BLACKSBURG ­ Nearly 700 youngsters from all parts of Virginia will be at Virginia Tech for the annual 4-H State Congress, Monday to Thursday, June 19 to 22.

To celebrate taking part in the State Congress, the youngsters have planned a community service project to also thank the community for hosting Congress. They will donate canned food to the local food bank in Montgomery County. Many of them also will donate food to their own communities before traveling to Blacksburg.

The 4-H State Congress brings the top 4-H members to Virginia Tech for many educational events.

The youngsters who participate have excelled in their 4-H activities both by winning competitions and providing leadership for 4-H clubs in their communities. Those who have won competitions at the local or district level will compete at the state level during Congress.

All of the delegates to State Congress will take part in a variety of service events such as working with the Christiansburg Institute, YMCA Thrift Shop, Mountain Lake Biological Research Station, Wildlife Conservancy at Mountain Lake, Pandapas Pond Reseeding Project and others.

"The goal of these service projects is to give back to the communities that host 4-H events," said Dorothy M. Freeman, Virginia Cooperative Extension 4-H youth development specialist who is coordinator of the State Congress.

Theme of the Congress is "4-H and You: The Combination To Unlock the Future." The Congress is an occasion for learning and service but it brings the youngsters together for entertainment, dances and movies, and events such as an ice cream social. This is the 79th annual State Congress. An entertainment group from Georgia 4-H called Clovers and Company will entertain and work with Virginia youngsters to help them learn about stage performance.

Since many of the youngsters are visiting the University for the first time, there is a session to tell them about Virginia Tech. University President Charles Steger and Provost Peggy Meszaros will welcome them to the campus and there will be sessions about the different colleges and academic life.