Margaret’s Musings: Congress filled with surprises
Attending the 55th Annual Tennessee 4-H Congress in Nashville proved to be a trip full of surprises for me, a mother of a 4-H member, children’s newspaper editor and volunteer leader.
Not knowing what to expect from an experience sometimes makes it more interesting. I didn’t have a clue what I was in for, chaperoning a group of teenagers was challenge enough, but when asked by Extension leader Michael Barry to attend, I said yes.
As it turned out, very possibly I came home with more knowledge and enlightenment than the young people.
First of all, let me say the organizers of the three-day event did an excellent job. We were served meals, attended meetings complete with speakers and guests, visited the State Capitol and took part in the legislative process, held student elections, and enjoyed wonderful entertainment. You must remember this includes over 500 teenagers, in addition to state finalists and volunteer leaders.
Let me make one point perfectly clear — this trip does not promise the chance of much rest or sleep. Even though we were provided with a lovely room at the Downtown Sheraton, not much time was spent there. The young people attend breakfast at 7:30 a.m., meetings, luncheons and more meetings until curfew at midnight. Leaders then do room check just to make sure they are all accounted for. Do you know just how difficult it is to get teenagers up at 6 a.m. after a long night? Or how long it takes four girls to get ready for a 7:30 a.m. breakfast? I proudly say, we all made it on time!
The 4-H organization is celebrating 100 years of service and it has definately come a long way from the corn clubs for boys and canning clubs for girls of years past. Students now participate in public speaking, demonstration presentations, community service projects, various camps and much more.
Each student attending Congress submitted an essay entitled “4-H Reflecting a Century of Success.” 4-H means different things to different people and the winning essay was presented by Marykrista Klein from Cheatham County. She so eloquently told about 4-H playing a huge part in her family for three generations. She stated, “What better way to see a century of success reflected than to see its evidence firsthand in the lives of my own family’s three generations who have been ‘making the best better’ for nearly 100 years?”
I can’t finish without complimenting all the young people attending Congress. Our Warren County group served us well, always on time, dressed appropriately (did I mention they have to wear 4-H sweaters to all functions?), well mannered and courteous. They represented over 200,000 other 4-Hers across the state and presented an image of the thoughtful, courteous 4-H member.
As a whole, the delegation was quite impressive. The group made a positive impression on me as they took part in numerous activities, presenting themselves as young adults in adult situations. They conducted meetings, thanked sponsors, led prayers and pledges, entertained with song and dance, gave speeches, were interviewed by judges and did all this with a smile on their face.
But they did not forget the main reason they were there, to have fun! It was and is still amazing to me how they could act so adult-like one minute and so much the fun-loving teenager the next. Youth! As one of the volunteer leaders who is 71 years old, said, “Oh to be young again and to have this much energy, just what could I do with it?”
Well, Wilma, our time has passed, but we both agree the country is in good hands if our 4-Hers exemplifies the youth of today.