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Published on 12/16/19

Georgia 4-H'ers showcase their consumer economics skills at state competition

By Cristina Luisa deRevere

Fifty-six youth participated in the 2019 Georgia 4-H State Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Competition sponsored by the Georgia Cotton Commission on Dec. 14, at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Georgia.

The Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Competition is part of the Georgia 4-H Healthy Living Program. This competitive judging contest teaches 4-H’ers to make wise consumer decisions and educates them on cotton as an agricultural commodity in Georgia. The competition offers youth the chance to build critical thinking, public speaking and life skills in consumer economics.

“Consumer Judging teaches youth how to think critically and make smart consumer decisions,” said Courtney Brown, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension 4-H specialist. “The skills learned in preparation for this competitive event are real-life skills that youth will continue to use throughout their lives when making purchases.” 

The state contest consists of two competition areas: judging classes and advertisements. In the judging class portion of the competition, 4-H’ers are required to judge four classes of consumer items or services, ranking items based on provided details, factors and scenarios, as well as provide oral reasoning for their selections. The advertisements and commercials portions require 4-H’ers to promote cotton and its use through a presentation.

Prior to the state competition, 4-H’ers from ninth through 12th grade competed in area contests. The first and second place senior teams at each area contest continued on to compete at the State Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Competition.

The First Place Senior Team winners and High Overall Individual will receive Georgia Master 4-H’er status, be honored at Georgia State 4-H Congress in July in Atlanta, Georgia, and represent Georgia in the Consumer Decision Making contest at Western National Roundup in January 2021 in Denver, Colorado. The second place team will also travel to Denver to represent Georgia 4-H in the Western National Roundup Family and Consumer Science Skill-A-Thon or Family and Consumer Science Bowl.

The winners of this year’s  Georgia 4-H Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Competition are:

High Overall Individual: Jhaycee Barnes — Spalding County

1st Place Team: Jhaycee Barnes, Shelby Lane, Heather Dorn and Kaylee Collins — Spalding County

2nd Place Team: Liam Jay, Timothy Lord, Janareon Cook and Shaniya Smith — Ben Hill County

3rd Place Team: Lucy Weigert, Lydia Belflower and Veronica Lee — Bleckley County

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships and community awareness. As the largest youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than 238,000 people annually through UGA Extension offices and 4-H facilities. For more information, visit georgia4h.org or call your UGA Extension office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.

Cristina deRevere is the public relations coordinator for Georgia 4-H.

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