State 4-H Congress

State 4-H Congress is an annual state event designed to supplement our county 4-H programs. This event provides positive leadership and educational opportunities for senior 4-H members from across the state in an effort to develop these young people to their fullest potential. To meet the needs of a diverse and changing society, State 4-H Congress aims to inspire productive citizens and catalysts for positive change.

The official delegation is made up of 4-H members, 4-H–certified volunteer adult leaders, and Extension agents/staff registered for the entire event. It is expected that all counties will be represented.

The annual event takes place on the campus of Mississippi State University.

View the State 4-H Congress Handbook (M2204)

Wildlife Judging

3^rd Place Overall Individual –Felicity Andol, Oktibbeha County

2^nd Place Overall Individual – Cassin Gant, Oktibbeha County

1^st Place Overall Individual – Kylie Headley, Oktibbeha County

2^nd Place Team – Pontotoc County

1^st Place Team – Oktibbeha County

Team members are: Kylie Headley, Cassin Gant, and Felicity Andol

Career Pursuit

3^rd Place – Mary Kathryn Shaw, LeFlore County

2^nd Place – Zion Johnson, Lowndes County

1^st Place – Eryana Treadwell, Lowndes County

Child Development

2^nd Place Individual – Taylor Dorsey, Washington County

1^st Place Individual – Brianna Moore, Jasper County

1^st Place Team – Lee County

Team members are: Mariah Ivy, Tykirah Ivy, and Brooklyn Johnson

Clothing Selection

3^rd Place Individual – Terran Lucus, Clarke County

2^nd Place Individual – Abbey Abraham, Copiah County

1^st Place Individual – Logan Morris Smith, Lowndes County

Dairy Products Judging

3^rd Place Overall Individual – Kathryn McKiney, Lowndes

2^nd Place Overall Individual – Amari Jamison, Lee

1^st Place Overall Individual – Vana Berryhill, Franklin

1^st Place Team – Tippah County

Team members are: Cadence Barnes, Elizabeth Dollar, Lauren Bryant, and Haley Grace Walker

Entomology Insect ID

1^st Place Individual – Ada Ashley, Wilkinson

Meat Judging

3^rd Place Overall Individual – Drew Wagner, Newton

2^nd Place Overall Individual – Mason Williams, Hinds

1^st Place Overall Individual – Chase Boone, Smith

1^st Place Team – Union County

Team members are: Randon McDaniel, Roxie Roberson, Genna Wages, and Joseph Moody

Modeling Squad

1^st Place Small Troup – Washington County

1^st Place Large Troup – Pontotoc County

Photography Judging

3^rd Place Overall Individual – Janna Claire Ishee, Jasper

2^nd Place Overall Individual – Jayden Clay, Lowndes

1^st Place Overall Individual – LaKenzia Ham, Lowndes

PowerPoint

3^rd Place Overall Individual – Emma Wofford, DeSoto County

2^nd Place Overall Individual – Nina Hay, Newton County

1^st Place Overall Individual – Karlie Dignowity, DeSoto

Public Speaking I

3^rd Place – Lexi Goodin, Prentiss County

2^nd Place – Layton Varner, Rankin County

1^st Place - Diamond King, Lee County

Public Speaking II

3^rd Place – Daryan Carter, Panola County

2^nd Place – Olivia Howell, Holmes County

1^st Place – Sean O’Neil, Clarke County

Seed ID and Quality

3^rd Place Overall Individual – Owen White, Union

2^nd Place Overall Individual – Amery Bloodworth, Tallahatchie County

1^st Place Overall Individual – Karlie Bloodworth, Tallahatchie County

1^st Place Team – Tallahatchie County

Team members are: Karlie Bloodworth, Amery Bloodworth, and Addison Bloodworth

Small Engines

3^rd Place – Ethan Keller, Franklin County

2^nd Place – Colton Howell, Holmes County

1^st Place – Cade Slay, Madison County

Welding

3^rd Place – Amy Grace Estes, Amite County

2^nd Place – James Meriwether, Leflore County

1^st Place – Jedidiah Hill, Jasper County

Bicycle

3^rd Place – Briana Lance, Washington County

2^nd Place – Cade Slay, Madison County

1^st Place – Caleb Turner, Washington County

Citizenship Bowl

2^nd Place Team – Noxubee County

1^st Place Team – Washington County

Team members are: Tyler Dorsey, Genesis Matthew, Jacey Thomas, Jacob Turner, and Myisha Turner

