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Four of our Bladen County 4-H’ers came home from 4-H Congress with new medals for their achievements in public speaking and presentations. This year’s 4-H Congress, held in Raleigh July 16-19, attracted more than 540 young people and their adult leaders for activities including presentations on a variety of subjects, leadership and citizenship training, service opportunities, officer elections and more.
Luke Barber, 11, son of George and Sonya Barber, of Lisbon participated in State 4-H presentations for the first time ever and brought home a Silver medal. He brought his incubator and talked to the judges about raising and hatching chickens – a project he has been working on for the last 2 years. Anaiya Cromartie, another first time presenter, is the 17 year old daughter of Lamorris and Jackie Cromartie of Council, NC. Anaiya eloquently and professional delivered a presentation about creating and making your own videos, using tips and techniques she has developed over years of creating and editing movies for youtube and homework assignments. Olivia Barnes, 15, daughter of Bryan and Lisa Barnes of Elizabethtown, and Isaiah Lacewell, grandson of Gail and Andrew Robeson, of Elizabethtown, won bronze medals in presentations at the state contest. Olivia presented on the Ruminant Digestive System while Isaiah presented about Practicing Drill, an experience he learned and developed in school at the Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy.
Each of these youth qualified to participate in state competition by winning gold or silver in their age and category at 4-H District level presentation competition back in May. Emily Barnes also qualified and participate in State Presentations. She is the daughter of Bryan and Lisa Barnes.
State 4-H Congress is an annual four day experience where NC teen 4-H participants can learn new leadership skills, participate in state wide community service project, meet friends from across the state, and help voice their votes for state 4-H officers for the coming year.
This year we were able to take 8 of our Bladen County youth to this prestigious conference with financial support and assistance provided by Smithfield Hog Production, Cape Fear Farm Credit, Tabernacle Believers Holiness Church, Associate Pastor Elder Berline Graham, and the Down East 4-H Club Leader, Luella Wills. The cost associated with this trip is in excess of $250 per youth for registration and housing each year. The assistance of these friends and sponsors of 4-H made this activity a reality for more of our Bladen County 4-Hers than usual.
Attendees of this year’s State 4-H Congress were: Olivia and Emily Barnes from the Super Clover 4-H Club in Elizabethtown; Anaiya Cromartie, Shonita and Sonita Hayes, Giordan Graham, and Isaiah Lacewell from the Down East 4-H Club in Carver’s Creek; and Anna Smith from the Bladen Bullfrog 4-H Club which meets in Ammon.
The 4-H program is the youth education program of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, based at North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T State universities. More than 239,000 young people between the ages of 5 and 19 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year with the help of 21,700 adult and youth volunteers. If you would like more information about 4-H activities, programs, and clubs in Bladen County, please contact the local NC Cooperative Extension office at (910) 862-4591.
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