Kevin Tatum, County Extension Coordinator
On Saturday, April 17, the Tift County Fun Match was held in Tifton for area BB teams. The contest was divided into veteran shooters and first year shooters. In the first year shooters competition, Coffee County had Meagan Batchelor, Raeleigh Batten, Cara Griffis, Eli Hope, Seth Hope, Ainslee Merritt, and Maggie Stewart competing. In the veteran competition, Coffee shooters were Natalie Guthrie, Harleigh Hope, Taylor McClelland, and Mason Stewart.
Awards were presented to the top teams and individuals in each position which includes prone, standing, sitting, kneeling, 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.
Our shooters had a great day. In the first year shooter match, awards were presented to Cara Griffis for first in prone (98-8), first in sitting (95-5), second in kneeling (92-2), and first overall (364-16). Meagan Batchelor earned third place in standing (86-2), second in sitting (95-4), and fifth overall (353-9). The second place team award was presented to Meagan Batchelor, Raeleigh Batten, Cara Griffis, Eli Hope, Seth Hope, Ainslee Merritt, and Maggie Stewart.
In the veteran shooter match, awards were presented to Taylor McClelland for first place in prone (100-10), second in kneeling (89-4), and first overall (383-20). Harleigh Hope won fourth place in the prone position (98-4) and Mason Stewart placed fourth in the sitting position (96-5).
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), and 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.