2021 4-H Academic Conference: An Unforgettable Event

Union County 4-Her, Meradeth Whiley concentrating on a project at Tennessee 4-H Academic Conference

By Meradeth Whitley

Cakes are delicious, but what would they be without the frosting?! That’s me without 4-H. You could say that 4-H is one of the most important things in my life. My name is Meradeth Whitley, I am entering high school this year, and I live in Union County. I love everything about where I live, and I am so proud to represent my county when I go to the many amazing 4-H events all over our region.

On Monday on June 7th, I got to attend Academic Conference at the University of Tennessee. Now I attended last year, but with everything on zoom, it was a little different. While still a great experience, I was thrilled to be on the campus of UT this year. How exciting. Now you might be wondering what Academic Conference is exactly. This is a time when 4-H’ers receive intensive training in their project area under the supervision of the university staff and 4-H extension officers. It is a chance for us to explore related career opportunities, and the conference provides a variety of rewarding and fun-filled experiences in the classroom, outdoor and laboratory settings.

My project area is “Creative Arts and Design”. My day at UT began with a great mixer for getting to know my fellow 4-H’ers and shaking off those jitters. We split up into our project groups where we had classes dealing with the many different parts of creative arts and design. I learned everything about colors. Did you know that colors can even affect your emotions? I learned block printing, stenciling, weaving and so much more. I got to plan, design and create my own linen tote bag using all of this knowledge. My teachers also explained to us about all of the unique careers that fall under creative arts and design. Snacks, lunch, games, crafts, friends…did I mention snacks…and learning more about how to build an online portfolio made the day one of the best 4-H events I have had. But! It is not just a fun experience. With many kids unsure about what they want to do as an adult, Academic Conference can help bring that future career into focus. I would encourage any kid in the 7th or 8th grades to sign up for Academic Conference. For more information about joining 4-H contact UT Extension Union County at ashley.mike@utk.edu or 865-992-8038.