MARTIN, Tenn. – Tennessee 4-H members from around the state headed home July 27 following the 95th 4-H Roundup and All-Star Conference at the University of Tennessee at Martin. The annual weeklong event rotates between the Knoxville and Martin campuses and recognizes the outstanding project work and leadership accomplishments of senior high 4-H members. The 4-Hers, University of Tennessee Extension staff and 4-H volunteers arrived Monday, and activities concluded Thursday evening.
Approximately 375 4-Hers who have completed local projects in areas such as communication and public speaking, livestock, computers and technology, and photography competed for statewide awards that include college scholarships and trips to the National 4-H Congress. The theme for Roundup and for all 4-H programs in 2018 is “Tennessee 4-H: Branching from Our Roots.”
“4-H Roundup is one of our premier 4-H events that we have in the state of Tennessee. It’s an opportunity for young people to come together and really showcase their project work for the year,” said Dr. Dwight Loveday, interim 4-H assistant dean. “This is a time we come to recognize their accomplishments, honor those achievements, as well as have our All-Star Conference that really focuses on service and service to the community.”
Even though Roundup includes plenty of competition and educational sessions, he added that the event also offers “lots of fun learning experiences for (the 4-Hers), as well as a chance to make new friends across the state.”
Other 4-H Roundup activities included the Vol State Ceremony, election of the 2018-19 State 4-H Council officers and participation in a service-learning project. Service-learning projects included 4-Hers working with children at the Martin Housing Authority and UT Martin’s Margaret N. Perry Children’s Center, as well as assembling more than 250 care packages for the homeless that will be distributed through RIFA in Jackson.
“Service-learning opportunities are a very important component of the 4-H program,” said Justin Crowe, UT Extension 4-H specialist. “Each year, 4-Hers statewide perform tens of thousands of hours of service at an estimated value of over $2 million. Through the service-learning projects, our 4-Hers learn that they can really make a difference in their communities.”
University of Tennessee President Joe DiPietro was also honored this week when he received a Friend of 4-H award, one of the organization’s highest honors. The presentation came during Tuesday evening’s project achievement banquet and reception in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.
“It was great to see President DiPietro receive the Friend of 4-H award,” said Dr. Keith Carver, UT Martin chancellor. “He has supported 4-H in many ways, both during his years with the UT Institute of Agriculture and as UT System president. We all appreciate Tennessee 4-H and the leadership it provides to our youth across the Volunteer State.”
4-H is the youth development program for University of Tennessee Extension. 4-H teaches leadership, citizenship and service learning to more than 180,000 youth in the fourth through 12th grades. 4-H also has more than 5,000 adult volunteers. UT Extension is one of four units in the UT Institute of Agriculture.
2018 Tennessee 4-H State Project Achievement winners named during 4-H Roundup:
Beef
Level I Haley Ferguson, Rutherford County
Level II Juliann Fears, Lincoln County
Clothing and Textiles
Level I Jordan Bowling, Anderson County
Rebekah Jones, Williamson County
Level II Hannah Bernhardt, Putnam County
Anna Becca Chester, Monroe
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