By By Beth Randall / 4-H youth agent
October 31, 2004
That quote sums up what we do in 4-H.
When a young person joins 4-H he or she may not have a clue how to take a photograph, give a speech or sew a garment. But through hours of work and dedication they learn how.
During the month of October many 4-H'ers had the opportunity to showcase their newly found skills at the Queen City Fair, the Mississippi State Fair, Health Rocks and Leadership Lauderdale Youth.
Thirty-five 4-H members exhibited a variety of items in the Queen City Fair that they made themselves. Items they exhibited included cookies, leaf collections, drawings, paintings, pillows, birdhouses and bird feeders, just to name a few.
The blue ribbon exhibits advanced to State Fair, where we had 65 entries from our county. On 4-H Day at the State Fair, Lauderdale County 4-H'ers participated in the events and festivities.
Participating in the Fashion Revue were Lydia Burns, Sarah Burns, Brittany James, Jessica Bird and Summer Lucky. Summer Lucky won the Clothing Construction Sweepstakes prize for her category.
Participating in the Public Speaking Contest were Summer Lucky; Lydia Burns, placing second in the junior division; and Brittany James, placing second in the senior division.
Sarah Burns and Summer Lucky participated in the Talent Showcase, entertaining fair goes that visited the 4-H Village.
We have another group of 4-H'ers who have been learning new things this month and that is our new Leadership Lauderdale Youth Participants. We kicked off this year's program with an overnight retreat held at Timber Creek Camp.
This year's participants include Madia Ahmad, Emily Entrekin, Hope Ferguson, Whitney Follin, Denver Harrison, Haley Heard, Bryan Holladay, Nichole Hudson, Alexis Kelley, Sarah Kiehn, Jennifer Kueven, Jordan Mathis, Betsy Mitchell, S.M. Mitchell, Gracie Nichols, Nick Norman, David Parker, Katie Pearson, Lajerika Reese, Anna Reynolds, Brittany Ricker, Rico Scott, Addison Shock, Robert Simmons, Sarah Summers, Sarah Terral, Leigh Taylor Wamble, Megan Walters, Candice White and Sarah Young.
Adults assisting with the retreat were Wayne Edwards, Leadership Lauderdale Youth Chairman; William Carey; Eloise Jenkins; Ed Owen; and Donna Owen.
Edwards led the participants in the study of the "7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens," and the Timber Creek instructors led the group in teamwork activities and the ropes course.
We had a great time strengthening our leadership skills and we are looking forward to a great year as we learn more about leadership and the community.
As you can see, our 4-H'ers are continually learning new things and influencing others in a positive way. For more information about 4-H in Lauderdale County, call us at 482-9764.