45th Presidential Inauguration

 Our Songbird was selected to go to Washington D.C. through 4-H's Citizenship Washington Focus this past summer and again for the 45th Presidential Inauguration.  There were only 500 4-H students, 10 from each state, selected to attend the 2017 inauguration.  Our Songbird is truly honored to be among those 500 students representing 4-H in D.C. this week.  Since Songbird LOVES the U.S. political system and history, I personally do not know of a youngster who would benefit more from these trips.

Here are some highlights of her trip:

 

6, + chaperone, of Montana's 4-H delegation flew out from the Billings airport while the remaining 4, + chaperone, flew out from the Bozeman airport.  Songbird is on the right.

 

While in D.C. last summer, Songbird met Montana's U.S. Senator Steve Daines.  Earlier this week, when boarding the plane out of Billings, she saw him sitting in his assigned seat.  She, of course, stopped for a short visit and introduced the other students in her delegation.  Songbird is the sort of girl whose never met a stranger and if you've had the pleasure of meeting her once, you will from then forward be a life long friend.

While on their way to witness Montana Congressman's, Ryan Zinke's Senate Confirmation Hearing for Secretary of Interior, they met Songbird's hero, Dr. Ben Carson.  She is so impressed and has so much respect for all he has accomplished in his life, she incorporated portions of his bio in a 4-H competitive speaking completion she participated in a couple years ago.  She says he was exactly as she expected him to be.  I am so happy she was not disappointed when meeting this man for whom she holds so much admiration.

The students were housed at the National 4-H Conference Center in Washington D.C.  Not only do they room and board here while in D.C., they also attend various workshops and participate in mock political processes.  The 4-H CWF trips fully immerse the students in the workings of the U.S. political system.

Songbird and few others in her delegation gearing up for volunteer work at  the University of Maryland.  This week they spent a day weeding the gardens.  An activity in which Songbird has plenty of experience.

 

 

What a site!  500 of 4-H's best and brightest.

January 20, 2017, President Trump's and Vice-President Pence's Inauguration Day.  Songbird was there.  Thanks to U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Montana's 4-H delegation was seated as close as the general pubic could be seated. 

4-H always hosts a formal evening at all their State and National events.  Here is Songbird, and two others from her delegation, dressed "to the nines" at one of the Inaugural Balls held aboard a cruise ship on the Potomac River.



I sincerely hope this post doesn't come across as braggadocios.  Those who know me personally know that I share this out of genuine excitement for our daughter.  4-H has helped develop so many life skills and afforded her amazing opportunities and experiences, I can not imagine a better extra-curricular for her.  I am fully confident that Songbird's participation in 4-H has been God ordained and He is using this venue to develop attributes within her that will Glorify Him as she continues her journey through life.