Gustafson Represents State at 4-H National Congress

SGS junior Alexandria "Alex" Gustafson represented Washington state at the 4-H National Congress in Atlanta, Georgia from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3.  Alex is the third generation in her family to receive the honor of representing Washington State at the 4-H National Congress.  An active member of the 4-H community in Spokane County for seven years, Alex has completed projects in a variety of areas including photography, arts & crafts, baking, cake decorating, sewing, canning, gardening and floral arrangement.  Alex has advanced to compete at the Washington State Fair for four years in sewing & modeling and two years in photography, finishing in the top rankings each year. 

As a teen leader in 4-H, Alex has held leadership roles in:
- WA State 4-H Teen Ambassador Board (planning conferences, arranging hotels, organizing paperwork & speakers and presenting at WA State 4-H Conference workshops);
- “Healthy Living” (teaching elementary-age children in after-school programs how to make good choices with food and exercise);
- Know Your Government (an unbiased forum  where the teens learn about all aspects  of the government and travel to Olympia to use & practice that knowledge);
- Washington State 4-H Teen Equality Task Force.
 
Alex hopes to bring back new ideas and skills from the Atlanta Congress to help Spokane County 4-H and all Washington state 4-H participants excel at being young leaders of tomorrow.  Alex’s mother, Angel Colley Gustafson, was selected to go to the 4-H Congress in 1986 when it was in Chicago.  Her Grandmother, Sharon Donovan Colley, rode the train to Chicago in 1955 to that National Congress.  Grandma Sharon was given the 'Conductor’s' hat for being such a good kid on the long train ride out and back from Chicago.

Thanks to the Deer Park Rotary Club, Spokane County Budget and Fundraising Committee, and the Know Your Government groups for sponsoring Alex for this trip.