As we begin a new year, we've been reflecting and celebrating the accomplishments that have been won by Wadena County 4-Hers in the last one as a result of their hard work and dedication to 4-H and their project areas. Here is a glance at 2015.
January marks the beginning of project bowl season. Project bowl is the second most attended event during the 4-H year.
Patterned after the golden-oldie television show "College Bowl," it challenges teams of between three and six youth on their knowledge of 4-H project areas: dairy, dog, general livestock, horse lama, poultry, rabbit and wildlife.
This year, three teams represented Wadena County at Regional Project Bowls: a senior general livestock team, a senior poultry team and a junior wildlife team. The general livestock project bowl team, consisting of Amber and Anna Johnson and two East Otter Tail County 4-Hers, placed second in the senior category at their regional event in Bemidji, earning them a spot competing in the State Project Bowl.
The wildlife team was made up of Alex DeGeest and three members of Cass County 4-H. They also advanced to state by placing second in the junior category at the Regional Project Bowl in Bemidji. The poultry team, comprised of Jack Adamietz, Jack Benson, Katie Benson, Molly Lindgren and Jezebel Snyder, also placed second in the senior division at the Regional Project Bowl in Foley and advanced to the State Project Bowl.
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At the State Project Bowl, which took place on April 11, the general livestock team placed second, earning a trip to compete at nationals; the poultry team placed second and the wildlife team placed third.
At the North American International Livestock Expo in November, the general livestock team earned fourth in evaluation, eighth in quality assurance and ninth place overall. As an individual, Anna Johnson placed 12th overall with a seventh place finish in evaluation and ninth place in quality assurance.
Project bowl wasn't the only area of success.
Wadena County 4-H members also competed well at a number of state and national 4-H activities and competitions. Through 4-H, local youth went on to compete at the Minnesota State Fair, Minnesota 4-H State Horse Show, Northeast 4-H Livestock Show, Minnesota 4-H State Dog Show, Minnesota State 4-H Shooting Sports and Wildlife Invitational, National Horse Hippology Contest at All American Quarter Horse Congress, National Horse Judging Contest at Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup and National Poultry Judging.
Those who competed worked hard throughout the year in order to be competitive at the county, regional and state levels in order to advance to these events. But they also work hard to fundraise in order to make these trips possible. Kids from Wadena County 4-H sell fruit annually during the month of February and work at the 4-H Food Stand during the fair. They also receive support from Leaf River Ag Service, Long Prairie Packing and through the grant writing process.
For more information on joining 4-H or volunteering, contact the Wadena County Extension Office at (218) 631-7623, emailing carrl002@umn.edu or checking out the website www3.extension.umn.edu/county/wadena/4-h or Facebook page www.facebook.com/wadenacounty4H/ .
