Georgia 4-H’ers accented the positives as 46 of the state’s
teen-agers emerged from
project competition to be named state winners during the 57th
annual State 4-H Congress in
Atlanta June 14-17.

“In a year filled with chaos and violence, it’s good to
be with hundreds of young
people involved in positive activity,” said Roger C. Ryles,
state 4-H program leader.
“State 4-H Congress always brings out the best in a young
people and reminds all of
us that the future for Georgia is bright.”

Following the June 15 competition, the 4-H’ers toured metro
Atlanta, meeting with
donors, state legislators and corporate leaders. A June 16
banquet honored the state
winners.

Georgia 4-H is the youth education component of the UGA
College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences. State Congress is the culmination of a
year’s work in a 4-H
project. 4-H’ers prepare a portfolio of their project work,
participate in an interview
about their portfolio and give an oral presentation for this
statewide competition.

1999 State 4-H
Winners

Here are this year’s state winners, projects and project
donors, listed by their home
counties.

Baker — Emmett Jordan, forest resources
and wood science,
International Paper.

Barrow — Sloan Shelton, general
recreation,
Georgia Recreation and Parks
Association.

Bartow — Joseph Walraven, flowers, shrubs
and lawns, Georgia
Development Authority.

Bleckley — Lauren Ledbetter, sports, White
Water.

Butts — Abby Fletcher, fashion revue,
Georgia Master 4-H Club.

Candler — Holley Rotton, health, Scottish
Rite Children’s Medical
Center.

Clarke — Fred Smith, public speaking,
Georgia Farm Credit
Association.

Colquitt — Anna Fountain, communications,
Jackson Electric Membership
Corporation.

Crisp — Heather Allen, dog care and
training, Georgia Veterinary
Medical Association.

Dodge — Jessica Cadwell, safety, Atlanta
Gas Light.

Dooly — Jeri Lynn Smith, housing,
furnishings and design, Georgia
Manufactured Housing Association.

Dougherty — John Williams, physical,
biological and earth science,
Georgia Electric Membership Corporation.

Effingham — Chris Conner, wildlife and
marine science, Georgia Power;
Jeana Felton, clothing and textiles, Southern Polytechnic State
University; Jay Graham,
outdoor recreation, White Water; and Lindsey Webb, sheep,
Georgia 4-H Foundation.

Elbert — Ross Tankersley, beef, sponsored
by Winn Dixie and Georgia
Cattlemen’s Association.

Emanuel — Jessica Black, resource
management, Georgia Cooperative
Council, Inc.

Evans — Marcy McElveen, dairy foods,
Georgia 4-H Foundation.

Franklin — Jason Chitwood, fruits,
vegetables and nuts, Griffin
Corporation.

Gwinnett — Tyler Gaines, power and energy,
Chevron.

Lanier — Hal Darsey, plant and soil
science, Georgia Plant Food
Educational Society; and Chris Studstill, conservation of
natural resources, Georgia Water
Wise Council.

Lincoln — Carole Bufford, performing arts
– vocal, Six Flags Over
Georgia; Shelbye Reese, performing arts – general, Six Flags
Over Georgia.

Lowndes — Matthew North, breads, White
Lily; and Emily Shea, consumer
education, Atlanta Gas Light.

Marion — Daniel Everett, entomology,
Georgia Pest Control
Association; and Elizabeth Hagin, poultry and egg science,
Georgia Poultry Federation.

Newton — Isreal Cooper, food fare,
Savannah Foods and Industries.

Pickens — Eva Key, food for fitness,
Savannah Foods and Industries;
Ivey Marshall, environmental science, Georgia Propane Gas
Association; and Carrie McCurdy,
performing arts – instrumental, Six Flags Over Georgia.

Rockdale — Kim Benfield, work force
preparation and career
development, Georgia 4-H Foundation.

Sumter — Crystal Perry, food funds,
General Mills.

Tift — Kim Bland, food safety and
preservation, Georgia 4-H
Foundation; Adam Branch, computers, Georgia Power; Lauryn
Clegg, arts and crafts, Georgia
Recreation and Parks Association; and Matthew Waldrop, swine,
Georgia 4-H Foundation.

Toombs — Heather Sheppard, veterinary
science, Georgia Veterinary
Medical Association.

Treutlen — Sarah Phillips, human
development, Georgia 4-H Foundation.

Walton — Patti Byrne, performing arts –
piano, Six Flags Over
Georgia; Bob Carter, dairy and milk science, Agricultural
Commodity Commission for Milk;
Jessica Davis, shooting sports safety, Callaway Foundation and
the family of Col. Jim
Boddie; and Seth Turner, horse, Gold Kist.

Wilcox — Kerri Helms, photography, Georgia
4-H Foundation.