COLUMBUS — This year’s Polk County Youth Voice Delegate Ariel Ballard told county commissioners this week how the 4-H has benefited her.

Ballard is Polk County’s youth delegate for the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners’ conference this year, to be held on Aug. 24 and 25. 

Commissioners met Monday and heard from Ballard, who lives in Green Creek and is a Junior at the Polk County Early College.

She said she has been involved with the Polk County 4-H for six years, now under the direction of agent Helen Blackwell.

Ballard said during her six years with 4-H, she has served as a member of the teen council, participated in many teen retreats and community service projects.

“4-H is an organization that teaches young people to think clearly, understand the value of loyalty, of health, and especially the importance of service to others,” Ballard said. “The 4-H experience has helped me become more aware of my community and its needs. It has taught me the value of service. Service is one thing that we, from all of our different backgrounds and situations, can offer each other.”

YouthVoice provides county commissioners across North Carolina an opportunity to connect with the next generation of leaders, with the event bringing together Youth Delegates from 4-H and Boys and Girls Clubs.

YouthVoice takes place at the NCACC’s annual conference and offers sessions to help youth delegates to gain a better understanding of what county governments do and county commissioners’ role in the county.

In order to qualify to attend the conference, youth delegates must speak at a board of county commissioner meeting and submit a photo of themselves with the board.

Youth delegates eligible are from ages 14-18 from each of North Carolina’s 100 counties.

The NCACC partnered with 4-H Youth Development, a service of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, to coordinate and bring youth delegates to YouthVoice since its inception. Boys and Girls Clubs of North Carolina joined as a partner in 2012.