Youth programs are available to youth of all ages. These programs make it easy for all youth to become actively involved in Farmers Union. The CHS Foundation provides the funding for the youth programs.

· CHS Foundation

· Day camps (ages 6-11)

· Teen camp (ages 11-17)

· All-States (ages 17-22)

· Collegiate conferences (college students)

DAY CAMPS

Day camps are held at several locations across the state. All youth from ages 6-11 are invited to attend and being a member of Farmers Union is not a requirement. The camps last between 4 to 6 hours. Activities at the camps include playing games that involve cooperation, singing songs, crafts, learning about cooperatives, and at some camps - going swimming.

TEEN CAMP

Teen Camp is held each year at the Rock Springs 4-H Camp south of Junction City. It is a 4 day, 3 night long camp. All youth from ages 11-17 are invited to attend and being a member of Farmers Union is not a requirement. Youth between the ages of 18-22 who attended teen camp as a camper are encouraged to attend teen camp as helpers.

Activities include playing coop games, swimming, and having a camp fire with smores. The youth learn about Farmers Union, cooperatives, and legislative issues like Country of Origin Labeling, free trade, and using renewable energy resources. Youth learn about what cooperatives are, the different kinds, many examples of cooperative businesses, how they are started, and how they are operated. The youth even learn first hand by starting a coop within the camp. They elect their coop board members and pay dues if they wish to become a member and receive the benefits. The board members decide what prices they should sell the products for, they decide on a name for their new coop, and the board members take turns working at the coop.

ALL-STATES

Each summer, Farmers Union members, ages 17-22, who have distinguished themselves as leaders are given the opportunity to attend All-States Leadership Camp. Campers come from throughout the United States and meet in Bailey, Colorado, where they spend a week at the NFU Education Center in the Rocky Mountains. The NFU Education Center is on 300 acres of land in a valley of the mountains.

The 2007 All-States Leadership Camp is scheduled to be the week of July 8-13. Requirements to attend include having attended teen camp for at least 2 years and helping with the teen camp the same summer when they return home. They must also be a member of Farmers Union.

Campers participate in a variety of activities that emphasize the values of good citizenship, political and community activism, the power of one person to make a difference in the world, and working together through organizations to achieve common goals.

Each year, campers elect a group of their peers to NFU’s Youth Advisory Council. Those elected represent nearly 10,000 young Farmers Union members throughout the United States at NFU’s annual convention and assist with the planning of the following year’s All-States Leadership Camp.

COLLEGIATE CONFERENCES

Collegiate Leadership Conferences are held every few years for students interested in political activism and learning more about how Farmers Union conducts its legislative and government relations activities. Requirements to attend include being a student at a university and being a member of Farmers Union. There are usually scholarships to apply for or other financial aid in order to get fincial assistance to attend. The collegiate conferences are a great way for youth to continue to stay active in Farmers Union after they are too old for the camps.

To contact Lisa Teske, the KFU youth education leader, email teske_lisa@yahoo.com

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