By Sara Jane Smallwood

Oklahoma State University recently hosted the Southern Region Collegiate 4-H Conference. Forty-two delegates from eight universities, including OSU, traveled to Stillwater for this four-day event.

The conference, which lasted from Nov. 17 – 20, was called “CSI-C-4-H: Creating Student Insights.”

“The conference was an opportunity for 4-H members to get together and network with members from other states,” said Jenny Matthews, OSU Collegiate 4-H Ag Council representative.

On the first day, delegates checked into the Atherton Hotel and had a kick-off banquet and new-member/voting delegate orientation.

On Friday, the students road charter buses to Oklahoma City to participate in philanthropy projects. The first stop was the Ronald McDonald house, where C-4-H members donated books to children staying at the house. The next project was the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank, and delegates sacked frozen corn to be delivered during the holidays.

In addition, members toured the Oklahoma City National Memorial and the Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum.

On Saturday, the delegates were back in Stillwater to work on business. Students participated in four workshops, completed a campus scavenger hunt with Global Positioning System hand-held units, held a business meeting and attended a banquet.

The workshops included information on extension, DNA, Web design and true colors. Gwen Shaw was the guest speaker at the closing banquet and talked about her experiences in 4-H.

On Sunday, the delegates finished official business, evaluated the conference and said goodbyes.

“Everyone had a lot of fun, and we had a good turnout,” said Jonathon Knopfel, OSU Collegiate 4-H president.

Below are pictures from the conference.