North Carolina 4-H Congress is a closed event. Attendance is limited to officially registered participants wearing their Congress name badge. Non-delegates attending pre-approved portions of Congress must check in at the Congress Information Desk upon arrival.

Monday

July 20, 2026

11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

• Congress Check-In
• Congress Information Table Opens
• Future Delegate Schedule Begins

Location: McKimmon Center Lobby

2:45 – 3:30 p.m.

Youth Delegates

• State 4-H Council Delegate Meeting
  Location: McKimmon Center, Room 1

Adult Delegates

• Adult Delegate Meeting
  Location: McKimmon Center, Room 6

Honor Club Board Members

• Honor Club Board Meeting
  Location: McKimmon Center, Room 4

3:30 – 4:15 p.m.

• Honor Club Business Meeting

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 4

3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

• Congress Delegation Move-In

Location: Lodging Locations

5:00 – 6:15 p.m.

Current State 4-H Council Members

• State Council Meeting
• Dinner
• Opening Ceremony Practice

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 8

Congress Delegates

• Dinner

Location: Fountain Dining Hall

6:45 – 8:00 p.m.

Opening Assembly

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 1

Presiding: Aubrey Mekus, State 4-H President

• Flag Presentations
• Pledge of Allegiance – Kiya Kernodle, State 4-H Reporter
• 4-H Pledge – Emily Pirhalla, State 4-H Member Engagement
• National Anthem – Moriah Owenby, Cherokee County 4-H Entertains Blue Ribbon Winner
• 2025–2026 State & District Officer and Advisor Introductions
• District & County Roll Call

Welcome

• Dr. Shannon McCollum, Interim NC State 4-H Program Leader
• Dr. Misty Blue-Terry, N.C. A&T 4-H Program Leader

Greetings

• Dr. David Monks, Associate Dean & Director, NC State Extension; Vice Provost for Outreach & Engagement, NC State University
• 2026–2027 NC FFA President Jarrett Allen

Special Recognition

• NC 4-H Honor Club Tapping Ceremony
  • Dorothy Shutt, NC 4-H Honor Club President

7:45 – 9:00 p.m.

Rebecca Parker Murray Honor Club Reception (Invited Guests)

Immediately following the Honor Club Tapping Ceremony.

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 2

8:00 – 9:00 p.m.

• Congress Funshops

Location: McKimmon Center

9:15 p.m.

• Congress Delegate Evening Activity (Clothespin Exchange)

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 1

10:00 p.m.

• Monday Concludes

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Tuesday

July 21, 2026

Tuesday Morning

Breakfast
On Your Own

8:15 a.m.

• Lead to Change Participant Drop-Off

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 2

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

• Lead to Change Activities

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 2

9:15 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

State 4-H Presentation Finals

• Presentations – Enloe High School
• Outdoor Cookery – McKimmon Center Parking Lot

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch

• State Finals Presentation Participants – Enloe Atrium
• Outdoor Cookery Participants – McKimmon Center Room 8
• Lead to Change Participants – McKimmon Center, Room 8

4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

• State 4-H Officer Candidate Campaign Booth Setup

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 2

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Special Events

• Alumni Awards Reception
  Location: McKimmon Center, Room 6
• Senior Recognition Experience
  Location: McKimmon Center, Room 3

5:45 p.m.

• Arrive at McKimmon Center

Please find a seat. Tables will be dismissed for the meal.

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 1

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Evening Session: "Lights. Camera. Action." Dinner

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 1

Presiding: Meredith Potter, State 4-H Vice President

• Alumni Award Recognition
• Beyond Ready Senior Signing
• Dinner
• State Officer Clover Talk – Emily Pirhalla, State 4-H Member Engagement
• Keynote Address – Dr. Cassandra D. Caldwell
• Recognition of 4-H Achievements
• Introduction of the 2026–2027 State 4-H Officer Candidates
• Lead to Change Kick-Off

8:00 – 8:45 p.m.

• Lead to Change Project Work

Location: District Rooms

9:00 – 9:30 p.m.

