4-H Day at the Capitol brings civics to life for more than 500 Arkansas youth

LITTLE ROCK — Looking out over a sea of green framed by the white marble of the Capitol Rotunda, Attorney General Tim Griffin called the more than 500 4-H members before him “the single largest group ever assembled in the Arkansas Capitol.”
Despite stormy weather, youth from 54 of Arkansas’ 75 counties traveled to Little Rock on Tuesday for 4-H Day at the Capitol. The event is held every other year when the Arkansas Legislature is in session. It gives 4-H members a chance to meet their legislators, learn about the legislative process, and share how they are making a difference in their communities through 4-H. They also got a sneak peek inside the State Treasurer’s vault.
Members of the House and Senate read resolutions proclaiming March 4 as 4-H Day.
“It’s encouraging to see this many young people turn out on a day like today concerned about their own personal development and the development of their community and state,” said John Anderson, director of the Cooperative Extension Service, which oversees 4-H. “Our programs are grounded in the belief that young people learn best by doing. Today is an example of that engagement.”
Madison County 4-H member Vallie Yancey,16, was attending her second 4-H Day at the Capitol event. With 11 years of 4-H experience, Yancey has a sheep production project and is a member of a 4-H leadership team that plans and coordinates all 4-H activities in Madison County — from 4-H camps for younger Cloverbud 4-H members to the county’s annual 4-H banquet.
“I love how we get to talk to our legislators and meet people who run our state,” she said.
Tribute to 4-H
Several of the state’s elected officials welcomed the 4-H delegation and praised their community service, leadership skills and work ethic.
“I love the 4-H motto — to make the best better,” Lt. Governor Leslie Rutledge said. “That’s what every Arkansan should strive to do.”
State Treasurer John Thurston encouraged the youth to register to vote when they turn 18 and to participate in the political process.
Griffin commended 4-Hers on being leaders in their communities and offered some advice: “Keep feeding and clothing and leading and building and doing all the great things you do, but make sure you stay up with who your elected officials are. Take the opportunity to know them and their staff.”

Later in the day, 4-H groups from Benton and Union counties attended Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ news conference about two pieces of legislation — the Grocery Tax Relief Act to repeal the state grocery tax, and the Good Neighbor Act that would expands protections for food donors and food banks.
New opportunities
Many 4-Hers were visiting the Capitol for the first time, including Mariah Valentine, 15, of Pea Ridge. She was excited to see inside the Capitol and was looking forward to “meeting my legislators from Benton County and learning about the process.”
Craighead County 4-H member Maggie Hutton, 15, met with Rep. Frances Cavenaugh, who is a 4-H alumna.
“It went really well,” Hutton said. “We told her about our projects and found out we have a lot in common. She really supports 4-H in our county.”
For her service project, Hutton compiled a list and location of food banks and hunger relief organizations in Craighead County to help food-insecure families find assistance.
Investment in the future
More than 120,000 Arkansas youth are involved in 4-H, which fosters civic engagement, leadership skills, community service and life skills gained through project-based work.
Deacue Fields, vice president for agriculture with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said 4-H is one of the best career and workforce development programs.
“Legislators, if you want a strong return on investment in Arkansas’ future workforce, invest in 4-H,” Fields said. “4-H has a strong track record of using results-driven educational experience to help youth reach their full potential. I have no doubt that in this group today, we have future entrepreneurs, future community leaders, future state legislators, U.S. Congressmen and leaders of the Division of Agriculture.”
The Cooperative Extension Service is the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.