Posted: April 13, 2026
Recently, a group of 12 Pennsylvania 4-H members from six counties, including three adult chaperones, attended "Ignite by 4-H," a four-day teen summit featuring panels, speakers, workshops, and opportunities to build connections, held annually in Washington, D.C.
Ignite by 4-H is an annual summit held in Washington, D.C.
At the summit, 4-H members aged 14–19 explore topics and career pathways in agriscience, animal science, community accelerators, healthy living, and STEM — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Youth choose from different educational tracks, each focused on one topic, while also hearing about other topics to expand their horizons.
"We're trying to help channel these youths' passions into finding a career," said Amy Garges, member of the Ignite design team and 4-H educator in Montgomery County. "There are so many career opportunities for them, and we're trying to help them see that at this event."
At the summit, Penn State Extension 4-H educators contributed their expertise by leading workshops. Three educators and volunteers were selected after submitting proposals and undergoing a peer-review process.
4-H members, with help from 4-H educators, created and submitted workshop proposals to present at the event. Indiana County 4-H'ers presented "Local Roots, Lasting Impact: 4-H Teens as Community Educators,” which showcased real-life teaching strategies, and "Finding Common Ground While Navigating Challenging Interactions," which focused on effective strategies for navigating disagreements with respect and understanding.
The 2025 Animal Science State Project Ambassadors presented “Paws Off — Pet Toxins 101 & 102,” focused on the safe handling and identification of household toxins. State Project Ambassadors are youth representatives who provide input to 4-H staff on programs, events, and curriculum within specific project areas.
"The most memorable part of Ignite was just the sheer number of people — I easily met more than 500 individuals from across our nation and have just so many amazing stories from it," said Riley Fink, a 4-H’er from Indiana County.
He added that one of his favorite workshops was about the innovation of artificial intelligence and the data centers that come with it.
“We acted as if we were at a town meeting in our own roles, deciding if it was a good idea for our town,” he said. "This really emphasized the importance of conversation and was a great practice for what may come in our lives."
The event provided several new strategies for teaching STEM to youth that incorporate real-world situations, Garges noted, including off-site tours that illustrated real-world applications and showcased the skills 4-H members were learning.
"Overall, it was an amazing experience, especially for my first time attending," said Abigail Bouch, another 4-H member from Indiana County. "Being part of my county's workshop, meeting new people, pin trading, and dancing made it so much fun and memorable."
Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring, and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Penn State Extension website.
