4-H Know Your Government Conference held in February

Wahkiakum 4-H sent six local high school students to the 4-H Know Your Government Conference in Olympia during February. KYG is a hands-on educational opportunity that started in 1978. This year covered the judicial system with the theme “Pursuing Justice.” The youth took on a role; lawyer, attorney, reporter, jury member, and witness. Youth and adult leaders met several times before the conference to learn about the judicial system with a curriculum provided by Washington State 4-H and also enjoyed learning about each other through leadership and life skills activities.

Mock trials, learning the law, comparing real trials with TV trials, and establishing evidence, the youth took their knowledge to the conference in force to pursue justice. When they arrived to the conference youth were appointed to a role for a particular trial. Each youth applied for a role but needed to be prepared for each role. Youth heard from a variety of speakers during the conference. They also heard a presentation given by the FBI on a past bombing case where the youth saw step by step how the FBI solved the case and gathered evidence. In addition, youth went on a capitol tour taking in the history, sites, and culture of being on the capitol mall while they were staying in Olympia.

One Wahkiakum 4-H tradition is visiting with the legislators on their way back home from the four day conference. Brian Blake, Dean Takko, and Brian Hatfield met with the youth at the capitol building. They took photos, asked questions, and shared stories about their experiences both at the conference and back in their county. The youth were given a rare opportunity to step out on to the House floor and see where the legislators work. The legislators presented the youth with Resolutions from the current House and Senate supporting 4-H Know Your Government.

Wahkiakum 4-H KYG Team is grateful to community members who purchased baked goods to help raise funds to attend this event, Wahkiakum 4-H Leaders Council for providing scholarships helping several youth attend, and to Mike and Carrie Backman who helped chaperone and transport them to Olympia for the conference.

Next year the conference will be held February 15-18. The conference is for high school students grades 9-12 in Washington State and do not need to be enrolled in 4-H to attend. Teens interested in attending KYG next year should contact the local WSU Ext/4-H office at 795-3278 or visit the KYG program website: http://4h.wsu.edu/conferences/kyg/index.htm.