Written by Annabelle Groce, Union County 4-H member

Being chosen to attend the 4-H Congress trip as a representative of Union County was a great honor. On the trip, my sister and I experienced citizenship and leadership firsthand as we met our State Representative, Senator and Governor at the Capitol.

When the buses carrying top-performing 4-H members from all over the state first arrived in Nashville, the excitement was contagious! Once we all checked in and received our iconic dark green 4-H sweaters, we headed to a conference room where stations were set up for us to explore fun facts about our state and our county’s leaders. We also played trivia games and wrote thank-you cards to our 4-H agents for making this trip possible.

The next day, we got an early start for our big Congress Day at the Capitol. Once we arrived, our guest speaker, Amy Gallimore, inspired and entertained us as she spoke about her 4-H journey, the skills she gained along the way and the surprising opportunities 4-H provided for her career.

Our next stop was the Senate Chamber, where we debated mock bills such as:
“Should TikTok be banned on government-issued electronic devices?”
“Should students be allowed to use phones at school?”
“Should AI be regulated in schools?”
“Should the voting age be lowered from 18 to 16 years old?”
It was very intriguing to hear everyone’s point of view. Everyone who debated was well-spoken and respectful. Once each debate ended, we had the opportunity to cast our votes from the representative’s desks where we were seated. The votes appeared on the screen, just like in a real legislative session. It was incredibly educational to participate in the actual process of how bills become laws in our government. We also observed a few minutes of our representatives beginning a legislative session in the House Chamber.

After our House session, we had a personal meeting with our Union County lawmakers, Senator Jessie Seal and Representative Dennis Powers. We asked questions such as:
“How do bills become laws?”
“What does a day as a lawmaker look like for you?”
“How long do sessions typically last?”, and “How did you first get interested in politics?”
They both answered with genuine interest and were very engaged in the conversation. They shook our hands and took pictures with us. It showed me that they truly care about the people they represent, as they took time out of their busy schedules to meet with us. They also encouraged us to participate in government by calling or emailing them about local issues important to us.

As our big day wrapped up with a photo of our huge 4-H group, Governor Bill Lee surprised us by sharing his own experience as a 4-H member and left us with a few encouraging words.

Overall, my 2025 4-H Congress experience was incredibly educational. The fun, friendships and memories made along the way are something I will cherish for the rest of my life. I’m so grateful for this wonderful opportunity and look forward to sharing the leadership and citizenship lessons I learned with my local club and community—while finding more ways to get involved locally.