MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Winning first place at a state-level competition earned senior-level Mississippi 4-H’ers a unique, four-day trip across the state.

From July 15–18, 60 young people will tour the state in the 2014 4-H Cooperative Business Leadership Conference.

The group is made up of 4-H Congress first-place winners, state awareness team members and state 4-H Council officers. This week, they are participating in the conference and bus tour that begins and ends at Mississippi State University. They will stop along the way in Mayhew, Meridian, Jackson, Greenville, Scott and Greenwood.

“These are some of Mississippi’s finest young people, and this conference is an opportunity for them to briefly experience both business and government in action,” said Harvey Gordon, MSU Extension Service 4-H youth development specialist. “They will see working cooperatives firsthand and how state government operates.”

The young people will spend a day learning about the structure and goals of business cooperatives and experience one firsthand by establishing and operating their own soft drink cooperative. Their tour will include an electric power association, a grain terminal and a cotton gin. They also will spend time visiting the Mississippi Capitol and seeing how legislation is passed.

4-H is the MSU Extension Service’s development program for 8- to 18-year-olds. 4-H opportunities are available in all 82 counties. It offers programs and growth opportunities that put the heads, hearts, hands and health of Mississippi’s young people to work learning and applying the essential elements of the 4-H program: belonging, mastery, independence and generosity.