Wyoming 4-H to Host Free Virtual Career Night March 17

High school and middle school students are encouraged to hop online Monday, March 17, at 6 p.m. Mountain Time for Wyoming 4-H’s fifth annual Virtual Career Night.

Hosted on Zoom, the event provides an opportunity for young people to interact with professionals in fields ranging from agriculture and wildlife management to medicine and marketing. From a tactical pilot who specializes in aerial firefighting to a former NFL cheerleader turned motivational speaker, the event highlights a wide variety of potential careers.

While the career fair is organized by Wyoming 4-H educators, it is free and open to any young person interested in attending. To register and learn more about this year’s presenters, go to www.wyoming4h.org/virtual-career-night/.

The evening will kick off with a presentation by Shannon McKain, a Missouri 4-H alumna and nationally renowned motivational speaker. Former Albany County 4-H member Jake McElwee, who now serves as diving operations supervisor for a Florida-based marine construction company, also will make an appearance. Additional presenters include a landscape architect, Colorado State University Extension veterinary specialist, an anesthesiologist and an agricultural loan officer.

“I think it’s a great way to explore a variety of careers in a pretty low-key setting,” says Amber Armajo, Washakie County 4-H educator and lead organizer of the event. “If you want to step outside your comfort zone and explore different career areas, it’s a great place to do that.”

Last year, 240 participants from 26 states registered for the event.

“Virtual career night opened my eyes to the vast diversity of agricultural opportunities,” says Cannon Cook, who attended the event in 2023 and 2024. “I learned that you can never pass up an opportunity, and networking and professionalism lead you to places you would never think of.”

A former Wyoming 4-H member, Cook is now a certified auctioneer specializing in charity, livestock and consignment.

After two featured presentations, participants can attend two additional presentations of their choice. Each session allows time for a live question-and-answer session with the presenter. The event concludes with a group wrap-up and a question-and-answer session at 7:25 p.m.

All presentations, including those from previous years, are recorded and can be viewed at www.wyoming4h.org/virtual-career-night/past-career-fair-speakers/. Brief bios and contact information for each speaker also are provided.

For those interested in sponsoring the 2025 event, visit www.wyoming4h.org/virtual-career-night/2025-sponsor/.

For more information, email Armajo at amwall@uwyo.edu or call (307) 347-3431.

About University of Wyoming Extension

UW Extension serves Wyoming communities by helping residents apply university research and resources to practical problems. Since 1914, UW Extension has provided educational programs and tools to the state’s 23 counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation. From 4-H programming and pesticide safety education to food preservation and nutrition courses, UW Extension upholds the university’s land-grant mission by offering learning opportunities for people of all ages. UW Extension staff members help Wyoming residents boost agricultural production; care for lawns and gardens; cultivate future leaders; support individual and community well-being; and develop thriving businesses.

For more information, visit www.uwyo.edu/uwe or call (307) 766-5124.