MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Several 4-Hers came back this year with wins after representing their state in various regional and national competitions.

Larry Alexander, youth development specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the advanced competitions enhance the youth's knowledge and skills.

"These events provide a diverse experience for young people to learn more about the projects they are enrolled in," Alexander said. "The contests are just one portion of the total learning process, and we're excited that Mississippi youth get the opportunity to go outside the state and take part in these events and see how other 4-Hers are fairing in similar projects."

Two teams won first place nationally in their competitions. The Mississippi 4-H teams won first in the 4-H Shooting Sports National Invitational in both .22 rifle and .22 pistol. Logan Hendrix of Alcorn County placed second individually and Wendi Butler of Alcorn County placed fourth individually in the .22 rifle competition.

In the .22 pistol category, Levi Hendrix from Alcorn County placed second individually, Al Pursley from Lamar County placed third and Ben Butler from Alcorn County placed fourth.

The Mississippi team placed fourth nationally in the overall competition. In muzzleloading, the team placed fifth and the air pistol team placed fourth. Matt McNeil, a 4-Her from Jasper County, placed fifth individually in the air pistol competition.

Anne Marie Tellez of Lafayette County finished second nationally in the Illustrated Talk contest at the National Junior Horticulture Association. The color photograph of a coleus by Oktibbeha County's Terry Ann McIlwain was judged "outstanding," the highest classification at the National Junior Horticulture Association's convention. At the same contest, Dustin McGill of Harrison County received a "good" classification, the second highest, on his black and white photograph of a rose bloom.

Matt Brooks, 4-Her from Union County, placed fourth in the computer contest division of the National Science and Engineering Event.

The state also had several regional winners. Courtney Suthoff of Copiah County came in first place in the trail riding division of the Regional Horse Show in Tennessee. DeSoto County 4-Hers on the hippology team won first place in the Western Regional 4-H Horse Classic. The team was composed of Nicole Johnston, Sarah Guenther, Michele Kamp and Susie Baker. Johnston was the third high individual and Kamp the fifth high individual in this event.

Several 4-Hers from DeSoto County placed in the Southern Regional Horse Championship in Tennessee. Nicole Johnston and Shannon Snow placed fifth in the team demonstration event, and Megan Dorris placed first in the horsemanship contest and fifth in the Western pleasure event at the same contest.

At the same event, Sarah Guenther placed second in equitation and fourth in showmanship, and Ryan Johnston placed fifth in reining.