Local 4-H leaders report excellent year

By Staff
From staff reports
The Franklin County 4-H Club had a banner year, according to club officials.
The 4-H Club meets six times a year in the Franklin County school system. Two Russellville City schools also participate in 4-H. During the 2005-2006 school year, Franklin County 4-H had approximately 800 members enrolled in the program.
4-H has a County Roundup each year in April. The event is held at Northwest Shoals Community College in Phil Campbell.
At the roundup, all of the 4-H members from each school participate in different activities. Winners advance to the Regional Congress event held at Alabama A&M University in Huntsville in June of each year.
The Franklin County 4-H had a total of 206 participants in the Franklin County
4-H Round Up held on April 21, 2006. These 4-H'ers participated in electrical, egg, and dairy demonstrations. They competed in Informative and Persuasive Public Speaking, and tested their skills in many other areas.
First-place winners advanced to the Regional Congress event on June 13.
Eighteen Franklin County 4-H members competed against 4-H members from eleven other counties. The Regional winners were:
Tiffany Latham (First place, Jr. Chef 4-H), Ashley Askew (Second place, Jr. Traditional Photography), Jeffery Dick (Second place, Sr. II Traditional Photography), Chastalynn Chaney (Third place, Jr. Enhanced Photography, Digital), Allison Morrow (First place, Informative Speaking Sr. I Level),
Shelby Smith (Third place, Jr. Persuasive Public Speaking), Brock Hester (First place, Jr. Blocks Rock), Ashley Baker (Second place, Jr. Extreme Birdhouse), and Brandon Hester (Best of Show, Sr. I Present It With Power).
Two first-place winners from the Regional Congress event advanced to the State Congress level, which was held at Auburn University June 26-28.
Allison Morrow competed in the 4-H Informative Public Speaking contest and Brandon Hester competed in the Present It With Power contest.
Morrow and Hester took top state honors in their categories, and received plaques honoring them for their achievements.
Chastalynn Chaney attended the Explorer's Track program at this year's State Congress.
On June 19-21, seven 4-H'ers and two chaperones traveled to Columbiana, Ala., to participate in the 4-H camp located there.
Ashley and Courtney Baker, Rick Miller, Madison Hardy, Megan Risley, Chastalynn Chaney, Megan Morrow attended the camp.
They were chaperoned by Tonya Baker and Kathy Borden, Franklin County 4-H Agent Assistant.
At 4-H camp, the 4-H'ers participated in many activities, including archery, canoeing, rock wall climbing, swimming, tug-of-war, a talent show, arts and crafts, nature hikes, and reptile study.
Franklin County 4-H has a Summer Enrichment Tour each year. This year the Tour visited San Antonio, Texas, in July.
The tour included the San Antonio River Walk, the Alamo, Six Flags, Sea World, and the number one water park in the United States, the Slitterbahn Water Park. The Summer Enrichment Tour teaches each youth a number of life skills.
Franklin County 4-H officials expect to see more members and greater participation during the 2006-2007 school year.