More than 600 youth delegates and adult chaperones from 79 Indiana counties participated in the Indiana 4-H Youth Round-Up, held June 23-25 on the Purdue University campus.
4-H Youth Round-Up provides a safe and fun way for 4-H’ers to develop leadership abilities, learn in specific areas of interest and meet new people. The event dates back to 1919.
The featured speaker at this year’s Round-Up was Grant Baldwin, a motivational speaker and former youth pastor with a gift for inspiring young people to identify and pursue rewarding work.
Baldwin’s opening presentation, titled Be a Difference Maker, set the tone for the conference, which provides three days of fun and unique experiences for Indiana 4-H’ers.
“For many youth, 4-H Round-Up provides the first opportunity to be on a Big Ten campus,” says Tony Carrell, Purdue University Extension Specialist and 4-H Round-Up Coordinator. “Participants get to experience life as a college student as they live in a residence hall and attend classes.”
Youth learn about future career opportunities on Career Exploration Day, which features interactive and interesting classes taught by Purdue University instructors. Subjects range from entomology and nursing to sausage-making and robotics.
“The career exploration classes are a highlight of 4-H Round-Up,” Carrell says. “Middle school-age youth select three classes from more than 40 from all 10 Purdue colleges. This helps them better understand the vast array of career choices that might be of interest.”
Participating colleges include the College of Agriculture; College of Education; College of Engineering; College of Health and Human Sciences; College of Liberal Arts; Krannert School of Management; College of Pharmacy; College of Science; College of Technology; and the College of Veterinary Medicine. Round-Up also provides a forum for youth to showcase their creative talents in such group activities as the 4-H performing arts, State 4-H Band and State 4-H Chorus.
Individual counties have their own procedures for selecting youth delegates to attend 4-H Round-Up. To be eligible, youth must have completed the seventh, eighth or ninth grade.
To learn more, use your computer or smart phone:
■ Visit our webpage: http://www.four-h.purdue.edu
■ Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Indiana4H
■Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @Indiana4h
This article was produced by Abby Manikowski during her time at Round Up last week.
Picture 1: Group of 4-Hers that took the “Picture yourself in Agricultural Communication” class. Abby Manikowski is in the front row on the far left. She helped produce the article and is from Marshall County.
Picture 2: Group picture of Marshall County, St. Joseph and an Elkhart youth that attended Round Up.
Front row: Sam Zechiel, Rebekah Johnson, Abby Manikowski, Elizabeth Johnson, Sarah Leeper, Elyse Lucas, Anna Leeper
Back row: Two St. Joseph Youth, Joey Parker, Brayson Leazenby, Trevor Pletcher, an Elkhart youth.
