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TALLAHASSEE — About 500 Florida 4-H members clad head-to-toe in green converged on the state Capitol last month to commemorate the youth organization’s centennial anniversary, leaving their mark later in the day by planting a tree.

A press conference on the Old Capitol steps included included Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson, state Rep. Faye Culp, state Sen. Ronda Storms, and numerous 4-H officials. At 2 p.m., 4-H members and state Attorney General Bill McCollum planted a crepe myrtle in the rose garden by the House Office Building.
“This event, which was planned by our state youth council, will give our youth the knowledge and skills to become informed citizens,” said Marilyn Norman, an associate dean who leads the state’s 4-H program. “As adults we sometimes don’t realize the powerful impact that young people can make.”
During the day, 4-H members took tours and attended workshops to learn about state government.

Attendees were from: Alachua, Bradford, Broward, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Marion, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Santa Rosa, St. Johns, Sumter, Taylor, Volusia, Walton and Washington counties.

Founded in 1909, the Florida 4-H Youth Development Program works with more than 263,000 young people, ages 5-18, and nearly 12,000 volunteers. The program is active in all 67 counties and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Headquartered in Gainesville, it’s part of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. For more information about 4-H, visit www.florida4h.org