About 15 Ohio youths took a trip through the 4-H Interstate Exchange to the Flathead Valley this week, exploring the unique geography and lifestyle of Northwest Montana.

Flathead County 4-H hosted the group that hails from Mercer County, Ohio. The 4-H Interstate Exchange is a two-year commitment between 4-H organizations, according to Tammy Walker, Flathead County 4-H extension agent.

Next year, 4-H’ers from the Flathead will travel to Ohio and stay with host families.

“The goal in 4-H is leadership development. One way to develop leaders is to show them a broader picture of what youth are doing in other parts of the nation,” Walker said.

The Mercer County 4-H members and their Flathead County counterparts had an itinerary packed with adventures in horseback riding and whitewater rafting and travels to notable destinations such as Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, Hungry Horse Dam, Bibler Gardens and the National Bison Range in Moiese

They capped the week with a carousel ride in Missoula.

Throughout the year, 4-H members raised money through events such as spaghetti suppers and pie auctions to pay for the entire group’s activities.

In addition to recreation, the 4-H youths participated in community service. On Thursday, the group was busy volunteering at the Flathead Food Bank and Second Helpings Thrift Store.

Between scooping rice into bags, 16-year-old Rebecca Phares and 13-year-old Derek Broering took a moment to talk about their first trip to Montana. There wasn’t a pause when both remarked on their favorite part — whitewater rafting on the Flathead River.

This is Phares’ third Interstate Exchange. On her prior trips she has visited Minnesota and Massachusetts.

“I like seeing how 4-H is different in different states yet we’re all the same as one big 4-H family,” Phares said.

Geography was probably the most notable difference between Montana and Ohio, but Broering added that farming practices also differ — cattle are primarily grass-fed as opposed to grain.

This is the 10th year the Flathead County 4-H has participated in the Interstate Exchange and the 29th year for Mercer County 4-H.

Mercer County 4-H Director Barbara Phares thought aloud on what activities might be in store for the Flathead Valley 4-H, from visits to an amusement park, zoo and if the timing is right, the Indianapolis 500.

“It all depends on what the kids are interested in and what they haven’t done before,” Phares said.

Chaperone — and lifelong 4-H’er — Linda Stewart of Kalispell has been on exchange trips that have taken her to Kansas, Pennsylvania and Michigan. She’s taking this exchange with her granddaughter Melissa Maitland.

“It’s fun being with kids. They get to learn and do so much,” Stewart said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].