OTC 4-H’ers selected as State Ambassadors
News | Published on October 3, 2023 at 3:15pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0Imagine representing an entire statewide organization and working with thousands of people from every part of Minnesota as a teenager.
This year, Nathan Blashack and Madison Pesek have earned that opportunity. Blashack and Pesek are two of 29 outstanding youths who were selected to serve as Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors, an over 50-year tradition of Minnesota 4-H. To be selected as a State Ambassador, they submitted a written application, participated in an interview, and gave a presentation.
“For me, being a 4-H state ambassador means I am the youth face of 4-H, I get to build leadership in the youth of Minnesota, and my favorite part is meeting all the new people,” said Blashack.
State Ambassadors are the youth leaders and spokespeople for Minnesota 4-H. Being selected as a State Ambassador is one of the highest honors that a 4-H member can achieve.
Nathan is the child of Matt and Carla and lives in Bertha. He will be attending Bertha Hewitt High School as a junior this year.
Madison is the child of Matt and Jenny and lives in Fergus Falls. She will be attending Kennedy Secondary School as a junior this year.
“My goals as a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador are to meet tons of new people throughout Minnesota and tell upcoming members what 4-H is all about and all the opportunities 4-H provides. I can’t wait for camps this year and getting to be a counselor,” said Pesek.
Throughout the year, the 4-H State Ambassador team will dedicate many hours to organizing, planning, and facilitating 4-H activities and events, impacting thousands of other youths involved in Minnesota 4-H programs. This includes supporting Minnesota 4-H at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair, coordinating and facilitating statewide leadership events, and sharing their 4-H story with businesses, industry associations, schools, and community groups.
The State Ambassador program is one of several 4-H leadership and civic engagement experiences available to Minnesota youth.
To learn more about the 4-H State Ambassadors, visit www.z.umn.edu/4-h-state-ambies or contact Meg Clark or Jacquie Lonning, State Ambassador Advisors, at mn4h-stateambieadvisors@umn.edu.