2015 Illinois 4-H Junior Leadership Conference

4-H members run the leadership race at conference

More than 100 seventh and eighth grade youth learned ways to improve their leadership skills at the 2015 Illinois 4-H Junior Leadership Conference held Feb. 28 and March 1 at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel in Decatur.

Using an Olympic theme of "Dream. Lead. Achieve," the delegates came away with practical ways to improve their personal lives, as well as improve their leadership skills they can take back to their 4-H clubs, communities and schools, said Debra Stocker, Extension Specialist for 4-H Youth Development.

Megan Eppel, 4-H member with Milburn Clovers, and Avni Patel, 4-H member with Busy Beavers in Lake County attended the 4-H Junior Leadership Conference. Avni, also was part of the Youth Leadership Team. Denise Eppel, adult 4-H volunteer helped chaperone the event.

Judy Mae Bingman, media communications specialist for University of Illinois Extension, inspired the youth to run their own race in life. She told the delegates the lessons she's learned from running half marathons and how it relates to life in general. During her first race, she said she tried to run with a pace group at a speed which was too fast for her.

"I tried to keep up with them for about four miles, but realized that if I was going to finish the race at all, I had to start running my own race," she said. "If you allow someone else to set your pace, you never finish where you're meant to be.

"It's okay to allow others to inspire you, to encourage you, to set an example for you," she said, "but eventually, you have to run your own race."

She encouraged the youth to look for ways to encourage others in life. She said that near the end of her first race, she just didn't think she could go another step until a stranger in the crowd called out "You can do this, Judy Mae," reading her name off her race bib.

"From somewhere inside me, that encouraging voice gave me the strength to start running again," Bingman said. "Never underestimate the power of encouraging words of support to others."

The delegates were able to put words into action Sunday morning by packaging more than 10,000 meals for local families in cooperation with Illini Fighting Hunger. The youth worked in teams to form an assembly line which included putting soy protein, rice, dried vegetables, and chicken bouillon in a bag, before weighing and sealing the bag.

Ingredients were produced locally, said Hunter Dyer, a 4-H Youth Leadership Team member. "Using locally produced ingredients stimulates the local economy while providing for those in the area who need food.

"It was great seeing the kids learn and work together," Dyer said. "Seeing the whole assembly line work together so well, and seeing them get so excited about helping others was truly inspiring."

The conference was taught by members of the Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team, a team of uniquely-trained high school and college-aged 4-H members and young adult 4-H alumni.

Another workshop taught delegates the function of biology in their daily lives, starting with the function and structure of DNA and followed up with hands on experiments. They learned about the structure of DNA by creating a double helix with candy, colored marshmallows, and toothpicks, each representing a different element of a DNA strand.

"By connecting cyanine to guanine and adenine to thymine, the kids were able to gain new scientific knowledge as well as have a good time," said Marisa Zajac, Youth Leadership Team member. "The kids seemed to really enjoy seeing the long fruit DNA strands," she said. "I think they were surprised by its appearance and size," Zajac said.

In other workshops, the youth learned to prioritize responsibilities to become better leaders, learned to cast aside fear when speaking or performing in front of groups, and learned to dress successfully for career opportunities. They also completed the National Youth Science Day experiment where they built rockets from throw-away materials.

Plenty of time was allowed for the teens to interact with other teenagers from across Illinois, Stocker said. "Youth expand their understanding of the world when they're able to interact with youth from places different than where they live.

"That's all part of the leadership experience in 4-H," Stocker said.

A portion of the conference expenses was covered by the Illinois 4-H Foundation who raises private funds to support the Illinois 4-H program. Additional sponsors included Caterpillar Community Giving Program; Illinois Farm Bureau; Clean line Energy Partners LLC; Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.; COUNTRY Financial; Woodman's Markets; and GRAINCO FS, Inc.

To learn more about 4-H in the Lake County, one may contact Sabrina Huley, 4-H Program Coordinator, huley@illinois.edu or Cindy Sarkady, Extension Educator, 4-H csarkady@illinois.edu 874-223-8627.