DENVER – A group of 4-H students from Archuleta, La Plata and Montezuma counties visited the state Capitol Monday after attending a leadership conference in Denver.
The 13 middle and high school students attended the weekend Leadership Development Conference, which focused on the legislative process, including what steps bills go through once they are introduced in either the state Senate or House of Representatives, said Gregory Felsen, 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent for La Plata County.
On Monday, the experience culminated when the 4-Hers were applauded by state representatives during an acknowledgment of 4-H in the Colorado General Assembly, and they met with Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, Felsen said.
This has become a yearly activity for 4-H in Southwest Colorado, he said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to always come up and meet our state representative.”
McLachlan mentioned the group from Southwest Colorado before the House when a resolution was introduced acknowledging 4-H Day and the work the organization does.
The amount of work that goes into 4-H projects is often overlooked, McLachlan said. “We just kind of see them with the cows, and we don’t see those huge notebooks they keep of how much they feed them, and how much they’re paying, and if they’re making money off of it.”
During the youth conference, students debated actual bills introduced to the Legislature, and that really stood out, said 14-year-old Lorah Jacobson of Pagosa Springs.
“My group was texting and driving (Senate Bill 27), so we went over it, and figured out what things we could change,” Lorah said.
Kaleb Lee, 16, of Bayfield said he argued against the bill because of the severity of the proposed penalty.
Katherine McCourt, 14, of Durango said her group was given a bill that was passed last year that added pink to the list of acceptable colors that hunters can wear in season.
Unlike the 2016 General Assembly, the 4-H students did not approve the change of attire, Katherine said. “That one did not pass, but it was a lot of fun.”
The students want to apply the leadership skills they have learned in their 4-H clubs, schools and communities as soon as they return home, but not before taking care of some other extracurricular activities.
“We have to actually make sure we are back to Pagosa in time so me and another girl can get back to basketball practice,” Lorah said.
lperkins@durangoherald.com
