Mefford attends Youth Leadership Team Conference in Virginia.
If you asked Wapiti Mefford what he did during his spring break from school he would say that he got to do three of his favorite things learn about agriculture, practice leadership skills, and celebrate 4-H with other 4-H members from throughout the United States.
This spring, Wapiti applied and was selected to serve as one of six 4-H members from across the nation to serve on the Youth Leadership Team (YLT) for the 2022 National 4-H Conference in Crystal City, VA, March 17th-March 24th, 2022. This National 4-H Conference is the premier youth development civic engagement opportunity of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). As a YLT Member, Wapiti fulfilled a commitment to overseeing the planning of the conference, which was of tremendous importance in setting the stage for a positive experience for more than 300 youth and adult leaders from across the country, U.S. territories, and the Canadian provinces. This opportunity included pre-conference attendance for planning, leading into the actual Conference events. It was the committee's goal to make the planning process and the conference itself a rich and meaningful educational and leadership opportunity for the YLT members, as well as the attendees.
While at the conference Wapiti had the opportunity to learn about American Agriculture from the United State Department of Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack as well as Dr. Carrie Castillo, Director of the NIFA. The group also that the opportunity to tour the Nation’s Capitol while attending the conference.
Wapiti said that he had an outstanding time and had the opportunity to make friends all over the United States and Canada. Wapiti is the son of Jamie and Kim Mefford of Jasper. He is the President of the Jasper Pirate Pride Teen 4-H Club.