The experience of being a program assistant for National 4-H Council's Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) was like no other. Being in our nation’s capital for a whole month will really change your perspective on life. I got to learn more about our nation’s rich history, our government, and, most importantly, about the 4-H program. But before I go any further it is important to talk about how I got this position.
Last June I attended CWF as an Ohio 4-H delegate. Then, in January, I got an email from the National 4-H Council asking me to apply for the position. I have always been a person to take on any leadership experience offered to me, so of course I applied. I had to answer some simple questions and submit a five-minute video teaching them about a topic. I then had to go through three rounds of interviews 
and a few weeks after the final interview I got a call. This call was to inform me that I was going to be a 2025 program assistant for CWF. I was, of course, very excited and proceeded to tell everyone around me and my whole family.
When I applied, I had a general idea of the job description but had no idea just how much more there was to it and the people I would meet. I started out the position with two days of virtual training to go over workshops and tour guide information. There were two main parts of the job— giving tours and leading workshops.
I had the opportunity to become a licensed D.C. tour guide and give many 4-Her’s tours around Washington D.C. When I arrived on site in D.C., I went through two weeks of in-person training. This training was very much focused on going into D.C., running tour routes, and learning all the information. I had over thirty monuments, memorials, and important sites I had to memorize information for. It was a lot of work to get down, but very much worth it in the end.
As I mentioned, another big part of the CWF program assistant role was leading workshops, which consisted of topics like leadership, civic engagement, First Amendment rights, and so much more. The engagement and interaction of all the students in these workshops truly impressed me.
We would then finish the week in our workshop groups doing town hall. This was a time to talk about current topics in the United States with kids from all over the country. These topics included gun control, dress codes, social media, and 
so much more. Getting the opportunity to lead these workshops was truly amazing, and watching all the kids grow was a life-changing experience.
I would like to thank the Ohio delegations who attended both weeks, as well as the chaperones who led the youth. There were some hot and tiring days, but they showed up, represented Ohio well, and made it memorable. This was an amazing job experience, and I can’t wait for future opportunities with the National 4-H Council.
For those interested in participating in Citizenship Washington Focus, stay tuned for more information. In 2026, CWF will occur as a dedicated track within Ignite and will take place from March 24 to 29. This evolution brings together the rich legacy of CWF with the dynamic, multi-track structure of Ignite, creating more pathways for young people to explore their passions, strengthen their leadership skills, and deepen their understanding of civic life. Keep an eye on the 4-H Youth Development Facebook page for additional information as CWF gets closer.