The fellowship hall at First Presbyterian Church in Foley last Monday night was abuzz with focused conversation and laughter. Benton County 4-H club officers gathered in small groups, each diving into the responsibilities of their elected roles during the annual 4-H Officer and Volunteer Training.

Extension Educator Ann Olson opened the evening with a thought-provoking question: “Do people see things differently?” After a chorus of “yes” from the youth, she continued, “To be a good club officer, we need to realize and consider that each person sees things very differently—and sometimes that can cause tension at club meetings.” 

Olson then showed a series of optical illusion photos, sparking discussion as officers discovered how people could look at the same picture and see two entirely different images. “As club officers, it’s your job to help members and adults who see things differently come together as one unified club,” she explained, prompting youth to brainstorm ways to make that happen.

Following the group activity, youth broke into officer-specific sessions led by dedicated adult 4-H volunteers: Mandy Spiczka, Laura Brenny, Courtney Studenski, Kevin Kuklok, Cindy Vannurden, Amanda McKay, and Michael Schlough. Officers representing presidents, vice presidents, secretaries, treasurers, historians, and reporters spent the evening learning hands-on skills to help them succeed in their roles.

In the presidents’ and parliamentarian session, youth discussed meeting structure, gavel signals, and the importance of youth leadership. The discussion also emphasized youth voice and ownership in meetings. 

Meanwhile, treasurers practiced writing checks and balancing club finances, and secretaries reviewed how to document minutes accurately.  

After officer sessions, participants enjoyed pizza before diving into the Adult Volunteer Training, themed “Thriving by Design.” This session focused on creating environments where all voices are heard and youth have meaningful opportunities to lead. It was inspiring to see many of the youth officers stay to participate alongside adults, sharing ideas on how to strengthen youth-adult partnerships.

Participants then explored the seven indicators of youth thriving, part of the National 4-H Thrive Model—Openness to Challenge & Discovery, Growth Mindset, Hopeful Purpose, Prosocial Orientation, Transcendent Awareness, Positive Emotion, and Goal Setting & Management. Small groups discussed how each concept appears in real-life 4-H experiences and shared strategies for fostering thriving within their clubs.

By the end of the evening, both youth and adults left energized and inspired, equipped with practical tools, fresh perspectives, and new ideas to make their 4-H clubs stronger, more inclusive, and thriving in the year ahead.