By LINDSEY BELL HAYES

Decatur County 4H Coordinator

On Feb. 10-12, six Junior and Senior 4-H’ers traveled to Rock Eagle 4-H Center to compete in the Southwest District Project Achievement.   Junior/Senior Project Achievement is a challenging competition, in which participants submit an extensive portfolio that encompasses a complete calendar year.

This report includes a cover letter, a two-page information sheet highlighting their work and activities, and a two-page list of supporting material, including photos and other related information. The portfolio composes half of the student’s total score in the competition.

Each 4-H’er must also present a thorough demonstration of his or her project area, which includes visual aids like posters and other props. Junior demonstrations are 10 minutes, and Senior demonstrations are 12 minutes.

Their scores are based on memorization, fluidity, presentation, and knowledge of the subject when questioned by the judges.

Winning first place honors in the Juniors Division (seventh through eighth grade) were Anders Austinson in the Egg and Poultry Science project area and Savannah Padgett in the Food Safety and Preservation project.

Senior competitors winning first-place titles were Levi Adkins in Fruit, Nuts, and Vegetables, Stennes Austinson in Plant and Soil Science, and Josiah Austinson in Wildlife and Marine Science.

Alexandra McLendon was awarded second-place honors in the Human Growth and Development project area. She was also a sweepstakes winner, due to the high number of participants in her project, and will advance with the senior first-place winners to the next level of competition in Atlanta, Ga., in July.