79th Annual North Carolina 4-H Electric Congress

The 79th Electric Congress at Appalachian State University was one of those weeks that mixed learning, leadership, and fun in the best way.

Akshita Kothapalli and I represented our club and Union County throughout the event. Across the three days, we explored electric vehicles, visited the Energy Expo, worked on a soldering activity, went river tubing, attended the awards banquet, and spent time with other 4-H'ers who are also part of the NC 4-H Electric Program. This was my third Electric Congress, and this year I attended as a recruiting delegate.

Our first day was packed from the start. We checked out the electric vehicle car show, worked on the fan service project, took county delegation photos, and got dressed up for the awards banquet. The banquet was one of my favorite parts because it brought together delegates, sponsors, supporters, and speakers who all care about the same program. Later that night, the ice cream social and karaoke made the whole event feel less formal and more like a chance to actually get to know 4-H'ers from different counties.

The second day started with the Energy Expo, which gave us a closer look at how much is happening across the electric industry. I liked moving between the company booths, asking questions, and seeing how topics like energy, technology, sustainability, and service all connect in real careers.

We also completed a soldering project and visited hands-on displays about electricity and hydropower. It was a good reminder that the electric program is not just about learning facts - it is about getting to see how those ideas are actually used.

That afternoon was river tubing, which turned into a much bigger adventure than expected. What was planned as a two to two-and-a-half hour float stretched to almost five hours. It was exhausting while we were on the water, especially because every bend in the river looked like it might be the finish line, and then somehow it never was. By the time we got out, the schedule had shifted so much that dinner was moved to the Horn in the West site before the show.

Once we finally made it to Horn in the West, we ate the cookout dinner there and watched the outdoor drama right after. It was a long day, but ending it with the show, games, and time with everyone made the chaos feel worth it.

The last morning was a quieter close to the trip. We joined the raffle, wrote notes to thank the sponsors and supporters who helped make the event possible, and then headed home with a lot of stories from the week.

I really appreciate the NC Electric Cooperatives, the event sponsors, the volunteers, and everyone else who helped make the week happen.