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Around the Nation

Citizenship Washington Focus
Citizenship Washington Focus is an educational program about citizenship, leadership, and government at work. About 25 Pennsylvania 4-H delegates travel to Washington D.C. for seven days during the second week of July. The 15-through 18-year-old delegates (as of January 1) stay at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland and participate in various field trips.

National 4-H Conference
National 4-H Conference is a national program conducted at the National 4-H Center, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Youth delegates from across the United States participate in consultation groups, which examine selected teen and social issues. Each group then makes recommendations for the 4-H program at the national, state, and local levels. Delegates must be at least 15 years old.

National 4-H Congress
National 4-H Congress is a 5-day educational program that brings together the top 4-H members across the nation to share ideas and experiences. Each county in Pennsylvania can send two 4-H members. The events include workshops, nationally known speakers, and participation in community service projects.

National 4-H Contests
Four-H members qualify to represent Pennsylvania at these events by being a member of the first place team (team events) or being the first place individual (individual events) in the qualifying contest at Penn State 4-H Achievement Days. The exception is dairy judging, which is represented by a state team composed of the four highest placing individuals in the state senior dairy judging contest. The Wildlife and Forestry Invitational participants are chosen through contests held in late April or early May.

Four-H Quiz Bowls: Winners at the Pennsylvania 4-H Achievement Days Dairy Quiz Bowl contest are eligible to compete in the North American 4-H Quiz Bowl held in Louisville, KY, during November. Several breeds also conduct dairy quiz bowls and sponsor their winning teams in national contests.
National 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest: The National 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest is conducted by the National Junior Horticulture Association. The highest scoring team from each state may compete in this contest if each participant on the team is 15 years of age by January of the current year. Events include artistic arrangement, fruit and vegetable use, horticulture production/marketing, landscaping, and peanut foods.
National 4-H Engineering, Science and Leadership Event: This national event is held for youth participating in aerospace, automotive, bicycle, computer, electric/energy, lawn tractor, small engines, and tractor projects. Each state is eligible to send ten 4-H participants (one state winner in bicycle, computer, electric/energy, lawn tractor, small engines, and tractor; two winners in the automotive contest; and a team of two in the aerospace challenge.)
National 4-H Forestry Invitational: The National 4-H Forestry Invitational is the national event for the 4-H Forestry program. Each year since 1980, teams of 4-H members from many different states have gathered at the Jackson's Mill State 4-H Camp near Weston, West Virginia, to meet, compete and have fun. During two days of competition 4-H members participate in forestry skills and knowledge events. Although competitive in nature, the Invitational is designed to provide a broad educational experience in forestry. Participants to this event are chosen during a state-wide contest held in late April or early May.
National 4-H Wildlife Invitational: The National 4-H Wildlife Invitational is an event designed to teach youth about the fundamentals of wildlife management. Although it is a competitive event, its primary function is education. Natural resources management is learned through participation in the contest and the associated programs. Additional benefits come from the development of leadership capabilities and meeting youth and professionals from other states. The five major parts of the invitational are: Wildlife Management Practices, Wildlife Foods, Aerial Photographs, Wildlife Management Plan, and Urban Wildlife Plan. Participants to this event are chosen during a state-wide contest in late April or early May.