Submitted PhotoLowndes County 4-H members Ryan McGee, Patrice Fiffie, Elena Gregory, Dakaria Chapman, Faith Cockren, Lillian Mabry, Janey Miller, Daniel Peterson, Madeline Mabry, Rowan Hayward, Jazmyne Clark, Jake Diamond, Stephen Peterson and Lily Hayward attend project achievement event.  

VALDOSTA — Fourteen Lowndes County 4-H’ers traveled to Eatonton to participate in Southwest District Junior/Senior District Project Achievement at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center. 

There were more than 500 youth and adults in attendance. The annual 4-H event is a year-long endeavor where participants compete and are judged based on a portfolio and presentation related to a research topic area of their choice, organization officials said.

To complete portfolios for the competition, 4-H’ers are required to participate in activities related to their topic throughout the year to showcase project involvement, teaching and sharing experiences and leadership and citizenship activities. 

They must include a cover letter and supporting materials. The 4-H’ers then give presentations on their research focus area to their peers and panel of judges.

Senior 4-H’er (ninth-12th grade) Daniel Peterson won first place in the poultry and egg science project.  He will be attending State Congress in July to compete for Master 4-H status, the highest honor in Georgia 4-H, and a trip to National Congress in November.

Senior 4-H’er Elena Gregory received second place in the housing equipment and environment project.

Third-place honors went to senior 4-H’ers Faith Cockren for her project on dog care and training and to Ryan McGee in the workforce and career preparation project.

Honorable mentions went to senior 4-H’ers Dakaria Chapman in the dairy foods project, Jazmyne Clark in the plant and soil sciences project, Patrice Fiffie in the food fare project, Rowan Hayward in the performing arts instrumental project and Madeline Mabry in the general recreation project.

Junior 4-H’ers (seventh-eighth grade) Janey Miller placed first in the dairy foods project for eighth grade and Stephen Peterson placed first for seventh grade in the poultry and egg science.

Second-place honors for juniors went to Jake Diamond in the sports individual project for eighth grade and Lillian Mabry earned second place in the eighth-grade history project.

Honorable mention went to Lily Hayward in the eighth-grade general recreation project.

Sarah Baltzell, 4-H program assistant, Lynn Hall, extension 4-H agent for youth development, and Andy Carter, county extension agent, chaperoned the event.

4-H is the youth program of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. For more information about 4-H in Lowndes County, contact the Extension Office, (229) 333-5185 or visit http://www.ugaextension.com/lowndes.