Suwannee 4-H visits Florida Capitol

Suwannee County 4-H delegation enjoys Florida’s 4-H Day at the Capitol.                                                                         -Photo: Submitted

This year, Suwannee County 4-H braved the frigid temperatures with 26 participants at the 2026 event on January 28th.

By Katie Jones

Each year, hundreds of Florida youth travel to Tallahassee during Florida’s legislative session to take part in the Florida 4‑H Day at the Capitol, one of the most impactful civic engagement experiences offered through the Florida 4‑H Youth Development Program. This year, Suwannee County 4-H braved the frigid temperatures with 26 participants at the 2026 event on January 28th.

     The Florida 4‑H Day at the Capitol is designed to give young people a firsthand look at their state government and encourage them to engage directly with those who shape the policies affecting their communities. Participants spend their day touring both the historic Florida State Capitol and the rest of the Florida State Capitol complex.  They also meet with lawmakers and government officials, observe the legislative process, and share how 4‑H has influenced their personal development. This year, Suwannee County 4-H’s delegation met with Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson and Representative Jason Shoaf’s Chief of Staff to thank them for their support of the 4-H program.

     Florida 4‑H Day at the Capitol is a powerful opportunity to introduce youth to the state government and encourage them to develop voices that will be heard both now and into the future.  It also provides a jumping off point for teens interested in legislative work, preparing for other 4-H citizenship programs, like the Florida 4-H Legislature, that takes place in June.

     During the Opening Ceremonies, Florida 4-H State Officers joined UF Senior Vice President Scott Angle in recognizing Representative Allison Tant with the UF/IFAS Legislative Champion Award.     

     This year, statewide legislative advocacy efforts focused on securing additional funding for the revitalization of Camp Cherry Lake, one of Florida’s historic 4‑H camps, to rebuild the facilities that have served generations of young people, including many from Madison, Suwannee and surrounding counties.