Wake County 4-H Spark Expo invites teens to build real-world skills

Wake County 4-H will bring teens ages 13 to 18 to Wake Tech East Campus for the 2nd annual Spark Expo, a youth-led conference built around hands-on work in Service, STEM and Agriculture. The event is set for Aug. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 5401 Rolesville Road in Wendell.

The July 20 posting from the Wake County Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension calls out young people to "explore new opportunities, develop real-world skills, and SPARK bold ideas for the future." It presents the expo as a place where students do more than listen: they move through interactive workshops and career-focused activities designed to connect school learning with real work.

An archived image caption tied to the program shows a "Student panel presenting to a student audience at Wake Tech. Spark Expo 2024," which points to a format that asks teenagers to speak, present and lead. That emphasis fits Wake County, where Wake Technical Community College and local employers are part of the same workforce pipeline students will eventually enter.

Wake County 4-H describes itself as the world’s largest youth development organization, serving more than 6 million participants worldwide. Wake County Government says 4-H is a "Learn by Doing" program that helps young people build confidence and engage with the community, and the county’s summer camp page says each member may enroll in only one day camp per summer.

The Spark Expo adds to that calendar with a one-day event focused on practical exposure rather than passive attendance. The posting’s focus on Service, STEM and Agriculture reflects the range of jobs and skills Wake County families are weighing as the county grows, from technical careers to public-facing leadership roles and agricultural literacy.

The same day’s extension listings also included a Wake County Cattlemen’s Quarterly Meeting, underscoring how the county office serves both youth and agricultural audiences. In a county where families often look for activities that build resumes as well as confidence, the Spark Expo stands out because it combines career exploration, public speaking and hands-on learning in one place.