Just shy of 260 Georgia 4-H’ers earned the right to compete for Georgia 4-H’s coveted Master 4-H’er title during the annual 4-H State Congress held July 24-27 at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia in Atlanta.

The students competed and won first place in their regional competitions before traveling to Atlanta for the state competition.

There, the students competed in a variety of categories ranging from photography to public speaking and communications to companion animal science. They gave 12-minute presentations before expert judges and prepared portfolios detailing their research, leadership and service projects.

Michael Woods, the first place winner in the vocal competition, credits his 4-H mentors and advisers for honing his talents and creating in him “a sense of acceptance in a judgmental world.”

“4-H has taught me to start from the bottom of the ladder of success and climb slowly to the top,” he said.

First place winner Jaime Webb, a home-schooled student from Elbert County, says 4-H has taught her things she could never learn in a classroom.

“Becoming a Master 4-H’er takes a lot of responsibility and discipline,” she said. “What better way to learn these life skills than getting up at the same time every morning to feed, run and always take the best care possible of 11 show animals.”

This year's Georgia 4-H winners, projects and donors, listed by their home counties are:

APPLING

Katlyn Hall won the food safety and preservation category sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Gary Keve and Dr. Elizabeth Andress. She is the daughter of Michael and Teresa Hall.

BANKS

Courtney Gailey won the entomology category sponsored by the Georgia Pest Control Association and the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Department of Entomology. She is the daughter of Chris and Gina Chappelear.

BARTOW

Will Murphy won the outdoor recreation category sponsored by Six Flags White Water. He is the son of David and Celia Murphy.

BEN HILL

Tifara Brown won the performing arts - general category sponsored by Six Flags Over Georgia. She is the daughter of Lewis Brown and Kimberly Anderson.

BLECKLEY

Emily Tyus won the dairy foods category sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Barrs. She is the daughter of Ben and Fay Tyus.

BULLOCH

Knapp Boddiford won the plant and soil science category sponsored by the Georgia Plant Food Educational Society, Inc. He is the son of Joe Boddiford and Susan Boddiford.

CHATHAM

Kirsten Morris won the performing arts – piano category sponsored by Six Flags Over Georgia. She is the daughter of Mark and Martha Morris.

CHEROKEE

Janet Garner won the computers category sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation and Georgia Power. She is the daughter of David and Diane Garner.

CLARKE

Loran Posey won the physical, biological and earth sciences category sponsored by Georgia EMC. He is the son of L. Michael Posey and Cheryl Emerling Rogers. Morgan Wurst won the safety category sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation. She is the daughter of Charlie and Stacy Wurst.

COFFEE

Phaedra Vickers won the dog care and training category sponsored by the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association. She is the daughter of Kevin and Gina Vickers.

COLQUITT

Ashleigh Childs won the food fast and fit category sponsored by Dr. M.K. Cook. She is the daughter of Joe and Susan Childs.

COWETA

Amy Goddard won the horse category sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation. She is the daughter of Tim and Cathy Goddard.

CRISP

Alec Joiner won the conservation of natural resources category sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation. He is the son of Joe and Tricia Joiner.

DOUGLAS

Josh Townsend won the photography category sponsored by Georgia Magazine. He is the son of Rodney and Jenn Townsend.

ELBERT

Jaime Webb won the sheep and meat goats category sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Jim Williamson. She is the daughter of Scott and Robin Webb.

EMANUEL

Zachary Wood won the forest resources and wood science category sponsored by Mr. Bill Lott, Paulding Timber Products, Inc. and the Georgia 4-H Foundation. He is the son of Spencer and Wanda Wood.

GORDON

Gibson Priest won the beef category sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Jim Williamson. He is the son of Randy and Donna Priest.

HALL

Jared Lee won the wildlife and marine science category sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation. He is the son of Jon and Jill Lee.

HANCOCK

Michael Woods won the performing arts – vocal category sponsored by Six Flags Over Georgia. He is the son of Davina Woods.

HARALSON

Brianna Holt won the fashion revue category sponsored by the Georgia Master 4-H Club. She is the daughter of Dorothea Graham.

