Liam Knippling and Abe Streitz, both seniors at Flandreau public school, recently attended the Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) national trip held in Washington, DC. CWF is a 4-H sponsored trip held annually that unites senior 4-H members from across the country in a comprehensive 5-day training and educational tour.
They start by attending leadership and civic engagement workshops followed by a networking social. A highlight of the trip was the visit to Capitol Hill where they were honored to speak with South Dakota Senator John Thune and tour the rotunda as well as the National Statuary Hall.
Other stops on the tour were the White House, Lincoln Memorial, an afternoon at Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, US Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the World War II Memorial just to name a few.

Liam Knippling said, “We had just been to Memphis and toured the National Civil Rights Museum and seen where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered. To then a few weeks later, see the MLK Memorial and where Dr. King wrote his “I have a Dream” speech was extraordinary”.
The final days were spent with policy, panels, and various training led by national 4-H leaders as well as a community service project of cards for local veterans around the DC area.
Abe Streitz said “The experience was both eye opening and horizon broadening. We are truly grateful for the opportunities we have been given through 4-H and the leadership and mentors that we have in our club and communities.”
They wanted to give extra thanks to the Moody County 4-H Leaders, SDSU Extension Youth in Action Advisor Amanda Stade, and to SDSU professor Dr. Ann Letcher who sponsored their trip through her grant. To see a full slide show presentation of their trip, please feel free to attend the Moody County 4-H Recognition event held in November. Date and Time TBD.