4-H in the National Spotlight

This year's US Capitol Christmas Tree has a 4-H connection. The tree was cut from Montana's Bitterroot Forest, so Montana youth were invited to enter a drawing to travel to Washington DC and light the tree with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The winner was 4-H member Chris Gabrielson from Havre, MT. He proudly wore a 4-H shirt as he stood with Speaker Pelosi on the lawn of the Capitol to light the tree on December 2.

Chris and other Montana youth created the 5,000 ornaments for the tree from recycled materials. Montana 4-H members created 65% of the ornaments - some with the 4-H emblem.

The next day, a delegation of 4-H members, staff and parents from Maryland and Virginia participated in the unveiling of the official portrait of former Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns. Members of 4-H and FFA were invited to take part in the special event on the Whitten Patio at USDA. Johanns was a 4-H member in Iowa and continued to be a strong supporter in Nebraska and during his term as USDA secretary. Johanns will return to Washington in 2009 as the junior senator from Nebraska.