Lifelong Berkeley County 4-H’er Paige Knott is making history and leaving a lasting impact on the National 4-H stage.For only the second time in the past 20 years, a West Virginia University Extension 4-H member has earned a spot on the esteemed National 4-H Congress Design Team, a rare honor that only eight individuals nationwide receive each year.The Design Team is a prestigious small group of exceptional 4-H members who are responsible for planning and leading the National 4-H Congress—a five-day conference that brings together young leaders for workshops, networking and personal growth.For Knott, applying to join the 2025 Design Team was a no-brainer.“I had the chance to attend the National 4-H Congress as a participant in November 2024, and it was an incredible experience,” she said. “We met so many new people, and it was a lot of fun. The workshops helped us build leadership skills and learn how to bring those skills back home to teach our county. It was also a great opportunity to hear different perspectives from 4-H’ers around the country.”However, there’s a catch: National 4-H allows each student to attend Congress only once. For someone as determined as Knott, that just wasn’t enough.“At the November conference, we learned about the Design Team, and I thought it sounded like an amazing opportunity. You can only go to Congress once as a student, unless you are on the Design Team, and I felt like there was no way I was only going once. I had to experience this again! My agent Mikie encouraged me to apply, and although I knew it was competitive, I felt like I had to try. He was incredibly supportive and advocated for me throughout the entire process.”Berkely County 4-H Extension agent, Mikie Withrow, wasn’t surprised by her decision. He knew she was more than capable of thriving in this role.“Paige is such a powerhouse member that once she attended, I knew she was destined to apply. She has gone from a quiet and rather hardheaded kid to a very well-spoken, respectful teenager in just a few years. She has the ability to stay just under the radar yet pulls an explosive set of skills when you need her most,” Withrow said. “Paige is the second West Virginia 4-H’er to have ever served on the Design Team as a youth member, and the first from Berkeley County. It’s been a passion project for me to help 4-H’ers like Paige apply, and to be recognized at this national level is an incredible honor.”The application process for the Design Team is no small feat. Candidates must submit an essay and a video explaining why they’re qualified to represent 4-H on a national stage.“You have to write a letter about yourself and create a video showcasing your 4-H journey,” Knott explained. “The process was a great opportunity for me to reflect on my growth in 4-H and why I’d be a worthy representative. When I got the email saying I’d been selected, I was so excited!”While National 4-H Congress doesn’t take place until November 2025, Knott has already started the planning process. She traveled to Atlanta for her first Design Team meeting and regularly meets with the team to finalize plans for the conference. As part of the Design Team, Knott and her seven teammates will arrive early to help set up, greet attendees at the airport, lead workshops, speak to large crowds and try to recruit next year’s Design Team members.“We are doing skits and guiding people around to help them really get the most out of Congress. I am so thrilled to be there, and I really think I can be someone to help people open up,” Knott said. “I am not supposed to be influencing them, I am supposed to be in the background, facilitating them to learn and grow. I want them to be the star of the show.”Withrow believes Knott’s involvement in National 4-H Congress is a perfect example of why he loves his job.“Seeing Paige finally hit her stride as she excels in these national roles truly makes the extra hours and weekend trips worth it,” Withrow said. “As an agent, we often get asked why we give up so much time to our jobs, or so many days away from our offices, but this serves as a prime example of why we do it. It’s seeing kids go beyond their limits and achieve goals that they never knew were out there, until an agent believed they could achieve it.”Looking ahead, Knott is excited about the future. While she plans to pursue nursing after high school, she remains deeply committed to 4-H.“Congress really opened my eyes to how much I want to stay involved in 4-H, even after I age out. It’s a program that helps people grow and opens their hearts, and I want to help others experience that,” she said. “After high school, I plan to attend WVU and pursue nursing. One day, I hope to become a nurse anesthetist. 4-H has taught me to help others grow, not just myself. I want to lift people up with me, and that’s something I’ve learned through 4-H.”If other West Virginia youth are interested in applying for National 4-H Congress, the deadline is May 4, 2025. Visit this link to learn more and apply.If you want to learn more about WVU Extension and to follow Knott’s journey on the Design Team, visit extension.wvu.edu or follow @WVUExtension on Facebook, YouTube, X and Instagram.