Local youth shine at state 4-H O'Rama

— Two 4-H members from Pea Ridge were honored at the recent state 4-H O'Rama. Sarah Connolly from Battlefield 4-H Club was was elected as the 2009-2010 Arkansas 4-H president and Billy Meyers of Apple Spur 4-H received an all-expense paid trip to the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta.

Connolly was elected at the state event held July 22-24 on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville in addition to receiving a scholarship and award.

Meyers was recognized as an Arkansas State 4-H Journal winner for his journal on leadership.

Twenty-eight 4-H'ers from Benton County participated in the State 4-H O'Rama, highlights of which included competitions, awards banquets and state officer elections.

Dustin Dixon of the Bloomfield 4-H Club in Gentry was named the 2009-2010 Northwest District vice president.

Connolly and Dixon are among the nine newly elected state officers.

During the 2009 Awards of Excellence Banquet, 20 Benton County 4-H'ers were recognized for their achievement with scholarships and journals.

Connolly was awarded the Sue Marshall Scholarship for $8,000; Chelsea House of ACE 4-H Club received the CA & Joy Vines Scholarship worth $1,000; Hillary Henson of Bloomfield 4-H received a $400 scholarship from the Oaklawn Jockey Club/Arkansas Livestock Show Association; and Caleb Taylor of Centerton was awarded the $250 Maeda Asbell Scholarship.

The following 4-H'ers received a $1,500 Arkansas 4-H Journal scholarship which is given to members who have excelled in project work, leadership and community service and have been named aArkansas 4-H Journal Winner: Caleb Taylor, Centerton 4-H;

Margie Hoke, Maysville 4-H;

Casey Anglin, Centerton 4-H;

Hillary Henson, Bloomfield 4-H; Sarah Connolly, Battlefield 4-H; Jordan Singleton, ACE 4-H and Chelsea House, ACE 4-H.

Nine youth were recognized as Arkansas State 4-H Journal Winners and received an allexpense paid trip to the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Ga., in November. They are: Shane Lovell, Centerton 4-H for his Fitness Leadership project; Caitlin Taylor, Centerton 4-H for her Foods and Nutrition project; Billy Meyers, Apple Spur 4-H for his project in Leadership; Jacy Alsup, ACE 4-H for her Beef project; Robbie Myers of Logan 4-H for his Beef project; Lincoln Parker of Centerton 4-H for his Dairy Project; Brent Dorn, ACE 4-H for his Horse project; Jim Tyler Jarvis, Gravette 4-H for his Cotton Project; and Dustin Dixon for his Plant & Soil Science project.

Christina Lovell of Maysville 4-H was named the first place winner in Constructed Fashion Review and Elijah O'Mara-Mezzano of Town & Country 4-H was named the Instrumental Performing Arts winner.

The Benton County 4-H Program is the youth development program offered by the University of Arkansas Cooperative

Extension Service. It is open to all youth ages 5-19 regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information on a 4-H club, call 271-1060.

School, Pages 7 on 08/19/2009