The Franklin County 4-H program recently presented county-wide and regional 4-H demonstrations and interactive exhibit contests.

“4-H demonstrations empower young people with skills for a lifetime,” Hunter Isbell, UT Extension agent II, said.

For the undertaking, 4-H’ers are tasked with choosing a project area of interest, researching the topic, and writing and making a presentation.

“As a result, 4-H’ers develop leadership, creativity, public speaking, record keeping and other skills,” Isbell said.

A total of 943 4-H members in fourth and fifth grades were encouraged to present a two-to-five minute demonstration on a subject of their choosing in their 4-H club meetings. Of that number, 38 attended the county contest.

Those who received a blue first-place award were invited to the county contest where they presented their demonstrations against other 4-H members in the same subject area.

The following students are county-demonstration and interactive-exhibit first-place winners and runners-up in their project areas.

— Beef: Jacob Valdez, Sewanee Elementary, first place; and Brylee Moorehead, Huntland Elementary, second place

— Food Science: Addy Konrad, Huntland Elementary, first place; and Abi Hiles, Winchester Christian Academy, second place

— Poultry: Kash Kozen, Winchester Christian Academy, first place

— Engineering: Benjamin Rudd, Sewanee Elementary, first place

— Nutrition, Health and Fitness: Xavier Greenway, first place, Winchester Christian Academy

— Line and Design: Addy Thames, North Lake Elementary, first place; and Halle Konrad, Huntland Elementary, second place

— Performing Arts: Jamie Pappas, Sewanee Elementary, first place

— Personal Development: Georgia May Tipton, Huntland Elementary, first place; and Macie Hill, Decherd Elementary, second place

— Recreation: Knox Burden, Clark Memorial Elementary, first place; and Lakely Flockhart, Rock Creek Elementary, second place

— STEM: Giuliana Plattenburg, North Lake Elementary, first place

— Plant Science: Adam Townsend, Huntland Middle School, first place

— Entomology and Beekeeping: Ella-Mae Limbaugh, Huntland Middle School, first place

Winners in the county contest were invited to participate and represent Franklin County in the Area 3 Sub-Region 4-H Achievement Contest held at Motlow State Community College.

“In this contest, they competed against 4-H members in their grade level and within their project area from Bedford, Coffee, Grundy, Lincoln, Marion, Marshall, Moore, Sequatchie, and Warren counties,” Isbell said.

Jake Valdez (Beef), Xavier Greenway (Nutrition, Health and Fitness), Macie Hill (Personal Development), and Lakely Flockhart (Recreation) all received a third-place award in their subject matter.

Halle Konrad (Creative Arts and Design), Abi Hiles (Food Science), Benjamin Rudd (Engineering), and Giuliana Plattenburg (STEM) all received a red second-place award in their subject matter.

First-place awards went to Addy Konrad (Food Science), Jamie Pappas (Performing Arts), Georgia Tipton (Personal Development), Kash Kozen (Poultry) and Knox Burden (Recreation).

“In the sixth-through-eighth-grade division, 4-H members participated in the interactive exhibit contest where they created a tri-fold board on their 4-H project work and had to present their project to judges. This contest was judged on the visual board, presentation and knowledge of the project,” Isbell said.

A first-place award went to Adam Townsend (Plant Science) and a second-place award went to Ella-Mae Limbaugh (Entomology & Beekeeping).

4-H programs in Franklin County are provided by the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee State University Extension Office staff for Franklin County. All Franklin County youths in grades fourth through 12^th are welcome to join 4-H at any time, and there is no cost to join.

More information on 4-H is available at the Extension Office website, franklin.tennessee.edu.