HORIZON

Date:
March 23–24, 2026

Location:
W.E. Skelton 4-H Center
Wirtz, VA

Target Ages:
7th–10th (all welcome)

Cost:
$135/student
$110/adults
Includes meals & lodging

Registration Due:
March 6, 2026

Conference Schedule

Monday, March 23

Tuesday, March 24

Students explore leadership as everyday behavior rather than position.

• Build connection and shared expectations
• Understand leadership as behavior-based
• Identify personal strengths

How communication and professionalism shape reputation and opportunity.

• Examine communication behaviors
• Apply leadership to social media use
• Practice interpersonal communication

Empathy, curiosity, and respect as leadership strengths.

• Recognize empathy as leadership
• Analyze peer pressure and comparison
• Foster inclusive environments

Resilience, accountability, and growth through challenge.

• View setbacks as growth
• Practice responsibility
• Use feedback effectively

Connecting leadership behaviors to future goals.

• Translate experiences into skills
• Identify professional habits
• Create a leadership action step

Hunter Carson

Hunter Carson is a dynamic public speaker and facilitator, passionate about leadership development and education. A native of Virginia, growing up in the suburbs outside of Washington, DC, Hunter's early experiences ignited his dedication to leadership and service. A graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in Agricultural Leadership, he has traveled across nearly 40 states, facilitating leadership development trainings and connecting with diverse audiences.

His career has taken him to Washington, DC, where he worked with organizations like the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National FFA Organization. Now residing in Gainesville, Florida, Hunter continues to blend his hands-on leadership experience with his extensive research in leadership development, inclusive environments, agriculture literacy, program design, educational practice, and cultural competence, bringing a unique and impactful perspective to every speaking engagement.

Emma Long

Emma is a proud Georgia native with a lifelong passion for agriculture and the communities that sustain it. Her FFA journey played a defining role in her growth and serving as the 2020–2021 Georgia FFA State President ignited her desire to give back to the organization that shaped her as a leader. A musician with an engaging stage presence, Emma brings that same energy into every workshop, creating meaningful, interactive experiences that connect with students and advisors alike.

She graduated from Oklahoma State University in May 2025 with a degree in Agricultural Education and brings facilitation experience from FFA events across the state as well as the Leadership Institute at Oklahoma State University, where she discovered her passion for helping students step into their leadership potential. Now pursuing her master’s degree in Agricultural Extension at the University of Florida, Emma is expanding her work in community development and is excited to bring her energy, experience, and heart for leadership to Virginia FFA.