• 2026–2027 State 4-H Officer Campaigning

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 2

9:00 – 10:45 p.m.

• Silent Disco Dance
• Game Room

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 2

Note: Candidate campaign booths close at 10:45 p.m.

11:00 p.m.

• Tuesday Concludes

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Wednesday

July 22, 2026

8:30 – 8:45 a.m.

• Wednesday Morning Kickoff and Energizer

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 1

9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

AIRE (Application, Interview, Resume & Essay)

Delegates participating in interviews should check in at the Congress Information Desk.

Location: McKimmon Center

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

• Civic Minds: 2026–2027 State Officer Candidate Profiles
• Kids Voting NC

Location: McKimmon Center

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

• Hands to Service Projects

Location: McKimmon Center

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Youth & Donor Event (Invited Guests)

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 2

12:15 – 1:00 p.m.

Congress Delegate Lunch

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 1

Presiding: Emily Pirhalla, State 4-H Member Engagement

• State Officer Clover Talk – Kaytlin Thompson, State 4-H Secretary-Treasurer
• Special Guest – Paige King Johnson

Note: Future Delegates will be dismissed by their county 4-H agent or staff member by 1:00 p.m.

1:15 – 3:30 p.m.

Congress Workshops

Location: McKimmon Center

• Session 1
  • 1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
• Session 2
  • 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

• NC 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Association Meeting

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 16

3:45 – 5:45 p.m.

Cultural Experiences

County-led cultural activities.

Location: Various Locations

Note: Talent Showcase Practice will be held from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

• Congress Delegation Dinner

Location: Fountain Dining Hall

7:30 – 8:45 p.m.

NC 4-H Talent Showcase

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 1

Presiding: Aubrey Mekus, State 4-H President

Emcee: Chris Ritchie, NC 4-H Alumnus

• State Officer Clover Talk – Kiya Kernodle, State 4-H Reporter
• NC 4-H Talent Showcase

8:45 – 9:30 p.m.

• District Meetings

Location: District Rooms

9:30 – 10:00 p.m.

• Ice Cream Social / Grab-and-Go!

Location: McKimmon Center Lobby

10:00 p.m.

• Wednesday Concludes

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Thursday

July 23, 2026

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

Thursday Morning Kickoff and Energizer

Delegates will be dismissed to their selected Tours & Experiences.

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 1

9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Tours & Experiences

Educational tours and experiences throughout the Raleigh area.

Location: Off Site

International 4-H Program Orientation

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 3

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

• Lunch

Location: Fountain Dining Hall

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Lead to Change Project Gallery & Elections

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 2

Presiding: Kaytlin Thompson, State 4-H Secretary-Treasurer

• Lead to Change Project Gallery
• State Officer Clover Talk – Meredith Potter, 2025–2026 State 4-H Vice President
• Poster Presentations (Various Rooms)

Starting at 1:50 p.m.

Voting delegates will be called by county in alphabetical order. Please do not report until your county is announced.

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 8

2:45 – 5:00 p.m.

Congress Workshops

Location: McKimmon Center

• Session 3
  • 2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
• Election Results Announced (McKimmon Center, Room 2)
  • 3:50 – 4:00 p.m.
• Session 4
  • 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

7:15 – 9:00 p.m.

Clover Gala: Lights. Camera. Action.

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 1

Presiding: Kiya Kernodle, State 4-H Reporter

• Clover Gala Dinner
• State Officer Clover Talk – Aubrey Mekus, 2025–2026 State 4-H President
• District and State Officer Recognition
• State Officer Tray Presentation
• County Delegation Photos
• Event Wrap-Up and Slideshow
• Spirit Stick Winner Announced

9:00 – 10:30 p.m.

Clover Gala Dance & Game Room

Location: McKimmon Center, Room 2

10:45 p.m.

Candlelight Ceremony

Location: Dorton Arena

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Friday

July 24, 2026

Departure

Delegations depart throughout the day according to their own travel plans.

We hope you had a wonderful experience at North Carolina 4-H Congress and wish you safe travels home!

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