Paulding 4-H’ers Attend 75th 4-H State Congress

Pauding County had seven Senior 4-H’ers compete at Georgia’s 4-H State Congress July 25-28. 2017. They earned their way to state in Atlanta by competing in various areas of Project Achievement. This year’s winners included: Madison Thomason: Master 4-H’er in Health project, Paulding County High School; Josh Kudwa: Master 4-H’er in Food Fair project, Paulding County High School; Jamie Babecka: 2nd place in Textiles, Merchandising & Interiors project, home school; Erin Gilroy: 2nd place in Companion Animals project, East Paulding High School; Rhiannon Perrien: 2nd place in Entomology project, home school; Olivia Senra competed in Poultry & Egg Science project, East Paulding High School; and Erin Kenny competed in History project, Hiram High School.
The 4-H’ers began the Project Achievement competition in January where each student submits a portfolio or resume that included project work, leadership, and community service in each of their respective areas. In March, each student then competed at Northwest District 4-H Project Achievement for the demonstration portion. This may be a ten-minute demonstration or speech on a specific topic in their area, an hour and half cooking lab demonstrating their food lab skills, or four-minute performing arts presentation. The portfolio and the demonstration are both scored as part of the completion. At the district level, each of these 4-H’ers earned top honors or sweepstakes status in a category with a large number of participants in their area to advance them to the state competition.
At state, over 350 4-H’ers from 95 counties competed to receive Master 4-H honors. Here the portfolios are re-evaluated and the 4-H’ers compete again to become a Master in their project which also earns them an invitation to National 4-H Congress in November. At the 4-H Annual Banquet on July 27, the event starts with the Parade of Winners. Forty-eight project winners along with more than 80 special events winners (evaluation and other competitive events) entered the banquet room filled with more than 800 youth, donors, volunteers, and UGA extension staff. The banquet, achievement competition, scholarship luncheon, donor recognition, tour of facilities that support 4-H, and much more all symbolizes a year of hard work and dedication of 4-H youth in our state. It is coordinated by the University of Georgia’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences which the Cooperative Extension Georgia 4-H program is a part of.
Madison Thomason reflects on the journey and the experience of Mastering, by saying “State congress gave me the opportunity to meet new friends as well as get closer to ones I already had. Although the stakes were high and the nerves were a little tense, after competing, it was my favorite 4-H event. We rode rides, danced the night away, enjoyed each other’s company and good food, and even mastered once or twice! I'll never forget my experiences at State Congress!”
Paulding County is not only proud to announce that Madison Thomason and Josh Kudwa earning Master 4- H status through Project Achievement, but there were seven additional Master 4-H status earned with five being awarded at the Awards Banquet during Congress. The Food Challenge team which won state in September 2016, included team members Madison Thomason, Erin Gilroy, Rhiannon Perrien, and Kinsey Hamlin (Sammi Reynolds could not attend). From the State Horse Show, Ashley Rossman for Senior Saddle Seat Champion (Miranda McTyre for Senior Stock Seat Champion, could not attend).

4-H’ers Six Flags for the Awards Announcements (left to right): Erin Kenney, Erin Gilroy, Jamie Babecka, Olivia Senra, Madison Thomason, and Josh Kudwa (not pictured Rhiannon Perrien).Madison Thomason wins first place in Health project, she is now a Master 4-H’er!Joshua Kudwa wins first place in Food Fair project, he is now a Master 4-H’er!Those attending Annual 4-H Banquet (left to right): Joshua Kudwa, Kinsey Hamlin, Madison Thomason, Erin Gilroy, Erin Kenney, Olivia Senra, Jamie Babecka, and Ashley Rossman (not pictured Rhiannon Perrien and Patty McIver, 4-H agent).

For more information about Paulding County 4-H youth programming, please visit our website at www.ugaextension.org/paulding or contact 4-H agent, Patty McIver. We are part of Paulding County UGA County Extension located at 530 Memorial Drive, Dallas, GA 30132.