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CORVALLIS - Twenty-five Oregon youths were among the 1,300 4-H delegates from throughout the United States who recently attended the 81st National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Ga.

"Going to National 4-H Congress is one of the highlights of a 4-H member's career," said Jim Rutledge, Oregon State University Extension 4-H Youth program leader. "Selection to the state delegation is a special honor."

Oregon's 4-H Congress delegates range in grades from juniors in high school to college freshmen, according to Mary Arnold, OSU Extension 4-H Youth specialist and one of the chaperones for the delegation.

"The 4-Hers in Oregon's delegation are carefully selected through a rigorous application process based on the applicant's involvement in leadership, communication, citizenship, and 4-H projects," Arnold said.

The 2002 National 4-H Congress focused on international issues and trends as well as cultural diversity, group dynamics and community service.

During the four-day Congress event, delegates attended workshops, participated in group discussions and heard inspirational speakers including Millard Fuller, CEO and president of Habitat for Humanity; Rick Bragg, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist; and Erika Harold, Miss America 2002.

Delegates also joined together in a community service project during which they helped younger children from throughout Atlanta create art projects and presents as part of the Art of the Season program, benefiting Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

The leaders of the Oregon delegation were Arnold; Dana Martin, 4-H faculty in Crook County (Prineville), and Ron and Lori Binder 4-H volunteer leaders in Jefferson County (Madras).

4-H members in the 2002 Oregon delegation to the National 4-H Congress are:

ASTORIA: Daniel Lacy;

BORING: Paige Brown;

CANBY: Danielle Pope;

COBURG: Melissa Mosier;

CORBETT: Amy Marsh, Jamie Soli;

CORVALLIS: Kimberly Mitchell;

CRESWELL: Melyna Randall;

EAGLE POINT: Ali Rotar;

ENTERPRISE: Jacinda Mitchell;

EUGENE: Jason Magnuson;

GRESHAM: Kimberlee Thomas;

HERMISTON: Shannon Boettcher;

HILLSBORO: Lauren Sprague, Megan Jones, Rachel Klein;

LA GRANDE: Monica Graves;

NORTH BEND: Jonathan Bates;

PRINEVILLE: Leyla Estes;

SALEM: Jed Lowrie, Krista McDowell;

SHERIDAN: Anna Monroe;

SUMMERVILLE: Ashley Johnson;

SUTHERLIN: Melissa Youman;

WALLOWA: Sadie Isley.