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Leaders and teens invade Fairbanks; teens meet with Legislatures and Board of Regents in Juneau; leaders travel to Boise, Idaho, for education opportunity; youths decorate, bake and play.

You’re probably wondering what I’m talking about. Well, let me share it with you.

From Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, 50 adult volunteers and 27 youth attended the Fiesta Under The Northern Lights Conference in Fairbanks. Individuals traveled from as far away as Kodiak and Bethel. It started with a fiesta with great food and salsa dancing on the first night. The University of Alaska Fairbanks Latin dance club stopped by and really got the youths to dance.

Throughout the next two days, there were great workshops dealing with subjects from robotics to horses, livestock, sewing, leadership and everything in between — definitely something for everyone.

We closed with a banquet on Saturday night and had an inspiring speech from Chelsea Schell, a 4-H alumna. The state is now in the planning stages for another conference next year at another location.

On Feb. 3, seven teens and three adults went to Juneau to meet with legislators and testify before the Board of Regents in support of the Cooperative Extension Service. Most were from Kodiak, but two hailed from Fairbanks — Hannah Graff and Michaella Rice.

It was amazing to hear these young people speak with such conviction and power. They were told that their testimony was some of the best the regents had heard in a long time.

Hannah and Michaella were able to be pages for a day in the state Legislature, while two teens from Kodiak were asked to testify at a committee meeting. While there, the teens met with Juneau 4-Hers and took a tour of the University of Alaska Southeast campus.

Thirteen individuals traveled from Alaska to Boise to attend the 4-H Western Regional Leaders Forum. The forum hosted more than 400 people from 13 states, Western Samoa and Alberta, Canada. Four adults and one teen represented Fairbanks. In addition to taking many classes and learning new skills, a few of us taught classes and were able to share some 4-H tricks of the trade from Alaska.

During the recent spring break, 4-H was able to offer some mini-classes for youths — cake decorating, taught by Marsha Munsell; bread baking, taught by Patsy Perkins; and robotics, taught by Tom Johnson. All week, we had great treats and a fun educational contest.

So 4-H has been moving. Where are we headed? On March 29 we will be hosting two events.

First is our annual public presentation day, where youths can give a demonstration, speech, PowerPoint presentation or illustrated talk. The Forget-Me-Not 4-H Club is hosting the second event, a poultry seminar and chick auction. For more information, call Steve or Priscilla Rice at 488-4564.

In April, the Tanana District is hosting a state horse contest, which involves public speaking, demonstrations, a Horse Bowl and horse judging.

Another event is a livestock education evening hosted by North Pole Ptarmigans. For more information, call Nancy Graff at 488-9279.

In May, we will start weighing in animals for market projects. The Tanana District Horse Council will be doing their annual Tack Swap on May 10 at Pioneer Park. This is a new location and date, so please help us spread the word. For more information, contact Kathy Davis at 488-9599.

We have some great camps and clinics planned again this summer. June 23-26 is our Junior Jamboree Camp with the theme of the “Amazing Race.” July 14-16 will be our Cloverbud Camp. There will also be numerous clinics for youths dealing with horses and livestock.

I would like to say thanks to all of our 4-H leaders, as this program would not exist without them. I would also like to thank all the individuals and businesses that support 4-H through donations of many types. It takes us all to make this program work, so thank you from me and thank you from the 4-H youths.

To find out more about how to get involved with 4-H as an adult volunteer or how to get your youth involved, please contact the extension office at 474-2420 or 474-2427.