On Tues., July 19, two Decatur County 4-H students traveled to Atlanta, to participate in the 69th annual Georgia 4-H Congress.

Representing the 4-H Southwest District, Stennes Austinson and Levi Adkins joined with more than 250 high school age students, from 95 counties in Georgia, to compete in the 4-H Project Achievement State Competition. Austinson and Adkins delivered 12-minute speech presentations and met with judges to discuss their portfolio of project work, leadership and service. Projects in this competition ranged from Environmental Sciences to Performing Arts Vocal from Wildlife and Marine Sciences to Family Resource Management.

Competition took place all day Wed., July 20, for presentations and Tuesday evening for Performing Arts. The announcement of winners took place in an energetic program at Six Flags over Georgia on Wednesday evening as the park closed. Austinson received fourth place in the Plant and Soil Science project and Levi Adkins received second place in the Fruits, Vegetables and Nuts project.

The annual banquet on Thurs., July 21, began with the parade of winners. Forty-eight project winners and more than 80 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 had placed first in state competitions were 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 were also recognized. In addition, several special awards were presented, including the Green Jacket Award, the GAE4HA Friend of 4-H Award, the William H. Booth Award and the Bo Ryles Rising Star Award. The banquet also included the installation of the nine members of the Georgia 4-H Board of Directors.

Other Congress activities included tours of the Atlanta area, interaction with 4-H donors and University of Georgia 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.  These Congress delegates come from all corners of Georgia, and  the opportunity to meet and spend time in the capitol of Georgia is an experience itself for many competitors.

Georgia 4-H Congress is the premier 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, the 4-H Congress is financially supported by donors and contributors to the Georgia 4-H Foundation.

For more information about this or any 4-H activity, contact Lindsey B. Hayes or Teresa Adkins at the Decatur County Extension Office at (229) 248-3033 or email linsbell@uga.edu.