by Sydney Kightlinger, editor in chief

Four Saegertown students attended the Pennsylvania 4-H State Leadership Conference from Jan. 27-29. Seniors Rachel Barner and Melanie McClearn, junior Patrick Dunn, and freshman Kimmy Reisinger spent three days at the Penn Stater Hotel & Conferencing Center in State College working on leadership characteristics and principals with 4H members from around the state.

Students participated in a variety of workshops designed to improve communication techniques, team building, decision making, and goal setting. Dunn, who is President of Crawford County Council and his 4H club Champion Drive, attended the public speaking, make a good impression, executive decision, confidence, parliamentary procedure, and effective writing workshops.

“The one that benefited me the most was public speaking because I gained a lot from it. I learned how to get an audience’s attention and to think quickly. I plan on using some of it in my yearly demonstration,” said Dunn.

During McClearn’s workshops, she worked with kids to help them design a robot to help guide the elderly. “I learned a lot about team building. My goal is really to get the younger members to work better and speak about their ideas when I return,” said McClearn.

First year Crawford County Council member Resigner attended the effective writing workshop where she wrote numerous reports that resemble her 4H reports. “I will have to write for the rest of my life, and this will benefit my club.”

“It is important to help young men and women become better leaders. I look forward to coming back to teach and lead my club,” said Barner, who is the president of Pathfinders 4H Club and also member of the Crawford County Council. Barner added, “The confidence workshop taught me to become a better leader. You have to have confidence in yourself in order to give confidence to others. It is a lead by example sort of thing.”