Marshall-Putnam County 4-H member joins Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team

Marshall-Putnam County 4-H member Ryan Carlson has been selected for the 2025 Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team.

Over the next two years, Carlson will be representing his club (Marshall-Putnam County Henry Guys & Gals 4-H Club), Marshall-Putnam County and Illinois 4-H at various 4-H events.

The Youth Leadership Team offers 4-H members and recent 4-H alumni an opportunity to give back to the program while enhancing their leadership skills. The team actively assists the state 4-H office in planning, implementing and evaluating various 4-H events and activities; representing Illinois at the National 4-H Conference; and serving as a youth voice of the Illinois 4-H Youth Development Program.

The Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team involves 15 to 22 4-H members and recent 4-H alumni (ages 16 to 21) who coordinate and assist with various area and statewide 4-H activities.

Team members are involved in planning and implementing the Illinois 4-H Jr. Leadership Conference, according to a news release from the University of Illinois Extension.

Those activities include assisting behind the scenes with events such as Illini Summer Academies and Illinois State Fair; serving as the training team for the Speaking for Illinois 4-H program; and serving on various statewide 4-H committees and boards (i.e., Illinois 4-H Foundation board of directors, Illinois Farm Bureau Youth Education Committee), among other duties.