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2026 Know Your Government Conference – San Juan County 4‑H Impact Report

Six people—one adult and five teenagers—in professional attire stand before a "WSU Extension 4-H Know Your Government" banner. The image features a green border with text identifying the "San Juan County 4-H Advocating for Change Conference 2026" and includes 4-H and WSU logos.
Representing San Juan County! Our 4-H delegates stand ready at the 2026 "Know Your Government" conference. These students are spending the week learning the ins and outs of the legislative process and how to effectively advocate for change in their communities.

Event Dates

February 13-16, 2026

Location

Evergreen State College – Olympia, Washington

Participants

5 youth (Orcas & San Juan Island), 1 adult volunteer

Why This Matters

The Know Your Government (KYG) Conference connects teens with real-world civics, leadership training, and the three branches of government. For rural youth, opportunities like this expand their sense of what’s possible, strengthen community voice, and build confidence in participating in state-level decision-making.

Event Overview

San Juan County sent a delegation of five 4‑H members to Olympia for the annual Know Your Government (KYG) Conference, where the 2026 theme focused on the Legislative System. Youth explored how Washington’s legislative process works by drafting bills, participating in committee hearings, debating amendments, and voting in full mock House and Senate sessions. Delegates from across the state brought forward bills on a wide variety of topics, providing a hands‑on opportunity to experience how ideas move through committees, negotiations, and floor votes. The conference culminated in youth applying their skills in realistic legislative simulations and engaging directly with local lawmakers at the Capitol.

By the Numbers

  • 5 youth delegates
  • 1 adult volunteer
  • 2 islands represented (Orcas & San Juan)
  • 3 days of experiential civic learning
  • 1 county-wide bill drafting session
  • 6+ hours preparing for, testifying on, and voting on statewide bills
  • Multiple meetings with local legislators

Program Highlights

Highlights from this year’s conference included direct engagement with legislators, hands‑on bill drafting, and building connections with youth statewide.

Meeting With Local Legislators

Youth visited the Capitol on Monday to engage in meaningful conversations with their elected officials. Delegates asked questions about public service, learned how bills move through committees and floor sessions, and shared the issues they care about most as island youth.

Drafting and Debating Youth‑Led Bills

In mixed‑county groups, participants drafted a wide variety of bills based on topics they felt were relevant to their communities. Youth prepared testimony, presented their bills in committee hearings, proposed amendments, and engaged in debate before voting in full mock House and Senate sessions. This hands‑on process deepened delegates’ understanding of how policy is created, negotiated, and enacted in Washington State.

Statewide Youth Connections

Delegates built friendships with peers from across Washington through workshops, group sessions, and collaborative bill work. Many expressed excitement about reconnecting at Teen Conference or returning to KYG next year.

State Representative Debra Lekanoff stands with five San Juan County 4-H teenagers on a marble balcony inside the Washington State Legislative Building. Representative Lekanoff wears a black and white polka-dot blouse. They are posed in front of an ornate gold railing with a large, glowing chandelier and decorative arched architecture in the background.
A huge honor for our delegates! Our San Juan County 4-H group had the opportunity to meet with State Representative Debra Lekanoff inside the beautiful Legislative Building. Connecting with our local representatives is what the Know Your Government conference is all about!
A group of six teenagers stands between two large stone pillars, posing in front of the Washington State Legislative Building in Olympia. The domed capitol building and three flags are visible in the background under an overcast sky.
Our San Juan County 4-H delegates standing tall at the Washington State Capitol! These young leaders are in Olympia for the 2026 Know Your Government conference, gaining a front-row seat to how our state’s democracy works.
Four teenagers stand in a room with "Speedy the Geoduck," the mascot of The Evergreen State College. The students are wearing conference lanyards and casual clothes, while the mascot is a large, grey, smiling geoduck with a green coiled shell and white track suit.
Making new friends in Olympia! Our delegates took a quick break to hang out with Speedy the Geoduck. It’s not every day you get to meet a mascot as unique as the Pacific Northwest itself!

Youth Development Impacts

Civic Literacy

Participants gained a first-hand understanding of how state government functions, including how bills move through committees, hearings, and revisions.

Leadership & Communication

Youth practiced public speaking, collaboration, debate, and respectful discussion across differences—core 4‑H leadership competencies.

STEM & Policy Awareness

Engaging in AI policy drafting (the topic of San Juan County’s bill) introduced teens to technology ethics, data privacy, environmental considerations, agriculture, public safety, and other emerging topics that appeared in their bills—building future‑ready civic and analytical skills.

Quotes

San Juan County youth have truly cemented themselves as mainstays at the KYG conference. Seeing new and returning youth getting to experience the conference this year and step up to help in their small groups is very rewarding as county staff.

Clinton Gauthier, San Juan County 4-H Coordinator & KYG Conference Event Coordinator

Looking Ahead

San Juan County youth expressed strong interest in returning to KYG and in future civic engagement programs. Staff are exploring ways to integrate more government‑ and policy‑focused learning into 2026–2027 4‑H offerings, including partnerships with local government and opportunities for youth advisory involvement.