Ohio 4-H youth and agricultural industry leaders recently came together to showcase their strategic thinking and collaborative problem solving at the first youth-focused Wargame event of its kind at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Organized by Campbell Reese, a 17-year-old Geauga County 4-H member, through the National 4-H Council Roth Leadership Academy and Ohio 4-H, the event aimed to bridge the gap between youth and agricultural professionals.
As a National 4-H Roth Scholar, Reese is part of a select cohort receiving mentorship to support research projects that address community challenges. The Roth Leadership Academy helps youth strengthen skills such as ethical decision-making, logic and reasoning, conflict resolution, and written and verbal communication. The Wargame was a capstone experience, allowing her to apply her training to lead an initiative with real-world agricultural relevance and statewide reach.
“This event is about much more than playing a game—it’s about equipping our youth with skills needed to tackle complex agricultural challenges creatively and collaboratively,” said Reese. “Bringing youth together with agricultural leaders creates meaningful connections and fosters innovation in our communities.”
Participants, including 23 4-H teens and nine agricultural industry leaders, navigated immersive scenarios involving farming operations such as hogs, cattle, grain, and financial and logistical 
management, challenging them to strategize, negotiate, and build consensus under pressure.
Reese, who collaborated with The Directions Group to design and implement the experience, said, “The idea came from my stepdad who participated in a similar strategic exercise. I wanted to challenge students to think critically, solve real-world problems, collaborate effectively, make strategic decisions, and prepare for future leadership roles in agriculture and beyond.”
“The student participants entered the Wargame with little information about what to expect—an intentional decision by The Directions Group,” said Reese. “While most had an interest in agriculture, not all came from farm backgrounds. By the end of the day, their understanding of real-world challenges facing farms had deepened, all while being challenged to think critically, apply strategic decision-making, and build effective coalitions. The connections formed between students and industry leaders created meaningful networking opportunities that could lead to internships or future careers. This is exactly what events like the Ohio 4-H Wargame are designed to achieve.”
Jessica Parrish, Staff Operations Manager at Nationwide, a key supporter of the Ohio 4-H Wargame event, highlighted the 
importance of the event, “Nationwide was excited to join Ohio Farm Bureau in supporting the Ohio 4-H Wargame. This experience helped expose young people to the agricultural industry through the unique lens a wargame provides. Seeing the creative thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and resilience the students displayed throughout the day was inspiring!”
This agricultural strategy event is part of an ongoing effort by Ohio 4-H to provide interactive, educational experiences that prepare youth to lead effectively in an ever-changing world.
This event was made possible thanks to the generous support of the following organizations: Nationwide, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Ohio Poultry Association, The Directions Group, Farm Credit Mid-America, Ohio Soybean Council, Ohio AgriBusiness Association, Krile Communications, Patterson Fruit Farm, Ag Credit, Ohio Forestry Association, City BBQ, Bob Evans Foods, Shiftology, Dairy Farmers of America, Ohio 4-H Foundation, and the Ohio Beef Council.