Washington, D.C. – Illinois 4-H teen Alex Paul of Wayne County was selected to represent 4-H as a member of the prestigious National Youth Leadership Team. The National Youth Leadership Team amplifies youth voice and ensures young people are involved in every step of the conference’s planning and implementation, according to USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
This team is composed of six high school students chosen in a nationwide search and two adult advisors who operate under a peer leadership model. Part of his duties for this national team included planning for the flagship youth development opportunity, the 2025 National 4-H Conference held in Washington, D.C. With guidance from their adult mentors, youth members take the lead in shaping key aspects of the conference, from logistics to programming.
“I applied to be an ambassador for the National 4-H Conference 2025 because it was one of if not the best, event that I have been to,” says Alex. “There are so many skills that youth are able to develop, practice, and polish throughout their experience at the National 4-H Conference, and this inspired me to give back to my peers and continue the experience that I had and make it even better.”
In addition to their planning responsibilities, members of the Youth Leadership Team gain valuable experience in leadership development. The experience fosters growth in communication, collaboration, and project management skills, according to Illinois 4-H. The team’s work has a national impact, helping ensure the success of a conference that brings together 4-H youth from across the country.
Alex said that his favorite part was getting to know all the delegates. “Being able to see the variety of different backgrounds in not only just the delegates, but the Youth Leadership Team Members too is very impactful. We come from all over the United States and make lasting memories with each other.”
Alex is the Vice Chair of the Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team, a Shooting Sports Ambassador and is very involved in 4-H. After graduating high school, Alex intends to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, majoring in Accounting, and then go on to law school.
About Illinois 4-H:
Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
For Further Information Contact:
Writer: Sophia Schneider, Illinois 4-H Communications Intern
Press Contact: Carissa Nelson, Media Communications Manager, carissa7@illinois.edu
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.