Tennessee 4-H Academic Conference Offers Excellent Hands-On Experiences

Junior High 4-H’ers are immersed in hands-on learning and real-world experiences at the annual Tennessee 4-H Academic Conference held on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s (UTK) campus. They have the opportunity to grow in their area of interest while meeting other 4-H’ers from across the state, which can even change the course of their careers.

“The conference set me on a really exciting trajectory as far as my work in 4-H,” says Matt Fennel, regional field director for the Tennessee Farm Bureau and past 4-H Foundation president. “I learned a lot in my project area and had a life-changing experience.”

Fennel went to the first-ever Tennessee 4-H Academic Conference 36 years ago in the swine project. He says the knowledge he gained from the conference helped him grow his family’s swine operation from 15 brood sows to a herd of more than 100 farrowing twice per year.

“You can make the argument that this program has significantly contributed to the entire agriculture industry just through the knowledge and skills being taught to young people,” Fennel says.

See more: Meet Matt Fennel, Tennessee 4-H Foundation President

Tennessee 4-H Academic Conference is Actually Academic

The attendees are between sixth and eighth grade, and have a wide variety of 21 different project areas to choose from. These projects range from consumer education and entrepreneurship to specific animal focuses and nutrition. Avery Loveday attended the 2025 conference as a sixth grader in the sheep project area.

“I did sheep because it all goes back to my dad and grandpa,” Loveday says. “My dad grew up showing sheep, so being in 4-H is a family thing, and I’m enjoying it.”

Loveday’s grandfather, Dwight Loveday, served as the interim state program leader for Tennessee 4-H. Now, his grandson has continued the 4-H tradition.

“My favorite part about the conference was pulling the lambs out of a dummy because I haven’t had the chance to do that in the real world yet,” Loveday says. “It’s not every day you get to pull a lamb.”

The purpose of the event is to provide hands-on academic training, career exploration and opportunities to connect with other 4-H’ers. The conference also uses this experience to recognize outstanding 4-H leaders and members.

“One of the coolest things about Academic Conference is showing these kids the behind-the-scenes parts of their project areas because they may never have seen that before,” says Lynne Middleton, the coordinator of the conference. “It is amazing to see them get involved in this immersive experience.”

See more: Tennessee 4-H Campers Enjoy Science, Tech and the Great Outdoors

Middleton says the main goal is to have 4-H’ers come together and learn from subject-matter experts. There are more than 30 different industry specialists and college-level instructors at the event.

“The educational component cannot be matched,” Middleton says. “We get the best of everything for Academic Conference, the kids and specialists.”

It is a unique opportunity to receive this level of training. Instructors often take members off campus and into the field for more hands-on experience.

“We are very lucky to have these specialists who enjoy working with youth and sharing their knowledge,” says Kelsey Whitefield, an instructor and communications specialist for the University of Tennessee and 4-H. “Academic Conference also gives youth the opportunity to see what careers are out there and what it’s like being on a college campus.”

Having the event on the UTK campus is another way to help prepare the young people for their potential future in continued education. The 4-H’ers are lodged in the dorms and eat in the dining hall, similarly to college students.

“I cannot overstate the knowledge and experience that I gained there,” Fennel says. “It resulted in us growing our swine herd significantly and building new structure designs.”

See more: Tennessee’s 4-H Centers Connect Students With Real-World Experiences

Conference to Career

The members also get to build relationships and network with others from across the state throughout the 3 1/2 days. Fennel still has close friendships with members he met there 36 years ago. In a full-circle moment, he now gets to work with people he remembers from the bus ride to the conference.

Some of the lively events include the graduation banquet and the field trip to Main Event. The members get to dress up for the fancy banquet, creating memories to last a lifetime. The evening at Main Event is a fun-packed night with arcade games, laser tag, bowling and more. Middleton says it is a great time for the kids to decompress and a highlight for them to remember.

If a junior high 4-H member wants to attend the conference, they should visit Academic Conference’s website to find the application and information about the event. The website also has videos, photos, schedules, resources, frequently asked questions and more.

This conference is a resource for younger generations to explore their futures, plan their careers and discover life paths they might not have otherwise considered.

Support Academic Conference by donating to fund the activities, travel expenses or scholarships. Visit tn4hfoundation.org/donate to support today.