March 17, 2020

News Release

For Immediate Release

EDITOR'S NOTE: Members of the media may contact Jeannette Rea Keywood of the Rutgers 4‑H Youth Development Program by phone at 609-827-0199 or by email at reakeywood@njaes.rutgers.edu.

New Jersey 4-H Members to Attend National 4-H Conference

Six 4‑H members from New Jersey have been selected to represent New Jersey at the 90th National 4‑H Conference to be held March 28-April 2 in Washington, D.C. The New Jersey delegates attending this conference are: Kaleigh Brunner of Warren (Somerset County), Elise Heim from Cape May (Cape May County), Scarlett Kinsey of Haddonfield (Camden County), Kristin Osika from Mendham (Morris County) William Teitsma of Newton (Sussex County) and Abha Thapar from Monmouth Junction (Middlesex County).

Headquartered at the National 4‑H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland, this conference provides a forum for over 250 4‑H members, leaders and staff from 45 states, Puerto Rico, District of Columbia and Canada. These teens offer a voice in program development for future 4‑H direction.

The National 4‑H Conference is the premier civic engagement opportunity for 4‑H members (15–19 years old) who are actively engaged in 4‑H programs across the U.S. and its territories. The conference is administered by 4‑H National Headquarters of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). National 4‑H Conference delegates have an opportunity to increase knowledge, resources, and skills that will empower them to make an impact on their community in a meaningful and genuine way.

Conference delegates were selected amid keen competition following interviews at Rutgers University. Conference delegates were chosen based on their leadership and communication skills and strong participation in the 4‑H program. "They also share an overall knowledge of the mission of 4‑H and a broad understanding of Cooperative Extension," says Jeannette Rea Keywood, State 4‑H Agent & National 4‑H Events Coordinator, Department of 4‑H Youth Development.

The 4‑H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. 4‑H educational programs are offered to all youth, grades K–13 (one year out of high school), on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, marital status, domestic partnership status, military service, veteran status and any other category protected by law.

For more information about the New Jersey 4‑H Program, administered by Rutgers Cooperative Extension visit the website at nj4h.rutgers.edu

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Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and County Boards of Chosen Freeholders. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is an qual opportunity program provider and employer.