Local youth attend 58th 4-H Congress

The 58th annual state 4-H Congress took place March 20-23 in Nashville. Delegates from Warren County selected to attend the four-day educational event were Lee-Allen Turner and Matthew Hibdon. Warren County also had two 4-H members who attended congress at state finalists in the leadership project. Erika Betschart and Mary Beth Gribble were selected as state finalists and competed in the leadership project. The opening assembly featured 4-H Congress Governor Will Elliot addressing the congress theme of “Youth at Work: A generation to lead the nation.” The highlight of the evening was a special performance by the 4-H Performing Arts Troupe entitled “Tennessee Song.”

Since it’s beginning in 1948, 4-H Congress has given some 28,400 4-Hers and volunteer leaders firsthand experience in state government. They devote their time to learning about government, citizenship, leadership and their state capital. While at congress the delegates had the opportunity to visit with state Sen. Jerry Cooper and state Reps. Charles Curtis and Judd Matheny. They participated in campaign and election procedures to elect a state 4-H governor, speaker of the house and speaker of the senate. They also voted on bills concerning cell phone use while driving, mid-career professionals teaching grades 7-12 without a teaching certificate, statewide testing in schools and divorce restrictions. Resolutions that passed included recognizing March 22 as Tennessee 4-H Alumni Day. Congress delegates were also inspired by speeches from Gov. Phil Bredesen and Ken Givens, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. During congress 4-H state finalists across the state in the area of citizenship and leadership competed with a visual aid and interview to be named state winners in their respective projects. Mary Beth Gribble, daughter of Larry and Tammie Gribble, was named a level II state alternate in the leadership project. As a state alternate, Mary Beth received a trip to the Nation Institute of Cooperative Education Conference. Sponsors for 4-H Congress are Warren County Farm Bureau, First National Bank and Southern Standard.