Missouri youth leaders selected for state 4-H Ambassador program

Preslee Bower, right, poses for a photo with her family. Father Jason Bower, left, sister Micala Bower, and mother Thabena Bower. Preslee was selected for the state 4-H Ambassador program. Submitted Photo

Submitted Photo

Twenty-four Missouri 4-H youth ages 14-18 have been selected by the State 4-H Council to serve this year as the first class of Missouri 4-H Ambassadors.

As Missouri 4-H Ambassadors, these youth leaders will be tasked with promoting 4-H programs throughout the state. They will also help plan and facilitate Teen Conference on May 31 and June 1, 2022.

Up to four youth were selected from each of Missouri 4-H’s eight regions. These 4-H’ers will help their Regional Representatives increase visibility at local, county and regional events, gather and utilize youth opinion and further develop youth-adult partnerships at the regional level. The Missouri State Fair, Aug. 12-22, will be the first event the Ambassadors will assist with.

This is a new leadership opportunity at the state level in Missouri 4-H. “We’re excited to provide a developmental leadership opportunity for our teens,” said Samantha Brandeberry, State 4-H Educator. “We anticipate that the adoption of this program will help strengthen youth leadership skills and confidence to prepare them for elevated leadership levels on the State 4-H Council, at college and in their future careers.”

This year’s Ambassadors completed an application, which was reviewed by the State 4-H Council at their July Meeting this past weekend. The following are this year’s Missouri 4-H Ambassadors: Paighton Witt, Franklin County, East Central; Abbigail Kleinsorge, Montgomery County, East Central; Ethan Estrada, Boone County, Northeast; Aurora Harris, Schuyler County, Northeast; Sophia White, Boone County, Northeast; Talib Webster, Boone County, Northeast; Kaci Wright, Andrew County, Northwest; Zoe Engelbrecht, Lafayette County, Northwest; Ruby Schmidt, Carroll County, Northwest; Morgan Watkins, Lafayette County, Northwest; Connor Lincoln, Bollinger County, Southeast; Israel Melchior, Perry County, Southeast; Kaylea Bell, Shannon County, Southeast; Sergio Mendoza, Cape Girardeau County, Southeast; Tannah Grigg-Casssatt, Jasper County, Southwest; Ashlynn Ball, Barton County, Southwest; Andrew Shelton, Barton County, Southwest; Giada Molton, Douglas County, Southwest; David Farr, Clay County, Urban West; Emmalyn Schnieders, Clay County, Urban West; Anna Wingbermuehle, St. Charles County, Urban East; Molly Archer, Laclede County, West Central; Jana Bruce, Cass County, West Central; Preslee Bower, Vernon County, West Central; and Christian Siegel, Cooper County, West Central.

Missouri 4-H is a youth-development organization and is part of MU Extension. For more information about 4-H, please visit 4h.missouri.edu.