Georgia 4-H honored its top members during the 55th annual State
4-H Congress in Atlanta
June 16-19.
The state winners will represent Georgia at the 1997 National 4-
H Congress Nov. 28-Dec. 2 in
Memphis, Tenn.
“State Congress is our time to showcase some of the most
outstanding young people in
Georgia,” said Roger C. “Bo” Ryles, state 4-H leader for the
University of Georgia Extension
Service. “It culminates the 4-H year.”
The 253 teens in the State Congress each won earlier county and
district competitions. They
gave illustrated talks on what they learned in their projects.
They prepared portfolios of their
project work. And they answered questions about their work in
interviews.
“Teenagers have so many activities to choose from these days,”
Ryles said. “We are constantly
reminded of the value of Georgia 4-H by the huge number who work
year-round through their
high school careers to be the best in our program areas.”
Georgia 4-H started in 1904 as a 150-member boys’ corn club. It
now has 170,000 members
in Georgia. Nationwide, about 5.5 million are members. They
compete in projects ranging
from poultry to electronics.
The 1997 state winners, listed by counties with their project
areas and sponsors:
Bartow: Paul Pugliese, plant and soil science, Georgia Plant
Food Education Society.
Bleckley: Trayvis Manuel, sports, White Water.
Butts: Annette Wilson, fashion revue, Georgia 4-H Foundation.
Bulloch: Carole Hicks, beef, Winn-Dixie and the Georgia
Cattlemen’s Association.
Clarke: Jocelyn Bright, resource management, Georgia 4-H
Foundation.
Coffee: Tino Johnson, food for fitness, Savannah Foods &
Industries; Casey Merritt, shooting
sports, Georgia 4-H Foundation; Justin Paulk, dairy foods,
Georgia 4-H Foundation.
Coweta: Sherry Wilson, horse, Gold Kist.
Dade: Brandon Clark, electric/electronics, Georgia EMC.
Echols: Sara Corbett, flowers, shrubs and lawns, Georgia
Development Authority.
Effingham: Brooke Burns, forestry, Union Camp; Sharon Knight,
consumer education,
Atlanta Gas Light; Jessica Redmond, swine, Georgia Pork
Producers Association; Sayra
Stone, housing, furnishings and design, Georgia Manufactured
Housing Association; Haley
Watkins, instrumental performing arts, Six Flags Over Georgia.
Evans: Melissa Daniel, public speaking, Georgia Farm Credit
Associations.
Gilmer: Matthew Newton, photography, Georgia 4-H Foundation.
Hall: Jordan Haynes, dairy and milk science, Georgia Department
of Agriculture.
Haralson: Jared Eaves, vocal performing arts, Six Flags.
Harris: Julie Johnson, safety, Georgia 4-H Foundation; Jennifer
Morgan, sheep, Georgia State
Fair.
Houston: Lindsey Etheridge, veterinary science, Georgia
Veterinary Medical Association.
Irwin: Rachael Ellis, general recreation, Georgia Recreation and
Parks Association; Jorjanne
Zorn, communications, Georgia 4-H Foundation.
Macon: Laura McLendon, wildlife, Georgia Power.
Madison: Amanda Bridges, environmental science, Georgia Propane
Gas Association; Art
Ryder, entomology, Georgia Pest Control Association.
Mitchell: Mary Frances Sellers, fruits, vegetables and nuts,
Griffin Corporation.
Montgomery: Henry Price, petroleum power, Chevron USA.
Morgan: Kristy Malcom, health, Egleston Children’s Hospital;
Beth Webb, conservation of
natural resources, Georgia Water Wise Council.
Newton: Amanda Eaton, general performing arts, Six Flags Over
Georgia.
Oglethorpe: Katie Walker, dog care, Georgia Veterinary Medical
Association.
Pickens: Julie Byers, food preservation and safety, Savannah
Foods & Industries; Sylvia
Childers, food fare, Savannah Foods & Industries; Rachel Lovern,
human development,
Kilpatrick & Cody; Joe Morgan, poultry and egg science, Georgia
Poultry Federation;
Jennifer Reeves, computers, Georgia Power; Will Tate, wood
science, Georgia Development
Authority; Kanyon Warden, arts and crafts, Georgia Recreation
and Parks Association.
Pulaski: Lesley Jennings, clothing and textiles, Apparel
Education Foundation.
Tift: Kristy Baker, bread, White Lily Foods; Kim Grisson, food
funds, Georgia 4-H
Foundation; Tara Douce, outdoor recreation, White Water.
