2026/2027 Know Your Government Program Details
This year, participants will learn the basic functions and leadership of a typical city/county government; gain a realization that local governments require a balanced budget to run the city/county; and learn of his or her city/county council, and an learn of issues that affect his or her city/county leading to responsible citizenship. At the February conference, delegates will participate in a mock county/council and work together on budgeting and problem solving.
Eligibility to Participate:
- Must be a 4-H Senior (age 14 by 10/1/26)
- Must be a registered member of 4-H (on 4-H Online)
How to Register:
- Email kitsap4hKYG@gmail.com to indicate participation in the program no later than October 9th.
- Register teen in 4-H Online
Pre-Conference Meetings (attendance at all meetings required to participate)
- Dates: October 10, November 7, December 5, January 23
- Times: Times vary but in the afternoon on meeting days
State Conference: February 12-15, 2027; Olympia
- Cost: Has not been posted yet by the state planning committee. For reference, the 2026 conference cost was $330 for conference, lodging and food.
For more information email kitsap4hKYG@gmail.com.
What is the 4-H Know Your Government Program?
The Know Your Government (KYG) Program serves to strengthen the connection between youth and our political and social networks through education, experience, application, and inspiration. 4-H KYG values: inquiry, regard for others, respect/cultural competence, positive communication, and strengthening personal values. Know Your Government is a civic education program with a four-year rotating topic: The Legislative System, The Judicial System, Elections and Party Platforms, and Politics and the Media. It is important to remember though, that KYG is much more than learning about elections, cases, courts, bills and media. In fact, one could argue that it is little about that. KYG and 4-H is about learning the life skills our delegates will need to be responsible citizens and productive adults. The program is an opportunity for delegates to practice the content they have learned, apply their knowledge to unknown situations and reflect on how they did.
Pre-conference Meetings
Purpose: Teach the skills, provide the tools, and prepare for the project at the KYG Conference.
Participants will learn how to work as part of a team, with people they may or may not know and to get the pre-conference objectives completed. The pre-conference meetings are a way for delegates to hone these skills so when they get to the conference, they will be prepared to learn the new skills, practice and apply already learned skills, and work with more people they do not know in a conference setting. Perhaps even more important than this, they will have an experience that is similar (not necessarily identical) to those of other delegates. Similar experiences will provide a common foundation for all delegates, regardless of geographic, political or other differences. Learning something new and working with other delegates with different perspectives can be uncomfortable. Pre-conference meetings are a way to help delegates feel comfortable about what will be happening at the conference so they feel safe to experience something new.
The Statewide Conference In Olympia
Purpose: Bring high school students from across the state to share ideas, concerns, and potential solutions to problems; to learn about Washington State government and how to become a positive contributing citizen; and to strengthen the connection between youth and our political and social networks through education, experience, application, and inspiration.
A value of 4-H KYG that it provides the opportunity for our delegates to explore new ideas and perspectives in a safe environment. We encourage delegates with different views to work together, not to change each other’s minds, but to learn from each other. Encouraging discussion when people disagree and providing an opportunity to explore the issue in a non-threatening way demonstrates to the delegates that they can disagree on an issue but still work together. Ideally, these discussions will help delegates explore why they carry a certain belief and assist them in putting their own beliefs into practice. One of the intentional life skills we focus on is communication.