The Warren County 4-H Club made a significant impact at the 101st Tennessee State 4-H Roundup, held last week at the University of Tennessee at Martin. The event brought together 4-Hers Kaytlen Nunley, EmiLee Lassiter, Tage Moore, Takota Moore, Hunter Rigsby, Theo Burks and Will Mayes, who stayed in dorms on the UT Martin campus.
Finalists were interviewed to showcase their skills and dedication to various project areas. These are based on their project portfolios which are divided in two different levels - Level I for 9th-10th grade and Level II for 11th-12th grade. The project portfolio is updated throughout the year to document activities done within their project and the 4-H program. Finalists were selected from throughout the state. Lassiter was victorious in the Level II Food Science project, earning her a prestigious trip to the National 4-H Congress in November. Tage Moore won in Level I Personal Development, Takota Moore in Level I Performing Arts, and Rigsby in Level I Poultry. Nunley was a finalist in Level II Nutrition, Health and Fitness, and Burks in Level I Outdoor Recreation and Shooting Sports. Winners were awarded a trophy, medallion and scholarship money.
A highlight of the event was the recognition of Nunley, Lassiter and Mayes with the Vol State Award. This is the highest honor a 4-Her can receive in Tennessee, acknowledging their exemplary leadership, community service and commitment to the 4-H program.
Nunley and Takota Moore were elected to serve on the Tennessee 4-H State Council, with Nunley as a senior representative and Takota as a junior representative. Their roles will involve representing their peers, contributing to statewide 4-H initiatives and helping to shape the future of the program. Serving on the State Council is a position that offers 4-Hers the opportunity to develop leadership skills, influence the direction of the 4-H program and advocate for their fellow members.
A key highlight was the "Embracing the Elderly" service project. Emily Pennington, a Warren County native and 4-H alumna, spoke about the project's significance. The initiative saw over 500 items collected for nursing homes in West Tennessee, demonstrating the 4-H commitment to community service and care for the elderly. Warren County was also awarded the Don Bowman Service Award for a service project that was planned by Burks in conjunction with NHC Healthcare-McMinnville. Burks planned a day of landscaping and gardening to beautify and socialize with residents.
The Warren County 4-H Club's participation in the Tennessee State Roundup highlights the dedication, talent and community-mindedness of its members. Their achievements not only bring pride to Warren County but also inspire future generations of 4-Hers.
