Adair County 4-H'er Inducted to State 4-H Youth Council

Forty Iowa teens are beginning their terms as members of the Iowa 4-H Youth Council. They were inducted during the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Iowa 4-H Youth Conference June 28. Adair County 4-H’er Kysa Downing is one of the 40 teens to be installed to the group of elite teen leaders. She is a member of the Richland Royals 4-H Club and the Adair County 4-H Youth Council. The Nodaway Valley senior represented Iowa at National 4-H Congress last fall and will be part of the Iowa delegation to National 4-H Conference next spring. She is the daughter of Steve and Karen Downing of Creston.

The young leaders will serve as 4-H ambassadors in their home counties and throughout the regions they represent in the state. They also will participate in various statewide functions.

“The state council is made up of an outstanding group of people from across the state,” said Brenda Allen, state 4-H youth development program specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “During three days of ambassador training, they practiced sharing their 4-H stories, learned about specifics in the state 4-H program and learned about one another. I am confident they are prepared to represent the Iowa 4-H program with enthusiasm and grace. It is a pleasure to work with such accomplished and motivated youth, and I’m looking forward to the year ahead.”

Other responsibilities of state council members include working at the Iowa State Fair, planning the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference and serving with the Iowa 4-H Foundation.

“The state council gives youth an opportunity to develop important life skills,” said Chuck Morris, ISU Extension and Outreach 4-H Youth Development program director. “Youth learn to become better leaders through planning and executing state and area educational events.”