HART

Ashley Hollinshead won the history category sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation and the Clover Glove Race Series. Ashley is the daughter of Tom and Vicki Hollinshead.

HOUSTON

Kevin Braski won the workforce preparation and career development category sponsored by Emerson Climate Technologies. He is the son of Pat and Christine Braski. Mallorie Talvan won the human development category sponsored by the Georgia Association of Extension 4-H Agents. She is the daughter of John and Margie Talvan.

IRWIN

Welsey O’Quinn won the poultry and egg science category sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation. He is the son of Chad and Amy O’Quinn.

JOHNSON

Rachael Allen won the power and energy category sponsored by Mike and Karen Garett. She is the daughter of Jimmy and Tamra Allen. Kathy Carpenter won the festive foods category for health sponsored by Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc. She is the daughter of Twan Broughan.

LEE

Jake Hager won the veterinary science category sponsored by the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association. He is the son of Jason and Dana Hager. Hugh Slaton won the communications category sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Volunteer Leaders Association. He is the son of Hugh Slaton and Lorna Slaton.

LOWNDES

Clay Hurdle won the international category sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation and Mrs. Eleanor Smith. He is the son of Greg and Janice Hurdle.

MARION

A.J. Wells won the sports category sponsored by Six Flags White Water. He is the son of Jay and Fay Wells.

MITCHELL

Erin Burnett won the general recreation category sponsored by the Georgia Recreation and Park Association, Inc. She is the daughter of Nelson and Judy Burnett.

OCONEE

Megan Beckett won the performing arts – dance category sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Burley Page. She is the daughter of Troy and Diana Beckett. Bailey Guthrie won the arts and crafts category sponsored by Ms. Marian S. Fisher, the Georgia 4-H Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. Ted Jenkins. She is the daughter of Larry and Rae Guthrie. Meghan Mitchell won the dairy and milk science category sponsored by Ms. Angela Broder Nemeth and the Georgia 4-H Foundation. She is the daughter of Stan and Scarlett Mitchell.

PULASKI

Andrew Day won the environmental science category sponsored by the Georgia Cooperative Council, Inc. He is the son of Ken and Kellie Day.

RABUN

Isaac Williams won the performing arts – other instrumental category sponsored by Six Flags Over Georgia. He is the son of Neal and Rhonda Williams.

SCHLEY

Grace Wooten won the companion animals category sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. William H. Sell, the Homeport Farm Market and Mr. and Mrs. Greg Price. She is the daughter of Marshall and Carey Wooten.

SEMINOLE

Johnelle Simpson won the public speaking category sponsored by AgGeorgia Farm Credit, Farm Credit Associations of Georgia, Mr. Kaleb McMichen and Cydor USA, Inc. She is the daughter of Twynette Reynolds.

SPALDING

Erin Kelley won the target sports category sponsored by the Callaway Foundation and the family of Col. James Boddie. She is the daughter of Lisa Kelley.

TATTNALL

Nick Eason won the health category sponsored by Dr. Greg L. Jones. He is the son of Mary Eason. Nicholas Waters won the food fare category sponsored by the Georgia Development Authority. He is the son of Cliff and Ann Waters.

THOMAS

Hunter Nelson won the pork production category sponsored by the Georgia Pork Producers Association and Mr. Arch Smith. He is the son of Floyd and Robin Nelson.

TIFT

Caroline Dunn won the flowers, shrubs and lawns category sponsored by the Georgia Development Authority. She is the daughter of Jim and Patty Dunn. Deann Taylor won the fruits, vegetables and nuts category sponsored by the Meadows-Knox Family Fund. She is the daughter of Del and Pam Taylor.

TURNER

Christian Anna Coker won the family resource management category sponsored by Katrina Bowers and the Sarah L. Huff Fund. She is the daughter Mike Coker and April Coker. Rachel Lord won the textiles, merchandising and interiors category sponsored by the Georgia 4-H Foundation. She is the daughter of Paul and Sharon Lord.

UNION

Andrew Smith won the housing, equipment and environment category sponsored by Mr. Bucky Cook. He is the son of Sandy Gribble.

To learn more about Georgia 4-H, visit www.georgia4h.org.