LifeSmarts is the nation’s premier consumer program. According to their website, lifesmarts.org, “LifeSmarts provides real-world education for students who learn about core consumer topics and develop critical thinking skills. Participants focus on five key topics: consumer rights and responsibility, the environment, health and safety, technology and workforce preparation, and personal finance. The goal of LifeSmarts is to create consumer-savvy young people who will be well equipped for adult life in today’s complex global marketplace.” 

The team comprised five youth from Sussex and Kent Counties: Team captain Sedona Ashman of Dagsboro, Cassidy White of Millville, Caydance Means of Delmar, Austin Yourek of Smyrna, and Embrey Means of Delmar. Sedona and Cassidy are seniors at Indian River High School in Dagsboro, Caydance is a junior and Embrey is a first-year student at Delmar High School, while Austin is a junior at Smyrna High School.

Representing Delaware 4-H, the teens won a state competition held earlier in the year in Harrington. Their win earned them a trip to Chicago, graciously sponsored by the Delaware 4-H Foundation. They were coached by husband and wife team Keith and Rebecca Johnson of Selbyville.

“We had an outstanding group of teenagers compete and represent Delaware 4-H. They competed extremely well, and we were impressed with their unending perseverance, drive, and dedication throughout the competition,” said Rebecca Johnson. “They were consistently positive and never gave up. 

This was the third time Delaware sent a team in the national event’s 31-year history. Last year’s team finished in third place. This year’s 2025 team had big shoes to fill as they were all brand-new team members who had never competed in LifeSmarts before. 

“The growth that I witnessed as a coach over the past few months has been impeccable,” added Johnson. “They started as shy individuals who barely wanted to ring in to answer, to a team of individuals with confidence in themselves. They acquired so much knowledge from our practices. Keith and I could not be prouder of them and are grateful for the opportunity to serve as their coaches.” 

Before arriving in Chicago, the team had completed part one of the competition, an online educational TicTok video about the dangers of over-the-counter medicine. In Chicago, Delaware participated in several subsequent rounds including Speeds Smarts and buzzer rounds. Competing with teams from Ohio, North Carolina, Nebraska and Arkansas.

While the competition schedule was rigid, the team got a chance to take in the windy Navy Pier, the Lincoln Park Zoo, and the iconic Chicago Bean.

This amazing learning opportunity would not have been possible without the generous support of the Delaware 4-H Foundation!

Delaware 4-H is the largest youth organization in the country and is administered through the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. It is an equal opportunity provider.