SIDNEY — Three local youth were recently selected from a pool of applicants to take part in national 4-H leadership experiences this summer. Katelynn Garber, daughter of Michelle and Eric Garber, of Sidney, and Chareasa Jeffries, daughter of Randy and Amy Esser, of Anna, will take part in Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF), while Kyle Low, son of Matt and Karri Low, of Houston, will take part in Leadership Washington Focus (LWF). Both programs will take place in July. The cost of the trips was majorly sponsored by the Shelby County 4-H Foundation. In order to be eligible for selection, Garber, Jeffries and Low had to submit an application along with an essay titled, “What it means to be a good citizen.”

Garber, Jeffries and Low will learn about government processes in the vibrant, living classroom of the nation’s capital as part of their CWF and LWF experiences. The trio will visit the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, MD, where they will be immersed in an intensive 4-H civic engagement program specifically designed for middle-school and high-school youth.

For more than 50 years, National 4-H Youth Conference Center has invited 4-H members from across the country to travel to Washington, DC and participate in civic workshops, committees, and field trips before returning home to make positive changes in their own communities. CWF and LWF not only strengthen young people’s understanding of the government’s civic process, but it also boosts their leadership skills, communication skills, and overall confidence.

During CWF and LWF, youth get a behind-the-scenes look at the nation’s capital while meeting with Members of Congress to learn more about how their government works. At the end of the program, youth draft step-by-step action plans to address important issues in their communities.

“CWF is a great opportunity for young people to come together, talk about the problems they see in their communities, and identify solutions to make their communities stronger,” said Donald T. Floyd Jr., National 4-H Council president and CEO. “The experiences these young people gain gives them the proper tools and confidence to become successful, articulate leaders in the future.”