Excitement is Stirring

For each and every conference I attend, I always feel those pre-conference jitters. While it is not necessarily my nerves that are bothering me, most often I am just really excited as to the new people I will meet, the new experiences I will have, and what I will learn to help me grow as a person. Well once again, I am feeling that anxiousness for a big event.

Picture above: Charlotte enjoying volunteering in Colorado at the National Collegiate 4-H Conference last February.

On November 14 through 16, Mizzou Collegiate 4-H is hosting the North Central Regional (NCR) Collegiate 4-H Conference right here in Columbia! While this is an awesome opportunity for the club as a whole, it is a whole lot of work and responsibility that goes along with it. I personally have only helped plan two small conferences, and nothing on the same scale as the interstate interaction will be at the NCR Conference. After attending numerous conferences throughout my life, each one brings a unique memory to mind. So… the challenge is: how will the conference at Mizzou be remembered?

Luckily, in Mizzou Collegiate 4-H, we have some really outstanding members. With the help of three tri-coordinators, our members have worked diligently to find just the right combination of activities for the NCR Conference which we gave the theme “Welcome to the Jungle.” We will be visiting a variety of Columbia’s classics—everything from tasting Shakespeare’s Pizza to enjoying a pool party at the Mizzou Rec Center. As Collegiate 4-Hers, we also focus on community service. An entire morning of the conference will be dedicated to giving back to the community when we will be volunteering at the Central Missouri Food Bank.

So how will the NCR Collegiate 4-H Conference be remembered? For each participant it may vary. Hopefully they will be inspired by every conference activity, and therefore, grow as a person. That is what makes a conference memorable to me. I love meeting people. I love learning about anything and everything. I love the leadership trainings. However, if I am inspired by someone or something at a conference, my exciting experiences there will transfer into other activities and push me in all I do.

-Charlotte Jackson
Sophomore, Agricultural Education