Summer Conference Opens Doors to New Possibilities
June 24-27, 2026
For more than 100 years, Oregon 4-H Summer Conference has helped young people discover their strengths, build leadership skills, and imagine new possibilities for their future. Each summer, youth from across Oregon gather on the Oregon State University campus for a transformative experience filled with learning, connection, service, and personal growth.
In 2026, youth representing counties across Oregon traveled to Corvallis to participate in Summer Conference. For many, it was their first opportunity to live on a college campus, meet peers from outside their community, and explore what their future might hold.
But Summer Conference is about far more than the classes attended or miles traveled. It is about helping young people find confidence, community, and purpose.
Building Confidence and Community
For many participants, Summer Conference begins by stepping outside their comfort zone.
One attendee recalled arriving with uncertainty and low expectations:
"This is my first time at Summer Conference. I had really low expectations coming. The first day was kind of rough and long, but once you get into it, it's a lot of fun. I think I'll be coming back next year too."
Another participant shared how the experience helped them overcome anxiety and embrace new opportunities:
"I was incredibly nervous about the whole roommate situation, but I was sitting waiting to be called over for my State Ambassador interview and I was just overwhelmed with joy."
Through shared experiences, leadership activities, and time spent together on campus, youth quickly build meaningful relationships.
As one participant explained:
"I didn't really know anything or anyone and then I met Hannah and now we're best friends. We FaceTime and we carpool together."
These connections help create a strong sense of belonging, something many youth carry with them long after Summer Conference ends.
Discovering Future Pathways
Summer Conference also gives youth the opportunity to envision possibilities they may never have considered before.
Participants lived in OSU residence halls, ate in campus dining facilities, attended educational workshops, and explored academic programs and career pathways. For youth from rural and underserved communities, the experience can be especially impactful.
Samra Ruffner, Oregon 4-H Statewide Events Coordinator, attended Summer Conference as a teenager and credits the experience with helping shape her future.
"I came to Summer Conference when I was in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade and got to spend time on campus. I would not have been able to travel to campus to see a college campus. Nobody in my family had gone to college."
That experience ultimately changed the course of her life.
"I came here with 4-H, decided to come to OSU, and then from my experience at OSU, I got recruited into the 4-H program. That was where I started my career."
Experiences like these help youth see themselves in higher education, expand their career aspirations, and recognize opportunities that may have previously felt out of reach.
Creating Opportunities for Youth Across Oregon
Access matters.
Many Oregon youth face barriers to participating in statewide opportunities, including travel distance and financial limitations. Through transportation assistance and scholarship support, Summer Conference helps ensure that geography is not a barrier to participation.
Youth traveled from communities across Oregon, from coastal towns to Eastern Oregon, to participate in this year's conference.
As one participant from a small rural county shared:
"I've always wanted to do something more than just my county. I come from a very small town county and we don't have a lot. Knowing that I can help my county by going further, it makes me feel better."
Another participant reflected simply:
"If I was not here this week, I'd probably just be staying at home."
These opportunities expose youth to new experiences, new friendships, and new perspectives that can have a lasting impact on their lives.
Leadership That Lasts a Lifetime
The impact of Summer Conference often extends far beyond the four days spent on campus.
John Nyberg, a longtime Oregon 4-H volunteer and supporter, attended Summer Conference himself as a youth in the early 1960s.
"My first experience was back in the early '60s when I came and participated. A lot of learning got me interested in coming to Oregon State."
Today, he continues to see Summer Conference's influence through the accomplishments of former 4-H members.
"The kids are beyond ready. I've got former members serving in leadership positions, working as professionals, and contributing to their communities. The results are phenomenal."
The lessons learned through Summer Conference, leadership, communication, teamwork, service, and independence, often continue shaping participants for years to come.
Thank You to the Rippey Family Foundation
The Oregon 4-H Foundation extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Rippey Family Foundation for its generous $50,000 investment in Oregon 4-H Summer Conference.
Their support helped expand transportation assistance and increase access for youth who might otherwise have been unable to participate. Because of their generosity, more young people were able to experience life on a college campus, explore future educational and career pathways, develop leadership skills, and build lifelong friendships.
For many participants, it is difficult to fully describe what 4-H and opportunities like Summer Conference have meant in their lives.
One young person offered perhaps the most powerful answer:
"If I had to tell a donor just one thing that this has done for me, just 4-H in general... it's everything. It's done everything. It shaped what I want to be when I grow up, the people I've met, the people I'm friends with. It's everything."
Because of partners like the Rippey Family Foundation and the many generous donors who believe in Oregon youth, Summer Conference continues to open doors, expand horizons, and inspire the next generation of leaders across our state. 🍀