Georgia
4-H Congress is the premiere competitive and
recognition event for high school age Georgia 4-H’ers. Coordinated by the University of Georgia
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension Georgia
4-H program, Congress is financially supported by donors and contributors to
the Georgia 4-H Foundation. Held each year in Atlanta, the program includes
recognition of scholarship recipients, evaluation event winners both team and
individual, installation of the Georgia 4-H Board of Directors, and competition
in project areas as well as leadership in action. The 71st Georgia 4-H Congress was July 23-26, 2013 and head
quartered at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia on Ashford Dunwoody Road in North
Atlanta
4-H
Project Achievement State Competition is the
cornerstone of the week. Over 245 youth from 95 counties in Georgia delivered 10
to 12 minute presentations in forty-eight project areas and met with judges to
discuss their portfolio of project work, leadership and service. Projects range from Environmental Sciences to
Performing Arts Vocal from Wildlife and Marine Sciences to Family Resource
Management. Competition takes place all day Wednesday for presentation
competition and Tuesday evening for Performing Arts competition. Announcement of winners takes place in an
energetic program at Six Flags over Georgia in the Crystal Pistol on Wednesday
evening as the park closes.
Leadership
in Action Competition is an interview and application
process. Eight youth from each area in
Georgia are competing for state honors. Young people in Leadership in Action
have identified a community need and worked to meet the need in their
community. This year’s competitors have been involved projects such as poverty initiative
to improve the quality of life in their community, a fundraising program to
replace reduced funds for the public library, creating holiday gifts for
service members overseas. Competition took place on Tuesday with announcement of winners during the Leadership
Banquet.
Opening
Program on Tuesday not only kicked off
Congress but also honored 35 youth who received scholarships for their continued
education. Scholarship recipients are selected in a competitive application
process and will enter colleges and universities in the fall as freshman,
sophomore or upper classman.
Leadership
Banquet recognized Extension leadership in youth and adults. The program includes
recognition of the Leadership in Action winners, 4-H Camp & Center Leadership and the WA
Sutton Scholarship. This year's Friend of 4-H Award was presented to Dr. Gail Hanula and State 4-H President Tifara Brown received the WA Sutton Scholarship.
Annual
Banquet kicked off Thursday with the parade
of winners. Forty-eight project winners
and more than 100 special events (evaluation and other competitive events)
winners entered the banquet room filled with more than 600 youth, donors and
administrators for the annual banquet.
During the meal, Special Events winners who have placed first in state
competitions are recognized for their work. Special events are 4-H competitive
events that include evaluation or judging programs, horse and livestock shows,
shooting sports competition, quiz bowl contests and other programs. Events range from Forestry Field Day
competition to Consumer Judging. State
Project winners announced the evening before are also recognized. In addition
several special awards are presented including the Green Jacket award presented
to a government or administrative official for his/her work with the 4-H program,
the GAE4HA Friend of 4-H Award, the William H Booth Award for work of an
experienced county 4-H agent and the Bo Ryles Rising Star Award for a new
county 4-H agent. The banquet also includes the installation of the nine
Georgia 4-H Board of Directors. The Georgia 4-H Board of Directors is the newly
elected state 4-H officers who serve as representatives of 4-H and plan events
for high school age youth statewide. Receiving this year's 4-H Green Jacket Award is Governor Nathan Deal; Ryles Rising Star Winner is Allen Nasworthy; William H. Booth State honors go to Zona Medley and the Friend of 4-H Award was presented to John Bulloch.
Message from Governor Deal, 4-H Green Jacket Award Winner
Other
Congress activities includes tours of the Atlanta area,
interaction with 4-H donors and UGA administrators, a reception for high school
seniors and opportunities for youth to interact and get to know 4-H’ers from
all over the state. As Congress
delegates come from all corners of Georgia, the opportunity to meet and spend
time in the capitol of Georgia is an experience itself for many competitors.
For additional information
contact Jenny Jordan, Extension 4-H Faculty, (jwj4h@uga.edu)
or Arch Smith, State 4-H Leader/Director of 4-H, (asmith@uga.edu). Georgia 4-H Office, Hoke Smith Annex-UGA,
Athens, Ga 30602, 706-542-4H4H
