New Rockford Transcript - Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Christopher Becker, a senior at New Rockford-Sheyenne School and member of the Rough Riders 4-H Club in Eddy County, is one of four youth selected to serve as a North Dakota 4-H Ambassador.

Others selected include Jake Doll of Steele County (Finley Sharon High School), Rachel Larson of Adams County (Larson Homeschool) and Linnea Axtman of Cass County (Davies High School). The selections event was held during a 4-H Ambassadors retreat at the North Dakota 4-H Camp near Washburn.

"I felt extremely welcomed by all the Ambassadors from the moment I stepped foot into the main building of the 4-H camp," Larson says.

"Despite the stress of running, it was very fun," Doll says. "I'm so glad that I get to be a part of the Ambie family."

The event co-chairs, 4-H Ambassadors Victoria Christensen and Dietrich Schlichtmann, planned everything from the meals, securing judges and communicating with candidates to all events for the day.

"Everything was very organized and ran smoothly," Christensen says. "We had a great group of candidates and excellent judges."

The North Dakota 4-H Ambassadors are young leaders from across the state who are actively involved in 4-H. Hannah Nordby, North Dakota 4-H Ambassador co-adviser, assists the youth as they help plan and coordinate many activities that teach youth topics such as leadership, team work and citizenship.

"The 4-H Ambassadors specialize in planning and facilitating 4-H events, such as Extension Youth Conference, workshops, training sessions, and regional and state events," Nordby says. "North Dakota 4-H Ambassadors also support local 4-H events by assisting local NDSU Extension agents."

The selection process begins with 4-H'ers submitting an application and references.

"Once the application is received in the state 4-H office, then candidates must commit to the selection interview process," says Sue Quamme, North Dakota 4-H Ambassador co-adviser and a youth leadership and civic engagement specialist in NDSU Extension's Center for 4-H Youth Development. "They must attend in person and participate in various events that include a formal interview, impromptu interview, and a team-building and a problem-solving event. Each portion is judged with a rubric by outside adults and current Ambassadors."

Aspen Lenning, an outgoing Ambassador from Mountrail County, enjoyed her last retreat.

"The selection of new Ambassadors is always so exciting," she says. "We get to watch amazing kids come in and show us their leadership skills. While not everyone gets in, we get to see growth when they come back."

Nordby is a former Ambassador and now the NDSU Extension agent in Adams County.

"I got in at selections, so coming back as an adviser at selections was very fitting and exciting for me," she says.