4-H Roundup brings out best in Texas youth

By JULIET BRISKIN | Country World Central Texas

June 21, 2001 -- College Station was the site of the annual Texas State 4-H Roundup, June 11-15. For over 50 years members have been gathering at Texas A&M University to participate in competitions, community service projects, spirit rallies, assemblies, banquets and awards presentations.

Throughout the year 4-H members compete in their home county and then in their district competition. The top two winners in each category from each district are then eligible to compete at the Roundup.

This year's event, themed "Nothing Less Than Our Best," hosted over 3,000 4-H members, parents, volunteers and supporters. According to Martha Couch, assistant director for 4-H and youth, Texas boasts over one million 4-H members and serves as the largest enrollment of any state in the nation. "We were the first state to go over one million in membership," said Couch.

Competions included livestock and horse judging events, public speaking, fashion, entomology, mohair judging and identification, range and pasture grass identification, rifle, nutrition, and themed skits addressing current youth issues. First, second and third-place winners in each competition were honored at award ceremonies and by their peers at two evening assemblies.

"4-H Roundup is about young people learning skills both in communication and subject matter areas," said Gayle Hall, Texas Agricultural Extension Service 4-H and youth development specialist. According to Hall this year Roundup conducted thirty-eight different competitions and over $1 million in college scholarships were awarded.

Exhibits, created by the 4-H members, displayed community service projects from each district. In years past the members brought items from toothbrushes to canned food with them to Roundup to be distributed to the needy. This year the students developed community service projects in their home district, then reported their success at Roundup.

On Thursday evening Captain Scott O'Grady of the U.S. Air Force, addressed the Roundup attendees. The focus of his speach centered around character development and his survival after being shot down over war-torn Bosnia in 1995.

Character development is a fundamental aspect of 4-H life according to Couch. "We try to let young people know how important being a person of character is to them and their future."

The kids work hard during the year according to Sandy Read, co-club manager for Lone Star 4-H in Angelina County. "This is an outstanding program," she said, "and we are so excited to be participating."

Brazos County 4-H and Youth Development Coordinator, Brant Poe, helped coordinate the Brazos meat judging and evaluation team which took second place in competition. The team is coached by A&M graduate student Destiny Strachan and team members included Ashli Woodward, JoBeth Forrest, Jessica Arnold and Kari Smith. "Roundup is a spectacular event that allows members from all over Texas to come and compete and display their skills," said Poe.

For more information about 4-H events contact your local Extention agent. Results from each of the 2001 Roundup competions can be found at http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/.