Page 29 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2018

ABOVE: Adaline Rouse of Jackson County participated and won grand champion and first place overall in the 2017 Junior Layer Division poultry showmanship at the Mississippi State Fair in Jackson. MIDDLE TOP: The Jackson County 4-H archery team. MIDDLE BOTTOM: The 4-H culinary class in Harrison County gives the children a hands-on opportunity for baking. TOP RIGHT: 4-H Babysitting Boot Camp in Hancock County. RIGHT: Emily Bercegeay of Pass Christian, participating in 4-H Small Animal Project, won first place in Harrison County Fair’s first livestock show.
“Nicholas Para and Briana Bailey traveled to New Orleans and cooked before a live audience where they presented a Mississippi Gulf Coast Seafood dish to six national judges who scored them,” McLeod said. The two received third place.
When the culinary club competes at the 4-H Club Congress in Mississippi, they must create a menu with certain nutritional requirements, all ingredients must be from the United States, and the meal they prepare is presented to a panel of judges. The students placed fifth this year and received a blue ribbon.
The Moss Point High 4-H Robotics Club obviously works on robotics projects, but members also work
on conservation, personal
development and shooting sports, McLeod said. The club received third place and a red ribbon at the 4-H Club Congress in Mississippi.
Watkins said she sees high participation in seasonal clubs. The 4-H Shooting Sports starts in January with youth undergoing firearm safety training and shooting sports activities. There is even a fencing club lead by a college student, and Cloverbud members, ages 5-7, have learned about stamp collecting. Watkins is teaching an embroidery
class that takes the clothing construction workshops to an advanced level.
“This gets them ready for competitions. You never know, but these skills can become a lifelong hobby or lead to a job,” she said.
While the Jackson County Fair is long-standing, county fairs in Hancock and Harrison counties are starting back up. The competitions at these fairs are an important factor to the 4-H Clubs. O’Banner is seeing the 4-H livestock program become more active, and the shooting club is popular as well as the photography, nutrition, sewing and junior master gardener clubs. She said even the parents are interested in learning about these subjects.
“These young men and women are given the opportunity
to learn responsibility, sportsmanship, self-discipline and other qualities critical to the development of productive citizens,” Watkins said. “4-H is so broad, that sometimes it can overwhelm people.”
Sheran Watkins
Jennifer O’Banner
Caitlin McLeod
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