UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- State legislators will give up their seats when 4-H'ers from across the state arrive in Harrisburg to participate in the Pennsylvania State 4-H Capital Days, an annual citizenship awareness event to be held April 18-20 at the Harrisburg Hilton and Towers.

The two-day program shows 4-H'ers how state government works and helps them understand their responsibilities as citizens, according to Lydia Everhart, youth program management coordinator in Penn State's department of agricultural and extension education. And, because the state legislature will not be in session, young people will get to use the chambers and desks of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for a simulated legislative outing.

"Participants will take part in a mock session of voting on bills that will move on to the senate to become a law," Everhart says. "The Green (or majority) Party and the White (minority) Party will have two or three bills to discuss and vote on. They will have use of the computer system on the house floor and will take their place at the desks of elected officials.

"The 4-Hers will study Pennsylvania's legislative process, as well as important communication links between legislators and the general public. They also will be introduced to approximately nine government agencies and see how they fit within our state government, and learn the importance of the private citizen's vote. The group will visit various state government facilities and meet with state government officials, whom they will tell about the importance of the 4-H experience in leadership and citizenship development."

On Monday, April 19, the students will be welcomed to the city and the State Capitol Building by representatives of Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed. They will receive a presentation on the legislative process and structure of government from Kerry Golden, executive director of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee; Jay Howes, director of policy affairs for the committee; and Kristin Ebersole, executive director for the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.

Participants will tour the Capitol Building and the Welcome Center, and will hear a speech from Christy Bartley, state 4-H program leader.

On Tuesday, the 4-H'ers will be addressed by representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Education at an agency breakfast, then attended an agency fair and information session with representatives of the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture and other agencies. They will return to the Capitol Building for presentations to selected legislators and create a legislative simulation in the state house.

Pennsylvania 4-H is coordinated by Penn State Cooperative Extension. More information can be found on the World Wide Web at http://pa4h.cas.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: Contact Lydia Everhart at 814-863-7873 or by e-mail at lak146@psu.edu.

Gary Abdullah Office 814-863-2708 FAX 814-863-9877