Project Achievement is a cornerstone in the Georgia 4-H program that teaches a young person public speaking skills, interview skills, record keeping skills, social skills and self-confidence. As a partner in public education, Georgia 4-H Project Achievement serves as a forum to showcase a 4-H’ers’ hard work and success. To compete in this competition, seventh thru twelfth grade 4-H members first pick a project area of interest to them, then keep a yearly record of project work and finally prepare a ten to twelve minute presentation for competition.

March 10 through March 12, 2017, twenty-eight, Chattooga County 4-H’ers, grades seventh thru twelfth, loaded up to spend the weekend at Rock Eagle 4-H Center for their annual district competition.  There were 36 counties competing, which were made up of 275 juniors (seventh and eighth grade) and 328 senior (ninth thru twelfth grade) competitors for a total of 603. The projects ranged from arts and crafts to workforce preparation.   2016-2017 District Senior Board Vice- President Bronson Champion and Junior Board Officers, Gray Beach, President and Mary Anna Bentley District Officer led the delegation as they presented the opening skit, along with leading several assemblies and activities during the weekend.

Junior 4-H members competing were:

Gray Beach, Better Breakfast – 1st Place

Mary Anna Bentley, Dairy and Milk Science – 1st Place

Tori Blalock, Festive Food – 2nd Place

Brecklyn Brown, Food Safety and Preservation – 1st Place

Kayleigh Byars, Plant and Soil Science – 1st Place

Gracie Canada, Sports – 5th Place

Adam Dawson, History – 3rd Place

Emma Marshall, Food for Health and Sport – 2nd Place

Madison Mincey, Marine Science and Ecology – 1st Place

Carlie Sanford, Sports – 4th Place

Savannah Turner, Pizza – 1st Place

Senior 4-H members competing were:

Cam Anderson, Sheep and Meat Goat – 1st Place

Bronson Champion, Health – 2nd Place with a Sweepstakes Win

Carlie Chisolm, Wildlife and Marine Science – 3rd Place

Madison Christol, Communication – 3rd Place

Faith Coalson, Workforce Preparation and Career Development – 1st Place

Kaitlyn Conner, Outdoor Recreation – 3rd Place

Austin Cordle, Sports- 4th Place

Chandler Godfrey, Food Fare – 5th Place

Sophie Harward, Flowers Shrubs and Lawns, 2nd Place

Tyler Hunt, Target Sports – 5th Place

Morgan Long, Performing Arts Vocal – 3rd Place

Logan Money, Companion Animals – 3rd Place

Travan Neal, Safety – 4th Place

Taylor Ozment, Target Sports – 6th Place

Meagan Perry, Public Speaking – 2nd Place

Natalie Peterson, Performing Arts Drama – 6th Place

Lily Thibodeaux, Arts and Crafts – 7th Place

Senior 4-H members placing first in their project area are eligible to advance beyond the district competition to state 4-H Congress, which is held in Atlanta at the Crowne Plaza Ravina in late July. This event is reserved for 4-H’ers who have worked hard and earned the privilege to represent their district at the state level of competition. This year, Chattooga County had three participants who will advance to the state competition: Cam Anderson, Faith Coalson and Bronson Champion.

Not only do participants have the opportunity to present their demonstrations, they also can run for a leadership position as a Northwest District board member, participate in service projects and meet friends from all over the Northwest District.   Ms. Lily Thibodeaux was elected as 2017-2018 Senior Board, Vice-President. 

Also attending were Chattooga County Extension Coordinator, Rebecca Thomas; 4-H Extension Educator, Caleb Millican; AmeriCorps 4-H Program Assistant, Ashely Shope; State 4-H Officer, Hamp Thomas; 4-H Volunteers Selena Conley, Carla Harward, Matthew Pace, and Miss Cora Conley.  

DPA, District Project Achievement, is an extremely valuable tool for fulfilling the Georgia 4-H mission of assisting youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive, and contributing citizens. 4-H also develops leadership skills by encouraging a student to work with others to accomplish goals and hold both appointed and elected leadership positions.   We are very proud of the dedication that not only the students, but also their families, have put into our local 4-H program and are excited about the opportunity to work with them for years to come. For more information about Chattooga County 4-H programs, call 706-857-0744.

 

 NW District Senior Board VP, Bronson Champion and the newly elected 2017-18 NW District Senior Board VP, Lily Thibodeaux