Allamakee County 4-H members attend Regional County Council Retreat ...

The 2022 Regional County 4-H Council Retreat was strategic on bringing high school youth leaders together with a focus on deepening their leadership skills, beginning to build new councils, learning roles/expectations as 4-H ambassadors, providing peer networking and cross-county program sharing to kick-off the 2022-2023 4-H year. The retreat goal was to develop County 4-H Council members’ personal leadership while reflecting on impacts they can make on their county programs. 4-H County Council members are empowered youth leaders who provide youth “voice” and insight for their respective county program.

More than 40 youth and adults representing Allamakee, Chickasaw, Howard and Winneshiek 4-H participated in the regional retreat held August 28 at Phelps Park in Decorah. The goal was met through team-building activities, group leadership discussions and completing a service project. As part of the retreat, council members cut and braided recycled t-shirts which resulted in approximately 250 braided dog toys to be donated to the Northeast Iowa Humane Society. Pictured above are Allamakee County 4-H representatives who attended the retreat. Left to right: Allamakee County Youth Coordinator Marissa Foels, Allamakee 4-H County Council members Thomas Troendle, Mallory Berns, Natalie Byrnes, Ethan Palmer, Emma Palmer, Alaina Gebel and Sarah Stock, and Allamakee 4-H County Council Advisor Tami Gebel.

ISU Extension and Outreach staff provided the organization and leadership for the event. Those staff included Kendra Crooks, Youth Program Specialist; Marissa Foels, Allamakee County Youth Coordinator; Pat Dirks, Chickasaw County Youth Coordinator, and Ashley Horgen, Winneshiek County Youth Coordinator. Supporting staff included County 4-H Council Advisors Michelle Schwartzhoff, Jennifer Klassen and Tami Gebel.

For more information on Allamakee County 4-H Programs, contact the Allamakee County Extension Office in Waukon at 563-568-6345 or at www.extension.iastate.edu/allamakee. Submitted photo.