On March 26, four members of the Cool Cats 4-H Club in Clinton and one from the Montrose Busy Beavers boarded the Amtrak River Runner for a trip to Jefferson City. They joined 4-H youth from Bates, Cass, Cooper, Johnson and Pettis counties that filled three train cars.
In Jefferson City, the contingent from west-central Missouri were part of more than 900 youth from 88 counties. The Henry County 4-H group climbed to the top of the capitol dome for a view of Jefferson City and the Missouri River. They also visited with Senator Sandy Crawford, R-District 28, majority caucus secretary who represents West Central Missouri, including Henry, Benton, St. Clair, Vernon and Hickory counties.
Seth, a junior at Montrose High School, currently the Missouri 4-H State Council President, gave an address during the event. Henry County 4-H members also sat in on a session of the House of Representatives and toured the office of Missouri’s Secretary of State Denny Hoskins.
Four volunteer chaperones accompanied the delegation from Henry County. 4-H Day at the Capitol was open to any 4-H member and volunteer wanting to attend. With the success of the trip, it is likely that 4-H Day at the Capitol will become a tradition in years to come, according to Delaney DeHart, 4-H Youth Program Associate for Henry County.
By making the train trip possible, Amtrak helped 4-H club members join with their peers in Missouri to increase their awareness of Missouri history, state government, leadership opportunities and civic responsibilities. 4-H members pledge to develop their full potential in four areas: Head, Heart, Hands and Health, and is the largest youth organization in the United States, with 6 million members, ages 5-18.
For more information about 4-H clubs in Henry County, Missouri, go to extension.missouri.edu/henry or drop by the Henry County MU Extension Center, 120 E. Lincoln, adjacent to the Henry County Library parking lot.
