4-H Members and Leaders Attend Conferences

Eight 4-H members and six 4-H leaders from Nova Scotia are attending two of the premier events hosted by the Canadian 4-H Council. The National 4-H Conference and National 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Conference are being held in Toronto, Nov. 4-8.

"The members and leaders selected to attend these conferences are recipients of a National 4-H Travel Award," said Agriculture and Marketing Minister Ed Lorraine. "The number of members chosen from Nova Scotia is certainly a reflection of the high calibre of the 4-H program in this province."

Agriculture - Focusing on the Future is the theme of this year's National 4-H Conference. The Nova Scotia members will join 50 delegates from across Canada, six participants from the United States and two young farmers from Britain to learn new skills and meet new people.

The Nova Scotia members attending this year's conference are:
Kitrin Johnson of Digby County; Cathy Crouse of Lunenburg County; Natasha MacDonald of Inverness County; Vincent Kouwenburg of Cumberland County; Shirley Anne Dalton of Pictou County; Holly Rutherford of Colchester County; and Cynthia Wilson and Megan McGovern of Hants County.

The National 4-H Conference provides the opportunity for 4-H members to participate in educational sessions focusing mainly on agricultural issues. Workshops and discussion groups encourage delegates to voice opinions and share ideas. Delegates also make group presentations on such topics as issues in animal agriculture, trends and issues in rural life, microbiology and food safety, and biotechnology.

The theme of this year's National 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Conference is Challenge of Change. The 4-H volunteer leaders must continually explore the meaning of change as they strive to improve the skills and knowledge that will better equip them to train tomorrow's leaders through the 4-H program. The National 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Conference allows 46 4-H volunteer leaders from across Canada, and two of their American counterparts, to work toward this important goal.

The Nova Scotia 4-H leaders attending this year's conference are:
Lorraine Wile of Lunenburg County; Ralph MacDonald of Antigonish County; Janet Herbin of Kings County; Cheryl Burbidge of Annapolis County; and George and Ruth MacNeil of Cape Breton County.

The National 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Conference not only emphasizes the development of effective leadership skills, but also helps develop an increased awareness of the needs of today's youth and allows for the exchange of ideas. The conference theme is supported by sessions focusing on approaches to meeting planning, fund-raising, leadership, achievement, encouraging senior members and addressing parental involvement.

Encouraging communication and information-sharing with youth members is also an important element of the conference. Volunteer leaders will participate in a number of joint sessions with delegates to the National 4-H Conference.

The national conferences are held in conjunction with National 4-H Week, Nov. 2-8, which celebrates the accomplishments of the 4-H program and honours the thousands of members, leaders and supporters who contribute to its success.