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TheTrue Citizen, Wednesday, October 10, 2012 — Page 23
National 4-H Week
October 8-12,2012
Judging Teams are Fun, Educational, and Rewarding!
Leadership Prepares Students for the Future
Judging Teams are one of the highlights of the Burke County 4-H program. 4-
H'ers have the chance to learn to do something new that they might not learn in
the classroom, and then get to Compete with their new knowledge and skill in a
contest! Judging Teams teach students to evaluate a situation, make a decision,
and provide reasons for their decision,„all through looking at plants and
animals!
Burke County 4-H competes in:
Forestry Judging
Wildlife Judging
Cotton Boll and
Consumer Judging
Dairy Quiz Bowl
Dairy Judging
Poultry Judging
Horse Judging
Each contest is different but teaches students something new and exciting]
Many students will tell you that competing on the judging teams are some of the
most fun they have in 4-H, We would love to have you join us!
Poultry Judging
Dairy Quiz Bowl
Forestry Judging
Leadership development is essential to
youth development - after ail, the youth
are the future! Burke County 4-H is
training tomorrow's leaders through
officer positions, teen leadership, and
leadership conferences. At the local
level, officers are elected In every dub to
run the meetings, starting in the 5 lh
grade and going up through high school.
Officers are trained on how to conduct
their duties, but also how to serve as an
example to their peers,
Students also have the opportunity to
run for District and State Office positioJis
and serve in a leadership role at a high
level. This past year, Michaela Poliex was
elected to serve Southeast District on
the Junior 4-H Board of Directors.
Above, 4-H
Day at the
Capitol with
Rep. -Gloria
Frazier.
Right,
Michaela
Pollex
served on
the Southeast District Junior Board of
Directors.
Once 4-H'ers reach the 7 ,h grade and older, they are eligible to begin serving as
teen leaders at various 4-H events. Many Burke County 4-H'ers serve das teen
leaders at summer camp, project achievement, reward trips, and other local
activities. Serving as a teen leader teaches students responsibility, how to be a
good example, and how to help younger students.
Leadership conferences are very popular in 4-H, and many students attend
several each year. Some conferences include Fall Forum, Junior Conference,
Youth Summit, and State Council. These conferences will often include speakers,
wo rks ho ps, serv i ce proj e cts, a n d recrea t i on. T he D i str i ct a nd State O ffice rs pi a n
and run the conferences, so students get to see their peers in action.
Horse Judging Consumer Judging
Livestock Teach Life Lessons
Showing an animal takes a lot of hard work and
dedication, but it ts also a lot of fun. Burke County 4-
H'ers have the opportunity to show Beef Cattle, Dairy
Cattle, and Goats. Showing an animal does not require
students to have any previous experience - just a
willingness to leam! Animals must be fed and cared for
each day, but they also must be trained for the show.
Training an animal for a show requires patience; they
must learn how to walk on a halter, set their legs in the
right place for the judge, and stand still. 4-H r ers then
take their animals to several shows each year to
compete against other students in showmanship,
where everyone is judged on their ability to present the
animal, and either weight or breed class where the
animals are judged based on their conformation. 4-
H'ers wash and clip their animal and fit their hair for
the show. Regardless of what animal a 4-H'er chooses
to show, students learn patience, diligence,
responsibility, and sportsmanship.
Dairy Judging
4-H Pledge
I Pledge my Head to
dearer thinking, My Heart
to greater loyalty, My
Hands to larger service,
And my Health to better
living - For my club, my
community, my country,
and my world!
Canned Food Drive Road Cleanup
4-H Encourages Students to Help Out
Caring for the community and people around you is an
important lesson for youth to learn. 4-H focuses on teaching
students the value of community service through monthly
in-school service projects and a new addition to the 4-H
program - Community Service Club.
Each month, 4-H'ers collect service items in their classes to
donate including pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House,
canned food and personal care items for Free Indeed
Ministries, and making cards for the troops.
Beet Show Tcajn: 5ally Kate? BSatfcburn. Chris top heir Ram tty, Yaueta Godbee, and ftr?hekah Ramey
Dairy ShowTetun: Sarah Tinsley, Noah Ma!sard, Logan Waters, Michaels PoJIex, Anna Marie
Blackburn, MeridifhFranks,
GnatShow Ttram: AtiGrace Bennett, Addle Befle Bennett, JilesCoble, Sydney Coble, Holden
Driggers, t u k e McFa r la n d, David M t Fa rland, J atob Me F a r I a n d, M icha eJa Po 11 ex. Holt Sa p p
Community Service Club meets after school once a month and focuses on
volunteering in the community, Some projects last year included visiting the
nursing home, road cleanup, and Cooking for a local family. The club also
participates in community events such as Earth Day, Farm Fest, and conducts an
annual Rabies Clinic.
"Of alt the activities i have been involved in, 4-H has been the most
beneficial. When I joined 4-h as a fifth grader, I made the decision that would
most powerfully impact and shape me. From speech contests to community
service and tree identification, I can reflect on and draw from my many
experiences to guide me in my career plans. Looking back on my experiences
in 4-H, I am thankful for the opportunities to impact the lives of others while
improving myself- Jennifer McDaniel, former Burke County 4-H’er
4-H Summer Camp - The Highlight of the Summer!
Summer camp is the highlight of every kid's summer, and 4-H camp is a
tradition for many across the state. With five 4-H centers in Georgia, campers
have the chance to experience something new from the mountains, to the big
city, to the beach. This year, Burke County took 55 fifth and sixth grade 4-H'ers
to Camp Wahsega in Dahlonega, Georgia, Campers spent the week swimming
in the pond, sliding down the waterfalls, flying down the zipline, learning about
snakes and climbing the rock wall. There was plenty of time for playing sports,
wearing out the dance fioor, and making tons of new friends.
Burke County also took eight seventh and eighth graders to Camp Burton on
Tybee Island. 4-H'ers spent their week learning about crabs and critters,
playing at the beach, going on a ghost tour in Savannah, participating in service
projects, and dancing the night away on a Savannah Dinner Cruise.
Jennifer McDaniel also spent her summer as a Camp Counselor at Rock Eagle
4-H Center in Eatonton. Serving as a camp counselor is a highly sought after
job for 4-H'ers that are high school graduates and college students. She spent
the summer motivating campers, teaching entomology, performing in the
variety show, and making an impact on 4-H'ers across the state!
Dinner Cruise at Junior Camp 55 5 1h and 6 lh graders spent a week at Camp Wahsega
This Community 4-H News is Sponsored
Frank Carter, M.D. and Senator Jesse Stone