4-H Achievement Banquet

Last night we attended the 4-H achievement banquet, which was to honor those students who had placed in competitions within the 2009 -2010 school year. Our daughter placed first in several school wide competitions and took first in county-wide contest progressing to sub-regional.

Some fun facts I didn't know about 4-H. This year marks 100 years of 4-H in the state of Tennessee. That is 100 years of educational outreach and service to the state's farmers, families and youth. Tennessee boast on of the largest 4-H memberships in the nations with 302,000 members statewide. Our county contributes to over 2, 500 of those members. 4-H offer supplement learning with directed programs to youth between the ages of 9 to 19.

I will have to tell you coming from Florida, the only thing I could relate to 4-H was the Future Farmers of America program, which was an after school club in most of the junior high and high schools. 4-H in Tennessee is offered during the academic instruction time, and usually results in (1-2) hours per month of classroom instruction.

I will say this, our daughter was exposed to public speaking through 4-H, a skill and art that most people aren't exposed to until their first year of college. She has excelled in this area, and we are over joyed. It is so important for individuals to be able to address an audience and to speak with fluency and confidence.

Unfortunately, most in-school programs stop at grade 6, however we spoke to the extension agents and we are going to approach our daughter's school about the possibility of an after school program. I really believe in 4-H and what it has to offer our children.

Anyway.....they fed us dinner it was good (well my chicken was dry) but my Mom and our daughter said their roast beef was excellent. My potatoes were dry, but my Mom and our daughter said theirs were great with the gravy from the roast beef. My bread was dry but my Mom and our daughter ( are you sensing a theme here?) I guess I should have stood behind my Mom and our daughter to make the correct selections....so much for being first in line.

On the upside my chocolate cup cake was the bomb and no they didn't select it so mine totally trumped their vanilla! We had a nice night. Our daughter was excited about being recognized and we shared in that excitement and are very proud of all her accomplishments.