SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1997-8625

By Senator Rasmussen

     WHEREAS, The State Land Grant Universities Cooperative Extension Service was established by Congress and the Department of Agriculture in 1914; and

     WHEREAS, Out of that system grew 4-H Youth Development, an organization committed to the education of America=s youth; and

     WHEREAS, 4-H Youth Development encourages young people to become involved in their communities in a variety of ways; and

     WHEREAS, Youth Development, in conjunction with the Cooperative Extension Service, has members in all of Washington=s 39 counties; and

     WHEREAS, Membership has extended to more than five-million young people across our country in all fifty states, and around the world in eighty-three countries; and

     WHEREAS, Youth Development has, in recent years, extended its education efforts into urban areas as well as rural areas; and

     WHEREAS, Members have many choices of projects in many different education fields, including social sciences, the arts, animal sciences, family living, environmental stewardship, mechanical sciences, and the study of our natural resources; and

     WHEREAS, This greatly expanded and enhanced education of thousands of our young people in Washington is due to the hard work and dedication of Cooperative Extension Service agents and program assistants from Washington State University, in concert with community volunteers; and

     WHEREAS, We are honored that 4-H Youth Development members from all corners of our state are currently visiting the state capitol as part of an education program called AKnow Your Government@;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate do hereby welcome those delegates, extension agents and program assistants, and adult volunteers to Olympia and their state capitol; and that we hereby recognize the value of the AKnow Your Government@ program, as well as all of the education programs sponsored over the years by Washington State University=s Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Youth Development.