Tyrza Hoines of Morton County, Casondra Rutschke of Emmons County, Andrew Ternquist of Walsh County and Taylor Zimprich of Griggs County. LuAnn Stromme, a member of the North Dakota 4-H Foundation board and 4-H volunteer, will accompany the youth.

The conference will provide the delegates with opportunities to engage in personal development experiences that increase their knowledge, resources and skills. They’ll also be able to join 4-H’ers nationwide in providing a voice on issues affecting youth and communities.

In addition, the conference will empower and mobilize 4-H youth to create positive social change in their communities in a meaningful and genuine way.

During the conference, 4-H youth will be able to:

• Participate in roundtable discussions and provide the youth perspective to 4-H’s federal partner agencies
• Go sightseeing in nearby Washington, D.C.
• Meet with North Dakota’s congressional delegation

Youth earn their selection as conference delegates through their 4-H leadership efforts.

All four North Dakota delegates are or have been an officer in their 4-H club. The four also have been involved in a number of 4-H programs and activities.

“I really like showing cattle we raise on our farm, livestock judging and agronomy,” says Ternquist, a senior at Fordville-Lankin High School.

Hoines is a junior at Century High School in Bismarck. She has participated in Communications Arts, Buy and Show, Project Expo and Consumer Choices, and was a member of her county’s Consumer Choices team that took third place in national competition in 2012.

“The best part of my 4-H career by far was when I was chosen to be a North Dakota state 4-H ambassador at Extension Youth Conference in 2012,” she says.

Rutschke, a sophomore at Zeeland High School, is a 4-H ambassador, junior leader and president of her 4-H club. Zimprich, a sophomore at Griggs County Central High School, has held several offices in her 4-H club and attended the Extension Youth Conference.

The delegates look forward to attending the National 4-H Conference.

“I’ve enjoyed attending 4-H Citizenship in Action and interacting with our state legislators, so I’m really excited to see our federal government at work and having a chance for our youth to be heard,” Zimprich says.

“I would like to thank 4-H for giving me the amazing opportunity to go to Washington, D.C.,” Rutschke says.

The North Dakota 4-H Foundation provides the financial support for the delegates to attend the conference.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - March 22, 2013