Kansas 4-H to honor state project award winners June 5
More than three dozen Kansas youth to be recognized during Emerald Circle Banquet
At a glance: The Kansas 4-H Youth Development program will roll out the red – or, rather, the green – carpet on June 5 to honor more than three dozen youth for excellence in their respective project areas.
More information: Amy Collins, 785-532-5800, acollins@ksu.edu
Related: Kansas 4-H Youth Development | Kansas 4-H project listing
May 20, 2025
By Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension news service
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas 4-H Youth Development program will roll out the red – or, rather, the green – carpet on June 5 to honor more than three dozen youth for excellence in their respective project areas.
The 2025 Emerald Circle Banquet will take place at the K-State Alumni Center in Manhattan from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The annual banquet is Kansas 4-H’s premier event to honor youth who have advanced through county and regional competitions to become state 4-H project winners.
“Some of these kids spend many years working toward the goal of winning a state award,” said Amy Collins, state 4-H program coordinator. “Winning a state award is quite an honor.”
Frank Tracz, K-State professor and director of bands, will give the keynote talk on leadership and keys to preparing for college and a future career.
Collins said there are 45 project areas offered by 4-H in Kansas. This year, state awards are being given in 38 categories. Youth ages 14-18 are eligible to apply for state awards, she said.
“I think many kids have this goal in mind as they enter high school, so they begin working toward mastering a project,” Collins said. “Some take advantage of specialized learning opportunities, such as camps on coding, veterinary science, robotics or livestock judging, and other areas. Some get an opportunity to attend national events.”
“The more learning that takes place and that they participate in, the more leadership and citizenship becomes evident in their project.”
One by-product, Collins notes, is that the older youth who are pursuing additional learning often share that knowledge with younger 4-H members. One of the gratifying moments, she says, is when a young 4-H member develops a ‘spark’ or passion for a project, a key mantra of 4-H.
State project award winners in each category are eligible to attend the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, which takes place in November. The National 4-H Congress provides an opportunity for youth to participate in educational, service and recreational activities, and hear from several nationally recognized speakers.
The list of this year’s state project award winners will be released during this year’s Emerald Circle banquet. More information about opportunities available through 4-H is available online at https://www.kansas4-h.org.
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