4-H Citizenship Group Visits the State Capitol

Forty-six 4-H youth in grades 7-12 and five adults from Allamakee, Howard, and Winneshiek Counties traveled to the Iowa State Capitol on March 14, 2012 to tour the Capitol and to meet with Representative Bob Hager and Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm.  The youth took a sixty minute tour of the century-old capitol building featuring a 275-foot gold-leafed dome, grand staircase, marble, and ornate woodwork. Their Capitol tour also included a visit to the old Supreme Court chambers, the five-story law library, a scale model of Battleship Iowa, and a collection of first-lady dolls. 

Eleven Howard County youth represented Howard County’s Citizenship Club.  “One of the biggest highlights of the trip was being invited to go on the House of Representatives chamber floor by Representative Hager, to ask questions about the laws being discussed in the House,” said Kaitlin Hanson, County Youth Coordinator.  The day concluded with a meeting with Senator Wilhelm in which youth were able to ask questions about the Senator’s role in Iowa government.  Howard county youth represented the county well, receiving compliments from everyone we visited with.  These eleven 4-H members are well on their way to becoming productive citizens!

The Howard County 4-H Citizenship Club was organized in 2010 for youth in grades 7-12 to broaden their knowledge of citizenship.  The club was designed with a two year projected plan.  The first year, members learn about local, area and state government and travel to the state capitol in Des Moines to meet with local governmental officials and learn about state government and how it connects to them.  During the second year, youth learn about federal government and travel to Washington D.C.  For more information about the 4-H Citizenship Club, contact the Howard County Extension & Outreach office at (563)547-3001.