Going for the Gold at 4-H Congress

  4-H Congress is hard to explain to those who haven't attended.  I ask my youth each year to give me their thoughts and usually I get words like fun, awesome, incredible.  However that doesn't quite explain the quintessential importance of this 4-H event.

  To start with Congress is kicked off by 4-H State Presentations competition.  This take place in three buildings, and a courtyard, at NC State University (NCSU).  These are the youth who won first or second place in their subject category and age division.  This year we brought 6 youth to compete and they definitely left a mark.  Ava Monroe, a member of the Inspirational Youth Leaders 4-H Club took gold in public speaking in the 8-10 age division.  Jada McKinnon, also with the Inspirational Youth Leaders 4-H Club took third for her presentation in Careers and Entrepreneurship in the 11-13 age division.  Taylor Hunter, with the Young Leaders, took second in her first ever presentation in the electric category.  Jordan McKinnon, with the Inspirational Leaders 4-H Club not only took home gold in Turkey BBQ, but qualified for nationals.  Aaron Johnson, with the Inspirational Youth Leaders 4-H Club placed third in the senior division of Science and Technology.  Special shout out to Camri McKinnon, also with the Inspirational Youth Leaders 4-H Club, who competed in Health and fitness.

  After all the awards the 4-H Congress delegation, which is made up of 4-H members 14 and up, got settled into the hotel and checked in at the McKimmon Center on NCSU's campus.  Our delegation this year is made up of Inspirational Youth Leaders 4-H Club members Jordan McKimmon and Arron Johnson; Dirty Rascal Members Kennedi Lyons and Maggie Underwood; Explore NC 4-H Club member Brooke Canady; Horsin' Around Club member Tristan Page.  Canady and Underwood are also members of the Dirty Dozen 4-H Shooting Sports club.  McKinnon, Johnson, and Page are veteran Congress participants, while Canady, Lyons, and Underwood were undergoing their first experience.
  Kennedi Lyons and and Brooke Canady volunteered to be members of the media committee, taking photos of the things they saw during the week.  This is an awesome experience for first time attendees to document what they see and give us feedback on what they like and don't like via a photo.

  That evening we attended the opening of 4-H Congress where welcomes are made, the counties are introduced, and tradition is announced.  One of those traditions is 4-H Honor Club Tapping.  This is a tradition where 4-H members 16 and over can apply to be members of Honor Club.  The application is a list of a members 4-H work.  4-H members must have at least 300 points to be considered for admission.  Only 10% of those who apply are admitted.  Who is admitted is top secret until a ceremony at Congress.  Current 4-H Honor Club members enter the back of the room with candles and a name.  They find the youth they are tapping for admission and give them a candle and pass the flame to them.  If a candidate who is being tapped does not attend, they will not be allowed admission into the prestigious service club.  This year there was an exception to that rule.  A young 4-H member in Davidson County passed away this year after she was accepted into Honor Club.  She was posthumously inducted, with an empty chair with a candle representing her place in the club.
  This year Robeson County 4-H member DJ Rogers was tapped into 4-H Honor Club by his mother, Debbie Rogers, who is an honor club member.  Also attending the ceremony was Robeson County 4-H Alumni Alex Evans who tapped a new Honor club member also.
  When we got done at the McKimmon Center we headed back to the hotel and made a plan for tomorrow, because we will hit the road running.