Okeechobee
Okeechobee
Adam Cletzer, Student
Assistant Acletzer@ifas.ufl.edu
For release: August 9, 2004
4-H Members bring home record Awards
Okeechobee’s senior level 4-H’ers took
home a record number of awards at 4-H’s annual convention at the
Fourteen youth represented
Several Okeechobee 4-H’ers competed for some of 4-H’s most coveted awards throughout the week. Though they may have lost sleep over the results of their interviews and speeches, nearly all of those that competed had crossed the stage of the Grand Ballroom by the end of the awards evening.
Seven of Okeechobee’s 4-H’ers [below] were selected to
represent
Only 30 of the more than 270,000 4-H’ers in
The only all expenses paid venture in 4-H, National
4-H Congress delegates can only attend once, and typically at the end of their
4-H career. More than 1,300 other 4-H’ers from all 50 states and
“It’s really a reward for a lifetime of achievement in 4-H,” Clements said. “Only the best get to go, and this year’s group is the newest in a long line of 4-H’ers from Okeechobee.”
To be selected, 4-H’ers must first complete the State Awards portfolio. The portfolio is a record of nearly everything a 4-H’er has done in his or her career. Only the best portfolios are chosen for interviews.
Lindsey Rucks, 14, is a 7-year member of the Udder Bunch 4-H club, as well as Junior Leaders. Despite being one of the youngest delegates at Congress this year, she was selected for interview and later won a seat on the charter bus to National 4-H Congress.
“Being interviewed wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be,” Rucks said. “It was worried at first, but then I realized they were just people too. Then we were just having a conversation.”
However, interviews and demonstrations are only a
small part of Congress. Most of the week is spent in workshops, community
service programs, and other fun activities around the UF campus and the
During a barbecue at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Matt Walker, 14, and some colleagues who wish to remain anonymous, discovered the Gators’ locker room while on an unauthorized exploration of the stadium.
“It was the highlight of all the highlights,”
Graduating seniors from across the state competed
for nearly $25,000 in scholarships, according to Lane Jimison, executive
director of the
Okeechobee’s 2004 State 4-H Congress delegates were: Lindsey Rucks, Rachel Rock, Sarah Weaver, Caitlin James, Rebecca Barnes, Ashley Goggans, Adam Spann, Jared Prescott, Matt Walker, Samantha McKenna, Nicole Burden, Brooke Stokes, Kelly Buchanan and Jamie Burnham.
For more information about any 4-H activity, contact the Okeechobee County Cooperative Extension Office at (863) 763-6469.
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