Cottonwood Connections March2023 | Page 6

Two Cottonwood-Barton 4-H Ambassadors took advantage of a great weekend of Ambassador/Communications training at Rock Springs Ranch on Feb. 24-25.

The training included presentations by Dr. Sarah Maass, Kansas 4-H Program Leader; Maria Childs, Kansas 4-H Foundation, and other staff and specialists to expand their understanding of brand management and telling their 4-H story.

Jonas Kern, Cottonwood 4-H2O Ambassador, and Melody Braddy, Barton 4-H Ambassador, reported bringing home good information and ideas to try from the workshop.

Barton County 4-H'ers attend Ambassador/Communications Training

It may not have crossed Emma Littich’s mind when she first enrolled in the Kansas 4-H program at age 7, but the world was about to open up to her.

More than 10 years later, there she was: Leading Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on a tour of the Kansas State Fair and advocating for the Kansas 4-H program.

And a few months after that, standing before a Kansas House of Representatives committee explaining the virtues of the state’s largest youth organization to the government’s lawmakers.

Kansas 4-H “has taught me things that I wouldn’t have otherwise learned from any other organization,” said Littich, who was recently elected president of the Kansas 4-H Youth Leadership Council.

Beth Hinshaw, a Kansas 4-H youth development specialist, said the council is made up of a group of young leaders who work to “improve their leadership skills and inspire all youth through project work, state events and relationships.”

"They believe in sharing their passion (for 4-H) with other Kansas youth by helping them

Area 4-H'er selected for Kansas 4-H Youth Council