Written by Austin Clark, Pickaway County 4-H member
Last month, five delegates from around the state traveled to Washington, D.C. to represent Ohio at the 99th annual National 4-H Conference, held by the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA–NIFA.) At this conference, Grace Miller from Wood County, Ava Palmer from Ross County, Atlee Brinker from Columbiana County, Madison Bell from Warren County, and I, Austin Clark from Pickaway County, learned about the impacts that we can have on the government and the roles that they can play in the future of our world. Frances Foos, State 4-H Older Youth and Civic Engagement Extension Educator, and Katie Cole, Seneca County 4-H Extension Educator, served as chaperones, and Adrianna Meyer, a Henry County 4-H alumna, served as a Collegiate Facilitator for Roundtable #5, the United States Peace Corps.
After landing in D.C., the Ohio delegates traveled throughout D.C. and visited well-known monuments and memorials. The delegates selected the Smithsonian Museum of American History, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, National Archives, and Arlington National Cemetery to view on our sightseeing day. Personally, I loved seeing the American Enterprise exhibit in the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Walking into my favorite museum and seeing things that I am familiar with from home really intrigued me and even though I was familiar with a lot of the materials, I was still able to learn more about American agriculture from out west and areas that I am not familiar with.
After dinner on the opening night of the conference, the Ohio delegates were off to the races, preparing the briefings in youth-led roundtables where they collaborated with 10-15 youth delegates from around the nation. This experience is a staple of the National 4-H Conference. On the second to last day of the conference, the 250 delegates from across the United States, territories, and various military bases around the world traveled to 18 different agencies around D.C. to give briefings to the selected agencies. The delegates were tasked with answering the challenge questions that were given by the agencies. Ohio delegates traveled to USDA–NIFA, Senate Agriculture Committee, House Agriculture Committee, USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, and the U.S. Department of Energy. 
I was able to present to the Senate Agriculture Committee, which posed the following challenge question: “How can artificial intelligence advance agriculture?” From the first night of the conference, we worked through roundtable sessions, making sure our presentation flowed correctly, was visually pleasing, and was professional. This roundtable was amazing; I was able to collaborate and work with some of the best youth that 4-H has to offer. From Delaware and South Carolina to Texas and Wyoming, there were so many demographics represented, with each unique person bringing their own perspective to the roundtable.
On Presentation Day, we boarded the bus to the Russell Senate Building; we were all anxious, but ready to succeed. Before the presentation, Kentucky 4-H President Case Shirrell prayed for the group in the lobby, grounding us all and bringing peace to the speakers. In the presentation room we were ready to go. We presented the briefing amazingly, with all our members bringing in our own perspective to inform the committee about what is happening with agriculture and artificial intelligence in our great country.
The delegates from Ohio met with Ohio Representative Michael Rulli and discussed his stances on policies that affect Ohio agriculture. We were also able to discuss pressing issues in our communities, which included solar panels, data centers, and the decline of small-scale agriculture in America.
This experience at the National 4-H Conference was life-changing for me, and has ignited a passion for agricultural advocacy and the preservation of small-scale agriculture, like my family farm in Pickaway County. Without farms, there is no food. I encourage you, the 4-H member who is reading this article right now, to apply for the National 4-H Conference and experience the amazing experience as I was able to do.
Continuing to Make the Best Better,
Austin Clark, Pickaway County 4-H
To support future Ohio 4-H members and chaperones in attending the National 4-H Conference, please visit the Ohio 4-H National 4-H Conference Fund today!