4-Hers 'roundup' at Texas A&M

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

June 16, 2005 - Creative and hardworking Senior 4-H students from across Texas, ages 14-18, gathered at Texas A&M University June 6-10 to compete at 4-H Roundup.

With over 2,800 registered contestants attending Roundup, the students competed in 39 different contests ranging from public speaking to livestock judging, from entomology identification to fabric and fashion design and quiz bowls to consumer decision making.

Roundup is an annual 4-H event in which contestants compete at the state level. All 12 districts of the Extension service attended Roundup.

"To attend Roundup the students have had to compete at the county and district level," said Toby Lepley, Extension 4-H and youth development specialist. "This is the top of the realm as far as the kids are involved."

Three new pilot contests, including a computer contest, skillathon and horse public speaking contest, were held this year.

"For the computer contest the students have to setup a Power Point presentation. They are given a scenario and they have to develop a marketing piece using an Excel spreadsheet and show knowledge about certain formulas," Lepley explained. "During the skillathon, kids take a written test and give a public speech. During the horse public speaking contest, they can speak, for 12 minutes, on any topic related to the equine industry."

The 4-H'ers were chaperoned by Extension agents, parents and volunteers. Spirit rallies and dances were held at night and most of the students slept in dorm rooms at A&M and ate on campus, which allowed them to experience the college life.

"Tonight (June 8) we will honor 24 outstanding adult volunteers throughout the state," Lepley said. "And last night we gave away 173 scholarships at $1.2 million. These kids are extremely talented."