4-H'er Competes at 82nd Annual 4-H State Congress in Atlanta

4-H’er competes at 82nd Annual 4-H State Congress in Atlanta

Georgia 4-H celebrated excellence during the 82nd Annual 4-H State Congress as top 4-H’ers from around the state gathered in Atlanta July 22-25.

State Congress includes the state-level Project Achievement and Leadership in Action contests, as well as recognition of youth development professionals, supporters, and public officials for their contributions to the success of 4-H in Georgia.

One Floyd County 4-H member competed at State Congress this year. Lee Donahue competed in the Sports project area - winning second place at the district level to earn his spot earlier this year. This week he took on the challenge of showcasing his knowledge in the sport of Running. He covered topics such as training styles and types of competitive running. He competes for Darlington school on their track and cross-country teams. He also has competed in ultra-marathon running.

Students who place first at state-level competitions in Georgia 4-H earn the title of “Master 4-H’er.” During State Congress, more than 200 delegates competed in 49 Project Achievement areas and eight delegates competed in the Leadership in Action contest; one individual from each project area and two Leadership in Action competitors received Master 4-H’er status. Special event Master 4-H’ers from the 2024-25 program year were also recognized at State Congress.

Over 60,000 youth receive instruction in Project Achievement each year through 4-H programs at the county level. This essential Georgia 4-H program element empowers young people with leadership, creativity, public speaking, and record keeping skills that will last a lifetime. At the high school level, students choose a project of interest from a list of 52 categories in focus areas that include agriculture, science, health, wellness, leadership, and civic engagement. They subsequently research the topic, create a detailed presentation, and participate in related community service and civic engagement activities. State Congress competition also includes individual interviews with qualified professionals who engage with 4-H’ers about their project work.

State Congress also serves as an opportunity to recognize individuals and organizations who provide guidance and support to Georgia 4-H’ers.

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships, and community awareness. As the premier youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than hundreds of thousands of people annually through UGA Extension offices and 4-H facilities.