More than 80 delegates from across the southern United States attended the Southern Region Biennial Conference for 4-H, held at the Embassy Suites, Cary, N.C., May 4-7, 2026. 4-H, the nation’s largest youth organization, is presented by North Carolina’s 101 local N.C. Cooperative Extension centers in partnership with NC State Extension, Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T State University and local government.

The conference brought together 4-H specialists from a variety of disciplines for the purpose of collaborative, interdisciplinary sharing of ideas and resources, according to the conference co-organizer, Autumn Cano-Guin, quality youth program specialist with NC 4-H and NC State Extension.

“[The conference] is an opportunity to really think about the work we do in spaces that are largely agricultural, largely rural — things that are unique and special in this part of the country,” said Cano-Guin.

Rachel Guidugli, assistant Extension director for University of Kentucky 4-H Youth Development, found the conference to be a meaningful opportunity for her team to share and learn.

“This is an awesome opportunity to connect with professionals in similar positions across the southern region,” Guidugli said. “We all are looking for new ways to reach young people and understand the trends — to see what individual states are doing.”

A highlight for attendees was the keynote address given by Sydney Loflin, former NC 4-H’er and author of Focused as a Bee, a book that uses lessons from beekeeping to help readers live intentional, productive lives. The book was a partnership between Loflin and her father, Jones Loflin, who was the co-author as well as the conference’s capnote speaker. The senior Loflin is a professional leadership coach and consultant.

The next conference will be held in 2028, with the destination to be announced at a later time.