Purdue News

October 2, 1998 Indiana youth to attend National 4-H Congress WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Two more Indiana 4-H members have recently been selected to attend the 1998 annual National 4-H Congress in Atlanta. Philip Gaines, Gibson County, and Kelli Williams, Allen County, join 11 other Indiana 4-H members receiving scholarships to attend this year's congress. The congress encourages 4-H youths to learn new leadership skills and experience multicultural events and ideas. The youths will participate in a nationally televised town meeting and perform a day of community service. The National Congress will be from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 at the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Atlanta. Atlanta will be the host city of the National 4-H Congress for the next four years. The other 11 Indiana delegates were announced at the 1998 Indiana State Fair in August. By county, they are: Carroll, Marissa Alwine and Brian Miller Delaware, Lindsay Russell Elkhart, Bethany Schaubert Hancock, Ruth Roney Kosciusko, Lindsay Henry and Michelle Lamb Owen, Jamie Schroeder Posey, Holly Bender Tippecanoe, Carrie Long White, Ashley Batt As the winner of the state fashion review, Russell also will represent Indiana at the national fashion revue during the National 4-H Congress. According to Bob Ritchie, associate professor of 4-H youth at Purdue University, the day of community service is one of the most important events of the congress. Youths at past 4-H Congress meetings have helped plant trees in city parks and made coats for the homeless. This year, the 4-H members will spend time with Atlanta volunteer agencies. "Kids from 4-H, from all the states, go out in the city of Atlanta and assist 35 to 40 service agencies," he said. "To me, it's one of the most outstanding things they do." 4-H is the largest youth-serving organization in the country. It is a volunteer-led organization that reaches youths through a variety of programs in both rural and urban settings. In Indiana, 4-H is part of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service. CONTACT: Ritchie, (765) 494-8439; e-mail, bob_ritchie@four-h.purdue.edu NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Photographs of the 13 4-H delegates are available from Purdue Agricultural Communication Service, (765) 494-8396. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page