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.

Ready for some rain

Ok, so what was BEAUTIFUL on Saturday has become an ugly pile of dirt, grime and trash piled up on the curb of our lawn and sits as mounds in every parking lot. Isn't it amazing how quickly the winter wonderland can turn into a gray slush mess! I rolled into work today only to be confronted by mounds of frozen gray and black snow piled everywhere ( well mostly in the spots we were suppose to park in). It doesn't paint a very pretty picture, and to tell you the truth I am ready for a good rain to clear it all away.

Of course the roads are still a mess and I am driving around in my husband's F150 4X4 as my beetle was not constructed for this sort of weather. Public schools are out tomorrow, but our private school is heck bent on holding classes......great! Evidently, they think just because they have cleared their parking lot and access road all is well within the county or so their website states....nice they are living in an ideal world!

The weather forecast is calling for rain on Thursday, so maybe all of this will be but a dim memory by weeks end. On an up note we are scheduled to attend an awards ceremony tomorrow night for 4-H. This dinner is being held to honor those outstanding individuals who placed in county and regional competitions in the 2009 - 2010 year. Our daughter placed first in county twice once both under the speech category. We are looking forward to the evening, so stay tuned for pictures....you know I will be taking some!