Editor’s note: 4-H Day at the State Capitol has been rescheduled for Feb. 24. It was postponed Feb. 17 due to the winter weather that is affecting much of Virginia.

Hundreds of 4-H members to visit lawmakers Tuesday

BLACKSBURG, Va., Feb. 16, 2015 – More than 900 4-H members and volunteers will visit Richmond Tuesday to meet with their legislators and learn about Virginia’s legislative branch of government for the annual 4-H Day at the State Capitol.

Virginia 4-H has sponsored the annual trip to Richmond for more than 20 years. It's a chance for students to learn about the legislative process and to express their gratitude to state delegates and senators who support the 4-H youth development programs. 

"We are excited that so many 4-H members will be attending this year’s event," said Cathy Sutphin, associate director for 4-H, the youth development program for Virginia Cooperative Extension. "They will be developing a better understanding of citizenship and will see how their state government works. 4-H members will present each representative with a shamrock plant as a way to thank him or her for making Virginia 4-H possible."

Virginia 4-H engages youth ages 5 to 19 in hands-on educational programs and activities designed to help them gain knowledge, life skills, and attitudes that will further their development as self-directed, contributing, and productive members of society.

The Virginia Extension Service Association provided the symbolic plants that 4-H members will deliver to state lawmakers. After lunch, many of the students will participate in various tours, view House and Senate sessions, and visit many other sites of interest to learn more about Richmond.

More than 202,000 youth are enrolled in Virginia 4-H’s hands-on educational programs. Throughout the commonwealth, more than 12,700 adults and teens volunteer their time and energy to mentor and teach 4-H members about science and technology, career and economic education, citizenship, communication and expressive arts, family sciences, leadership, and other topics. In addition, there are six 4-H educational centers that conduct residential camping programs for more than 10,700 youth annually.

For information about 4-H programs in your area, locate your local office on the Virginia Cooperative Extension website. Virginia Cooperative Extension is an educational outreach program of Virginia's land-grant universities: Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, and a part of the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture.

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