The Georgia 4-H State BB Match was scheduled to be held at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center near Eatonton, Georgia, on Saturday, April 24. Due to bad weather being predicted, the match was postponed until Sunday, April 25. In compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, BB teams were brought in at different times and each team shot all of their targets, took their exam, and then left Rock Eagle so the next teams could come in to shoot. Our team had their exam at 2:45 PM and began shooting at 3:30 PM.
Awards were presented to the top ten teams and top ten individuals in the prone, standing, sitting, and kneeling positions, test score, as well as the top overall high scorers in the match. A perfect score in any position is 100 with 10 center shots, or 100-10. Competitors shoot the contest in the order of prone, standing, sitting, and then kneeling. Coffee County 4-H team members were Meagan Batchelor, Raeleigh Batten, Caden Carter, Cara Griffis, Natalie Guthrie, Eli Hope, Harleigh Hope, Seth Hope, Taylor McClelland, Allison Merritt, Ainslee Merritt, Maggie Stewart, and Mason Stewart.
Out of the 35 teams which competed in the match, the Coffee County Red Team placed fourth with a score of 2317 out of 2500 which includes the top five members’ scores including their test score. Coffee Red Team members included Caden Carter, Natalie Guthrie, Harleigh Hope, Taylor McCleland, Allison Merritt, and Mason Stewart.
Individual awards were presented to Natalie Guthrie who placed second in the sitting position, fifth in kneeling position, and tenth high individual overall. Allison Merritt was also recognized for placing fifth in the sitting position. Caden Carter was recognized as the high individual out of all the first year shooters. Since this is out of 250 competitors, this is a tremendous accomplishment.
It was a great day for our team and we appreciate all the hard work of the volunteers who worked to put on the match as well as the work put in by our coaches in training the team. Our coaches are W.B. Merritt, Ashley Guthrie, and Jim Carter.
DAIRY POSTER CONTEST
The theme for the 2021 June Dairy Month 4-H Poster Contest is “Dairy Potter: Real Dairy, Real Delicious.” 4-H members are encouraged to create a poster and submit it by the May 14 deadline. The artwork should be an original idea of the 4-H member and hand-drawn on a 14” x 22” piece of white poster board. Prizes of gift cards are given for each age division. The age divisions are Cloverleaf (4th-6th graders), Junior (7th & 8th graders), & Senior (9th – 12th graders). Posters will be scored on: originality (40%), follows theme (20%), conveys message (15%), general appearance (15%), and accurate information (10%). Gift cards are $100 for 1st place, $75 for 2nd place, and $50 for 3rd place. Entries are due at the Coffee County Extension office by 4 PM on Friday, May 14.
DEAN’S AWARD PORTFOLIOS
The Dean’s Award marks the culmination of a 4-H’er’s career, recognizing youth who have participated and excelled in a broad spectrum of activities and experiences over an extended period of time. A Dean’s Award will be presented in each of the following six areas: Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Civic Engagement; William “Bill” Edwards 4-H Dean’s Award for Communications and the Arts; Family and Consumer Sciences; James Harris 4-H Dean’s Award for Leadership; and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).
A cumulative 4-H portfolio must be compiled and submitted to the Extension office by Friday, May 21. Five finalists in each project area will be announced on Friday, June 11. Finalists will have a virtual interview on Friday, June 25. Dean’s Award winners will be recognized at the Annual Winners Banquet at State 4-H Congress in Atlanta in late July.
If you would like to learn how you can become more involved with the Coffee County 4-H program, please contact the Coffee County Extension office at (912) 384-1402 or visit our website at http://coffee4h.org.