4-H State Congress

Virginia 4-H State Congress is the premier, statewide annual 4-H event for outstanding 4-H teens and adult volunteer leaders. Its mission is to provide competitive and non-competitive educational experiences to Virginia teens and the adults who work with them, helping them to develop life skills and leadership abilities to become contributing citizens in their communities.
SAVE THE DATE
Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow
at the
101st Annual State 4-H Congress
June 27 - 30, 2023
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Virginia 4-H State Congress will be held at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, from June 27 - 30, 2023.
- 2023 General Information Packet
- 2023 4-H Agent, Program Assistant, and Adult Volunteer Information Packet
Registration for the 2023 State 4-H Congress will be available April 17 - May 26, 2023.
- Cost to attend is $270 - Full Time Participant
- Cost to attend as a One-Day Delegate is $60
- Lodging will be in West Ambler Johnson (Air Conditioned Dorm)
- Congress Headquarters will be in West Ambler Johnson Lobby
- State 4-H Congress registration will be completed using 4-H Online. Enrollment will occur through approved and active family profiles in 4-H Online.
- Each district has up to $1,000 to provide incentives for their districts. Districts choose how they would like the money spent.
- Each unit will recive one first-time delegate scholarship for half of the registration cost ($135) and one full adult volunteer scholarship ($270). These scholarships cannot be used for Extension Faculty/Staff.
- All 4-H adult volunteers attending State 4-H Congress must have completed a criminal background screening. Enrollment through the 4-H Online system, with the correct volunteer role, will ensure the screening has been conducted.
- State 4-H Election packet has been emailed out to the 4-H listserv and is linked below.
- 4-H Online event registration will be open from April 17-May 26, 2023.
- Please encourage your teens to apply for National 4-H Congress. To help them prepare for this process, visit the following web link for more information regarding National 4-H Congress: http://ext.vt.edu/4h-youth/national-congress.html
Any enrolled senior 4-H member and adult volunteer leader may attend Congress, but all must be registered under one of the following categories. The full fee is $270. Additional items, such as photos, slideshow, Congress memorabilia will be available for purchase during the registration process.
Registration Structure and Fees:
- Full Congress Registration - $270/person
- For youth and adults
- Includes:
- Lodging for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night in air-conditioned dorms (double occupancy)
- Eight Meals: Breakfast Wednesday-Friday, Lunch Wednesday-Thursday, Dinner Tuesday-Thursday
- Congress T-Shirt
- One-Day Competition Registration - $60/person
- For youth and adults
- Includes:
- Congress T-Shirt
- One meal (either lunch or dinner in Dietrick Hall) *Preference needs to be listed on registration
- A La Carte Items
- Color Fun Run/Walk - $15 to participate; proceeds will help support State 4-H Congress
- 2023 Digital Congress Slideshow - $5
- Congressional Delegation Photo - $5
- Unit Photo - $5
- First-time Delegate Scholarship
- The Virginia 4-H Foundation will provide each unit with one $135.00 scholarship to be used for a 4-H member attending Congress for the first time.
- VCE employees may not use this scholarship.
- Adult Volunteer Scholarship
- Each unit may send one volunteer leader to Congress with a $270 scholarship courtesy of the State 4-H Office.
- VCE employees may not use this scholarship.
- Virginia 4-H Cabinet Officers/Ambassadors and Advisors
- Each Cabinet officer, ambassador, and advisor will recieve a $70.00 scholarship (Congress cost to the Cabinet member is $200.00).
- Cabinet members must register for Congress through their member profile within 4-H Online.
- A full list of these recipients can be found in the 2023 4-H Agent, Program Assistant, and Adult Volunteer Information Packet.
- Need-based Scholarships
- There are a limited number of scholarships available. The final amount and number will be determined based on the number of applicants and need. To apply for a scholarship, please complete the short Google form.
- Delegates will be required to make a deposit payment of $170.00, and will receive additional information about final payment after the selections have been made.
- If a scholarship is not awarded, the balance of the registration will be required to be paid.
- Army Youth 4-H Event Scholarships
- The Army 4-H Military Partnership Outreach & Support Project for Virginia is providing a limited number of 4-H event scholarships for youth ages 5 to 18 of Army-Connected families living in Virginia. These scholars will be awarded on a first-come, first served basis.
- Eligible youth may live on or near an installation or live in communities across the state.
- Scholarships awarded can be used to assist with cost to participate in Virginia 4-H camping opportunities or State 4-H Congress.
- The military parent of youth must currently be serving in one of the following: Active Duty Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.
- For more information please contact Louetta Jones - 4-H Military Club Director, at lojones@vt.edu or call 804-712-8467.
- Virginia 4-H Youtth in Action Award Winner Scholarships
- The four winners of the Virginia Youth in Action Awards will receive a full scholarship ($270.00).
- For 2023, those winners are Alice Milton, Kelli Garrett, Jack Woodard, and Nikhita Saravanan.
- Registration Process for Delegates and Adults
- Registration will be online only through 4-H Online Events.
- All participants must be enrolled 4-H members or adult volunteers.
- Registration is available through enrolled member family accounts at: https://v2.4honline.com.
- Registration will open on April 17, 2023. Registration will close at 11:59 PM on May 26, 2023.
Coming soon.
2023 Virginia 4-H Cabinet Elections Packet
Current State 4-H Cabinet By-Laws
4-H Cabinet Application 101 Workshop
Want to know more about being a Virginia 4-H Cabinet Member? Do you have questions about being a state officer or the application process? Register for the 4-H Cabinet Application 101 Workshop to receive the zoom link.
Workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 18th at 6:30 p.m.
Register Here: https://forms.gle/4RGretEcXuKbo8vh7
Delegates will be asked to select their top Educational Workshop selections during the registration process.
- Workshop options can be found on pages 13-16 of the 2023 State 4-H Congress General Information Packet.
- Once workshop capacities are established and final workshop times are assigned, delegates will be placed in one of their selections. Best efforts will be made to get all delegates in their top choices, but final workshop assignments will depend on interest and participation in the particular workshop.
- Workshop assignments will be distributed in the Congress Welcome packets.
- Once workshops are assigned, there will be no changes in workshop assignments upon arrival at Congress.

The major purposes of 4-H Congress are:
- To provide a high-quality educational experience for 4-H youth ages 14-18 and adults that work with them.
- To promote 4-H as a major statewide educational youth program.
- To provide educational, recreational, and social experiences for youth that would not normally be available at a county or district level.
- To enhance life-skill development through all 4-H Congress activities.
- To provide educational experiences through the Great Summer Showcase, and competition that will enhance life skill development and support 4-H project work.
- To provide competitive (judging, presentations, etc) events in each curriculum area.
- To provide educational experiences that enhance life skill development and support 4-H project work.
- To provide recognition for all competition area winners at a Congress-wide event.
- To recognize outstanding support to 4-H Congress by a volunteer adult 4-H leader.
- To promote an understanding of the value of diversity among Congress participants.
- To enhance a delegate’s sense of personal and social responsibility through an environment that fosters independence, accountability, decision-making, and time management.