MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Volunteers make the many opportunities of 4-H available to the youth of Mississippi, and an upcoming conference is helping keep them ready for the job.

4-H volunteer adult leaders from across the state will gather Feb. 29 through March 2 at the Bost Extension Center at Mississippi State University for the state’s annual 4-H Volunteer Leaders’ Conference. This year’s theme is “4-H Volunteer POW WOW.” The deadline for registration is Feb. 1.

Organizers with the Mississippi 4-H Volunteer Leaders’ Association want representatives from every county to participate in workshops and events planned to further develop leadership in an organization dedicated to the improvement of youth. In addition to current volunteers, past association officers and Outstanding Volunteer Leader award recipients are invited to attend.

Twenty workshops as well as funshops will better equip volunteers to help their youth prepare for subject-area competitions, for self-improvement and for other activities. New this year is a workshop on leather stamping. At the meeting, the association also will install new officers and present awards to outstanding volunteers for the year.

For more information on this conference, contact Harvey Gordon at (662) 325-3350 or [email protected], or call the local county Extension office.