Decatur County’s Junior and Senior Wildlife Judging Teams captured the highest honors at the State 4-H Wildlife Judging Contest held at Rock Eagle on Nov. 8.

The Junior Team placed first in the Junior Division for grades fifth through eighth as well as the Senior Team placing first in the Senior Division for grades ninth through 12th.

Senior Team member Caleb Adkins was named highest individual for the senior competition.

Members of the Senior Team are Adkins, Emily Ray, Garrett Christie and Cherise Dryden. Junior Team members consisted of Levi Adkins, Daniel Ray, Stennes Austinson, Josiah Austinson, Anders Austinson and Joey Sloan. 4-H volunteer leader, Teresa Adkins, serves as the team coach.

At the competition, the 4-H’ers matched judging skills against other teams from across the state. The contestants judged classes of wildlife foods, wildlife habitats and wildlife management practices. They also presented oral reasons for observations made through interpreting wildlife habitat from aerial photographs.

As the state winners, the Senior Team will represent Georgia 4-H at the National Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program Contest near Zwolle, La., July 19-23, 2009. They will also be recognized as special events winner at State 4-H Congress in Atlanta in July 2009. In addition, they have earned the honor of Master 4-H’ers.

The Wildlife Judging Contest is sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation. For more information about 4-H educational judging events or any other 4-H activity, contact the University Cooperative Extension Service at (229) 248-3033.