ELIZABETHTOWN — Claire Parrish, representing Bladen County 4-H members, attended the 4-H Citizenship North Carolina Focus, which was held recently in Raleigh.

The Bladen County delegation returned home from three days in which more than 125 youth and adults representing over 60 4-H programs across the state gathered to exchange ideas, gain knowledge and learn through hands on experiences about the importance of being an active and engaged citizen.

Parrish represented Bladen County at the June 15-17 conference. She is a senior at West Bladen High School and the daughter of Tracy and Sharon Parrish, of Dublin. Through various conference sessions and facilitated discussions, Parrish and the other delegates learned and shared information related to local, state and national government as well as learned how they could make an impact in the area of citizenship.

The highlight of the conference was the Legislative Breakfast where delegates had a chance to meet and have photos taken with their elected officials. Following the breakfast, delegates traveled to the Legislative Building in Raleigh to meet with their elected officials and their staff.

At the conclusion of the conference, Parrish reported that “4-H Citizenship Focus has opened my eyes to the reality of state politics. It has given me an understanding of tangibility of the issues. Meeting with the lawmakers I was able to test the waters and get my feet wet to determine if my future career will be to proudly serve somewhere in our state’s political scene.”

4-H Citizenship North Carolina Focus is sponsored by North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives – Touchstone Energy. North Carolina 4-H is Cooperative Extension’s youth development program.

For more information on this event or other 4-H programs, contact Stacie Kinlaw, 4-H Agent in Bladen County at 910-862-4591 or by email at Stacie_kinlaw@ncsu.edu .

Parrish
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_claire.jpgParrish

Contributed photo Claire Parrish and N.C. Rep. Garland Pierce chat for a moment during the N.C. 4-H Citizenship North Carolina Focus held in Raleigh in June.
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_claire-and-Garland-Pierce.jpgContributed photo Claire Parrish and N.C. Rep. Garland Pierce chat for a moment during the N.C. 4-H Citizenship North Carolina Focus held in Raleigh in June.