Youth Civic Leaders Summit
Program Summary – March 6-8, 2015
Sponsored by: Monsanto Company, Cenex Harvest States Foundation, The Missouri Bar,
Missouri 4-H Foundation, and University of Missouri Extension
Special Thanks to: National 4-H Council, USDA National Institute of Food & Agriculture
150 youth and adults participated in “Bring the World
Home!” – the 10th annual Youth Civic Leaders Summit at
Windermere Conference Center, near Camdenton, March
6-8, 2015. 4-H members were joined by teams from 32
Missouri counties, as well as groups representing Iowa and
Illinois 4-H. The Summit is an annual statewide energizer
for 4-H teens and adults who are active and aspiring
leaders and decision makers in their communities.
Newton County 4-H teens served as youth hosts, working
with event planners to raise global and cultural awareness
through world-themed foods and group activities.
“Every year at this event, I see young people becoming empowered and energized to take on the world,
whether it is the fair, their town, county, region or across the globe,” said Jeremy Elliott-Engel, University of
Missouri Extension 4-H youth specialist who led the Newton County team.
“This year was no different. I saw youth find a passion, step up to
leadership and see a vision for themselves. It was a gift to see that
transformational moment,” added Elliott-Engel.
On Friday evening, Summiteers participated in a dollar drive benefitting
4-H youth programs in Liberia, and displayed posters about “teens as
teachers”
projects
they
completed during 2014.
Trent Ludwig, State 4-H Council
President, kicked off the
Summit, encouraging teens to
develop
their
skills
as
communicators
and
public
speakers.
Brandon Lee White, Let It Move, Inc. motivational speaker, led
interactive dances and stories highlighting qualities of true leaders.
Mark Goth, Monsanto Company representative, spoke on 4-H clubs offering youth their first leadership roles,
and how a simple “thank you” put him on a career track that has led around the world.
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Jo Turner, whose career started as a 4-H member and later led to 4-H specialist, state
director, and National 4-H Council consultant, gave teams practical advice on how to
reach out and connect with youth through Global 4-H Network programs in
developing countries around the world.
On Saturday evening, Summiteers experienced citizenship initiatives through a mock
petition drive, and learned about
4-H state, national, and global trip
opportunities.
Youth participants gained exposure through
workshops on leadership, service-learning, second- and third-world
living conditions, and state/national advocacy on issues. Adult
sessions focused on quality youth programs, youth-adult
partnerships, and global exchange opportunities. Summiteers also
honed their teamwork through the EDGE Challenge Course, Bridal
Cave Tour, circle-the-world dancing, and a team talent showcase
emceed by Mizzou 4-H collegiate members.
On Sunday, youth and adult teams planned 4-H
service-learning projects with a local/global twist, which
they will implement in 2015.
Project ideas ranged from Heifer International “buy an
animal” campaigns, youth cultural education exchange
program with Kenya 4-H, and raising funds for farmer-tofarmer exchanges with Nepal, to collecting books/raising
funds for the African Library Project, growing community
gardens for global agricultural education, and pen pal
connections with 4-H youth in Germany.
Sponsors of the Summit include Monsanto Company, Cenex Harvest States Foundation, The Missouri Bar,
Missouri 4-H Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation, National 4-H Council, and the U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture’s National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA).
Missouri 4-H is a community of over 260,000 youth ages 5-18
from rural farming communities, suburban schoolyards, and
urban neighborhoods.
4-H youth are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills,
guided by over 10,000 caring adult volunteers statewide.
University of Missouri Extension 4-H is the youth development
program of the nation’s Cooperative Extension system.
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Youth/adult team members completed an evaluation of their participation in the Summit (n=91):
Item/Average scores (1 = very low; 4 = very high)
Before the
After the
Change
Summit
Summit
Knowledge of leadership styles and self-awareness as a
3.01
3.60
+0.59
teen/adult leader
Level of belief that youth and adults can work together
3.27
3.74
+0.47
effectively
Level of involvement with a team that has a plan to do a
2.87
3.42
+0.55
“teens as teachers” project with youth-adult partnerships
Level of motivation to exercise leadership and involve
2.92
3.44
+0.52
others in my community
Level of awareness of culture and acceptance of
3.13
3.56
+0.43
differences in people.
Level of understanding of how to connect local 4-H
2.42
3.33
+0.91
groups with national and global issues affecting youth
Overall
3.04
3.64
+0.60
Youth/adults were also asked about how the Summit influenced their development and use of life skills (n=91):
Item/Average scores (1 = very low; 4 = very high)
Before the
After the
Change
Summit
Summit
Decision-making (Q1)
3.23
3.67
+0.44
Communication (Q2-4)
3.10
3.56
+0.46
Leadership (Q5-7)
2.90
3.56
+0.66
Marketable skills (Q8-9)
3.41
3.79
+0.38
Self-responsibility (Q10)
3.49
3.84
+0.35
Overall
3.15
3.65
+0.50
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Most important thing participants said they gained from the Summit:
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Global awareness of 4-H
How to help people in my community as
well as around the world through 4-H
Learning about new opportunities with
4-H—county, state, global trips/exchanges
It is most important to think about people
outside your club, group of friends, etc.
Motivation to keep going, and Jo Turner’s
presentation about what works globally
Before I make a plan, I must first research
the country/culture I want to help.
Contact information for global 4-H
alliances Getting to know and collaborate
with people in my county and to meet
others from other parts of the state
Being able to better coordinate with youth
outside our region to better connect
Missouri 4-H as a whole
I have learned great team building skills,
how 4-H is internationally connected, and
the importance of impacting a community
with an action plan
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Understanding youth/adult partnerships
can work well with members, and a lot
more can be done
Being able to not give up, and how
important youth-adult relationships are
The idea that leaders get down next to
someone instead of out in front
How important it is to say “thank you,” to
be helped and to help others
Stress management and how to say no
Listening, valuing everyone’s input
The ability to stand in front of people
Don’t be afraid to own your mistakes
To not be afraid to come out of your shell
and become a leader
Learning how to plan a community service
project
How to effectively lead a group to
accomplish a common goal
Experiencing a weekend that cumulatively
builds toward end goals
Photos courtesy of YCLS Planning Team and Adult Team Leaders
(University of Missouri Extension 4-H Center for Youth Development)
Summit - 4