TIFTON — This year, 22 Tift County youth competed in the Southwest District Cloverleaf Project Achievement contest held on March 16 in Perry, Georgia. The Project Achievement competition helps youth develop leadership, creativity, public speaking skills and a deep understanding of their desired project area. Youth select from 62 project categories and prepare presentations on the county and district levels. This year 25 counties participated bringing a total of 307 competitors in grades 4th-6th.
All 22 Tift County fifth and sixth graders placed in the top 3 within their categories.
In total, from Tift County, there were fifteen 1st place winners, five 2nd place winners, and two 3rd place winners at the District level:
— Bentley Rowland, 3rd Place, Performing Arts Vocal.
— Bethany Crowe, 2nd Place, Workforce Prep & Careers.
— Brantley Brown, 1st Place – Sports Team.
— Brook Webb, 1st Place – Historic Places & Events.
— Eliza Chapman, 1st Place –Wildlife.
— Ellie-Grace Gay, 1st Place – Cat Care.
— Gavin Newberry, 3rd Place – Historic People.
— Harlee Osborne, 1st Place – Dog Care.
— Jaydee Godwin, 1st Place – Swine.
— Laurel Rogers, 1st Place – Food Safety & Preservation.
— Livi Daniel, 2nd Place – Historic People.
— Luke Presley, 1st Place – Marine & Coastal Ecology.
— Maya Purvis, 2nd Place – Target Sports.
— Norah Monfort, 1st Place – Plants, Soils & Fertilizers.
— Reagan Paulk, 1st Place – Current People, Places & Events.
— Sara Freeman, 1st Place – Current People, Places & Events.
— Garret Beasley, 1st Place – Paleontology.
— Maddie Jackson, 2nd Place – Marine & Coastal Ecology.
— Christian Frambo, 1st Place – Sports Team.
— Jurnee Denson, 1st Place – Archeology.
— Collins Riddle, 1st Place, Time & Money Management.
— Jack Walker, 2nd Place – Sports Individual.
The group was led by Ashley Carroll, Tift County 4-H agent; Emma Butler, Tift County 4-H educator; Kelsie Hanley and Donovan Nelson, Tift County 4-H AmeriCorps members, along with Southwest District Board Member Philycia Hamilton and teen leaders Colin Williamson, Bethany Samuel, Max Nelson, Leila Rimes, Olivia Monfort and Pranav Shankar.
Justin Hand, Ty Torrance, Regan Veal and Georgeann Cook were volunteer judges for the event.
The 4-H group thanked them as well as donors, volunteers and parents.
Georgia 4-H has a mission to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. As the largest youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than 242,000 people annually through the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities. For more information on volunteering or getting your child involved in 4-H programs, contact the Tift Extension office at uge4277@uga.edu or (229) 391-7980.