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CORVALLIS - A delegation of 20 Oregon 4-H members and leaders, and youth advocates from several communities throughout the state are headed to Washington, D.C., Feb. 28 to take part in an event called the "National Conversation on Youth Development in the 21st Century."

"This historic event will include youth and adults from every U.S. state and territory," said Jim Rutledge, 4-H Youth program leader for the Oregon State University Extension Service.

"The National Conversation will help the 4-H organization identify new goals for the years ahead," Rutledge said. "The conversation process is designed to involve community members, including youth and adults representing 4-H and other youth programs, in identifying ways for communities to be more supportive of youth and more effective in meeting their needs and interests."

A national 4-H initiative, the National Conversation on Youth Development is one of several events planned this year to help commemorate the 100th anniversary (1902-2002) of the 4-H Youth Development program in the United States.

The National Conversation is actually a three-step process that began last fall with county conversations involving 4-H members, adult leaders and community participants. Counties then sent representatives to state conversations where ideas were compiled, discussed and collected in a report to be delivered at the nationwide conversation in Washington D.C.

Oregon's 20 delegates participated in their county conversations and in a state conversation recently held on the OSU campus. The 20 were chosen from a group of 4-H members and adults who applied for selection to the Oregon delegation. Each submitted an application and a short essay explaining why they wanted to participate.

According to Rutledge, the 20 delegates selected represent all five Oregon congressional districts. Rutledge will lead the Oregon delegation.

"We are very excited to be able to take 20 youth and adults from Oregon to the national conversation to represent the diversity of thought that comes from all areas of the state," said Rutledge. "While in Washington D.C., Oregon's delegates hope to meet with the state's congressional representatives."

4-H members and adults in the Oregon delegation to the National Conversation are:

• Astoria: Nikole Engle
• Canyon City: Emily Keerins
• Corvallis: Kimberly Mitchell, Jim Rutledge
• Dallas: Mike Knutz
• Gresham: Shannon Rollins
• Hermiston: Shannon Boettcher
• LaGrande: Kelly Gross
• Mt. Hood: Loehn Rawdin Morris
• North Bend: Barbara Bates, Jonathan Bates
• Pleasant Hill: Kimberly Olson
• Portland: Shari Exo, Ibeth Hernandez, Sonia Salais
• Prineville: Leyla Estes
• Salem: Tracy Gowan
• Sheridan: Anna Monroe
• Sutherlin: Melissa Youman
• Yachats: Marilyn Kennelly