So Much to Do...So Little Time Left

  It's day three of 4-H Congress and we have a day packed with activities, and so much still to do.  It's hard to believe we will be headed home tomorrow.  Today we are going to focus on the sweet tasty present and try not to think about the future.
  Our first act was to juggle multiple schedules.  Maurice Rogers came up from Lumberton today with his mother to join us for some select activities.  Maurice Rogers and Alex Evans needed to be at the McKimmon Center at 10 am while the rest of the delegation needed to be at the first event for our cultural awareness activity.  So we dropped off one and headed to downtown Raleigh for our first event, a documentary on Lemurs at the IMAX theater.  This 3-D adventure took us to Madagascar to learn about different typed of Lemurs and how they survive.  Our youth learned about the role scientists played in saving Lemur populations and the negative impact agriculture is having on these creatures.
   After the IMAX we headed to the old train station turned chocolate factory, Verdi.  Here our youth spoke with one of their chocolate makers and learned about the process of making chocolate, and how coca beans from different countries have different flavors.  They gained insight on the sustainability plan for this company and how they are working to preserve farm land and rain forests in South America by the way they do business.
   While the delegation was testing chocolate Alex and Maurice took part in the donor brunch.  The donor brunch is where donors meet the 4-H youth who are receiving scholarships and who have gone on trips thanks to their support.  Maurice had the opportunity to Host the event and is a college scholarship winner.  Alex attended 4-H National Congress in 2016, thanks to donors who support these programs.
   When they were done, we swung by to pick up Alex and headed to the state farmer's market for lunch.  We had a little wait so we posed and checked out this more than 1,000 lb water melon.  All of us had our fill of some really good food, then jumped back in the van and headed back for leadership workshops.
  As soon as we hit the door at McKimmon we split back into our groups and headed to our rooms.  This afternoons topic was public speaking.  Although many of our youth have experience with public speaking other youth attending this state event have not.  This was a great example of extemporaneous speaking and all of our delegation did a great job.
   Maurice and Alex had other plans when we got to McKimmon.  Both were taking part in Application, Resume, Interview, and Essay also know as AIRE.  Both had submitted applications for this process, completed their resumes and essays to qualify for the interview.  Maurice is competing for a slot to attend National 4-H Congress in November.  Alex is competing for a slot to attend National 4-H Conference in May.  We hope to hear tomorrow if they earned one of the slots.
  After all this fun, our day is just beginning.  We headed back to the hotel to change for our formal dance.   Our crowd was ready for the rest of the evening, and of course looked better than any other delegation (not that I might have been biased or anything).  When we got back to McKimmon it was time for dinner, entertainment and then the serious events of the evening.
  Our youth casts their ballots for state officers.  As the votes were tallied our youth headed into the dance.  This was their chance to celebrate and spend time with all the new friends they had made.  When the dust settled the new state officers were named,  Anthony Vagnozzi was elected President, Nicole Worth was elected Vice President,  Joah Bickley Secretary Treasurer, and Erin Dillon reporter.  Once the announcement was made it was time to head to Dorton Arena to install our officers.
  The traditional clover candlelight ceremony took place with men making up the H's and our ladies making up the sides of the clover.  As the state and district officers are inducted into office their candles are lit and the light is spread across the clover allowing for a beautiful sight from above.  When we were done it was back to the hotel to rest and start packing.  Tomorrow is our last day in 4-H Congress and we are doing nothing short of trying to change the world.