‘Deep Roots, Branch Out’: Missouri 4-H’ers explore futures at conference

COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Five years from now, I hope to bring something special to my community … to impact it in a positive way and help people out,” said 18-year-old Missouri 4-H member Dario Martinez at the 24th annual Missouri 4-H College and Career Pathways Conference.

This year’s conference, July 20-22, welcomed 31 middle and high school students to the University of Missouri campus in Columbia. Participants were members of the 4-H Youth Futures: College and Careers Within Reach club.

“4-H Youth Futures is a signature program that helps youth identify and pursue postsecondary goals based on their strengths and values while expanding access to the pathways that lead to those goals,” said conference coordinator Kellie Seals, a 4-H state specialist and MU assistant professor.

With the theme “Deep Roots, Branch Out,” the conference focused on exploring careers and future opportunities. Participants toured the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Engineering and the College of Health Sciences while taking part in hands-on activities such as creating with 3-D pens and caring for animals. They also learned about academic majors and potential career paths and connected with industry professionals during a career fair featuring representatives from MU Health Care, Veterans United, JM Eagle, Missouri Works Initiative, the MU College of Engineering and other university programs. Youths also met Spot, a robotic dog from Boston Dynamics; and Grace, a Unitree Robotics humanoid robot, both programmed by undergraduate students in the MU Autonomous Systems Lab.

Participants also took part in conference traditions, including mock interviews and recreation at the rec sports complex. They collaborated on creative marketing and communications projects led by Raymond Hall, founder of Dream Tree Academy, an after-school program in Columbia. During a peer reflection and feedback session led by National 4-H Council members, one participant said teams “had to get to know each other and find out what each other’s strengths were” while tackling a complex group project. Team projects included podcasts, a new 4-H Youth Futures logo, a music piece promoting Youth Futures, photographs and a culminating promotional video.

The conference concluded with a banquet and awards luncheon attended by special guests Jill Bramble, National 4-H Council president; Emily Furham, National 4-H Council director of development; MU Vice Chancellor for Extension and Engagement Chad Higgins; Tim Tanner, Missouri 4-H program director; and others. Graduates of the 4-H Youth Futures program were recognized during a senior signing event hosted by National 4-H Council. Closing remarks were delivered by Shannon Hauf, senior vice president at Bayer Crop Sciences.

Participants said the conference helped them network, branch out to new groups, persevere, become more open-minded, strengthen their communication skills, build connections and adapt to challenges. One participant wrote, “(The conference) helped me by understanding what I would like to do for my future and how I can be a better person.”

Conference coordinator Kellie Seals and the Missouri 4-H College and Career Pathways Conference Committee thank the chaperones, special guests, interviewers, presenters and tour guides who made the event possible. Missouri 4-H programs also rely on the support of valued partners. Major support for Missouri 4-H Career Pathways programs was provided by the Missouri 4-H Foundation in partnership with BTC Bank, FCS Financial, the Patterson Family Foundation, Kyle Kerns, and Ellen Kippel and Ken Donohew.

Photos

Youth Futures members. The 2026 4-H College and Career Pathways Conference group poses at the quad.

Robotics. Experts from the MU College of Engineering demonstrate Spot, a robot dog, at the conference’s career fair event.

Robert Mills Jr. from Kansas City and Zaidan Alhemairy from St. Louis plan their podcast project during the conference.

About Missouri 4-H

Missouri 4-H grows today’s youth and prepares tomorrow’s leaders. With a blend of time-tested traditions and innovative hands-on learning, Missouri youth explore and find their spark in programs ranging from agriculture and conservation to aerospace and career development. Through clubs, programs, camps, in-school and after-school experiences, University of Missouri Extension faculty, staff and thousands of volunteers guide youth in developing essential skills, building confidence and fostering connections. Together, they inspire young people to make a real difference in their communities, their country and the world.