• By April Bowman
• Posted Thursday, July 1, 2010

Forsyth 4-H’ers Meet Legislators at Citizenship Focus Event

A delegation for Forsyth County 4-H’ers met with Rep. Dale Folwell and Sen. Peter Brunstetter during the Legislative Breakfast held Wednesday, June 16th.

Four-H Citizenship: North Carolina Focus is a three-day conference for 4-H youth to gain first-hand insights into the legislative process at the state level. Delegates participate in workshops designed and taught by experts, including government officials, public policy specialists, lobbyists, and judges.

More than 100 4-H youth from across the state converged in the capital city for the conference. The conference’s culmination comes on its third day, when the delegates join their legislators first for a breakfast and then at the Legislative Building for meetings on the issues most pressing on the minds of young people in North Carolina.

"This event sheds light on the way our government works for young people,” explained Dr. Marshall Stewart, State 4-H Leader. “Young people must become engaged as citizens early on in their lives. This is one of the core missions of 4-H: to develop citizenship and leadership in young people. These young 4-H’ers are being equipped to serve as civically responsible adults who are involved in the democratic process.”

On the day of their trip to the Legislative Building, 4-H’ers joined with members from both the NC Senate and NC House of Representatives for a breakfast honoring retiring four distinguished legislators: Rep. Bill Owens of Pasquotank County, Sen. Ed Jones of Halifax County, Rep. Arthur Williams of Beaufort County, and Sen. Richard Stevens of Wake County.

Pictured Left to Right: Sen. Peter Brunstetter; Brandon Joyce, Forsyth County 4-H Council Reporter; Michael Barrick, Forsyth County 4-H Volunteer; Nathan Barrick, Forsyth County 4-H Council President; Rep. Dale Folwell.