Clothing Construction

1^st Place Individual – Jaria Fulton, Washington

Computer

1^st Place Individual – Reginald Champion, Washington

Consumer Judging

3^rd Place Overall Individual – Karlie Dignowity, DeSoto County

2^nd Place Overall Individual – Jariyah Lowe, Oktibbeha County

1^st Place Overall Individual – Jorja Roberson, Union County

3^rd Place Team – Tippah County

2^nd Place Team – Union County

1^st Place Team – Pontotoc County

Team members are: Marlee Hoing, Kara Fleming, Leah Reid, and Amy Priest

Forestry Judging

3^rd Place Overall Individual – Nathan Grice, Rankin County

2^nd Place Overall Individual – Karolina Heathcock, Wayne County

1^st Place Overall Individual – Ashlyn Henderson, Wayne County

3^rd Place Team – Amite County

2^nd Place Team – Rankin County

1^st Place Team – Wayne County

Team members are: Cody McFetridge, Ashlyn Henderson, and Karolina Heathcock

Interior Design Level I

3^rd Place Overall Individual – Ariana Davis, Washington County

2^nd Place Overall Individual – Cheyenne Ricker, DeSoto County

1^st Place Overall Individual – McKaylah Deloach, Lowndes County

Interior Design Level II

2^nd Place Overall Individual – Logan Morris Smith, Lowndes County

1^st Place Overall Individual – Taylor Babbitt, Lee County

Livestock Bowl

3^rd Place Overall Individual – Sarah Moody, Union County

2^nd Place Overall Individual – Lanie Shows, Jones County

1^st Place Overall Individual – Hope White, Jones County

3^rd Place Team – Union County

2^nd Place Team – Jones County

1^st Place Team – Pontotoc County

Team members are: Riley Stanford, Shannon Wilson, Jayce Grubbs, and Morgan Hillhouse

Mississippi 4-H Cookoff

3^rd Place Team – Pontotoc County

2^nd Place Team – Amite County

1^st Place Team – Winston County

Team members are: Kristin Jernigan and Chawon Jernigan

Poultry Judging

3^rd Place Overall Individual – Lauren Bryant, Tippah County

2^nd Place Overall Individual – Jedidah Hill, Jasper County

1^st Place Overall Individual – Haley Grace Walker, Tippah County

2^nd Place Team – Jasper County

1^st Place Team – Tippah County

Team members are: Haley Grace Walker, Lauren Bryant, Elizabeth Dollar, and Cadance Barnes

Robotics

1^st Place Team – Oktibbeha County

Team members are: William Dodd, Micaiah Goodson, and Wema Nyatta

Beef Visual Presentations

3^rd Place – Conner Shelton, Calhoun County

2^nd Place – Jarran Lee, Pearl River County

1^st Place – Pacey Baucum,, Jones County

Clothing Visual Presentations

2^nd Place – Janiya Jones, Oktibbeha County

1^st Place – Mereditt Forman, Sunflower County

Consumer Education Visual Presentations

1^st Place – Katelyn Chandler, Jefferson Davis County

Conservation Visual Presentations

3^rd Place –Natalie Headley, Oktibbeha County

2^nd Place – Josh Harrison, Yalobusha County

1^st Place – Ashlyn Henderson, Wayne County

Dairy Animals Visual Presentations

1^st Place – Alyssa Moak, Lincoln County

Egg Preparation

3^rd Place – John Clayton Kitchens, Lauderdale County

2^nd Place – Jorja Roberson, Union County

1^st Place – Gracyn Foster, Jasper County

Engineering Visual Presentations

3^rd Place – Naomi Moore, Claiborne County

2^nd Place – Luke Hay, Newton County

1^st Place – Brianna Lance, Washington County

Entomology Visual Presentations

2^nd Place – Isabella Jaurez, Choctaw County

1^st Place – Caleb Hoover, Pearl River County

Foods and Nutrition Visual Presentations

2^nd Place – Hannah Lance, Washington County

1^st Place – Olivia Harper, Jefferson Davis County

Gardening/Horticulture Visual Presentations

1^st Place – Takeyla Lewis, Noxubee County

Health Visual Presentation

3^rd Place – Taniyah Wallace, Lee County

2^nd Place – Nina Hay, Newton County

1^st Place – Tashunti Trice, Lee County

Plant and Soil Sciences Visual Presentations

2^nd Place – Nyla Heard, Hinds County

1^st Place – Jacob Hoover, Pearl River County

Personal Development Visual Presentations

3^rd Place – Katie Foster, Warren County

2^nd Place – Cassin Gant, Oktibbeha County

1^st Place – Madelynne Goodson, OKtibbeha County

Photography Visual Presentations

3^rd Place – Alexia Murray, Washington County

2^nd Place – Jacey Thomas, Washington County

1^st Place – Lakenzia Ham, Lowndes County

Sheep, Swine and Meat Goat Visual Presentations

3^rd Place – Hayden Barnett, Calhoun County

2^nd Place – Layton Varner, Rankin County

1^st Place – Mary Kathryn Shaw, Leflore County

Vet Science

3^rd Place – Abbye Buchanan, Rankin County

2^nd Place – Lillian Dixon, Amite County

1^st Place – Sarah Moody, Union County

Publications

Publication Number: P3928

The 6 C’s of Positive Youth Development: Tips for Teenager Connection

Publication Number: P3516

Tips for Taking Care of Yourself: Self-Care Practices

Publication Number: P3721

HappyHealthy Newsletter: Online Grocery Shopping with SNAP Benefits

Publication Number: P3816

HappyHealthy Newsletter: Water

Publication Number: P3848

HappyHealthy Newsletter: Water Safety

more publications

News

MSU Extension instructor named to national committee

Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Mental Health First Aid September 15, 2023

STARKVILLE, Miss. – A Mississippi State University Extension instructor has been selected to a national Extension Foundation committee focused on improving mental health.

A person’s right hand rests on a computer mouse while their left hand rests on a laptop keyboard.

MSU Extension helps build digital resources inventory

Filed Under: Keys to the Community, Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Economic Development, Rural Development, Small Business September 8, 2023

RAYMOND, Miss. -- In Mississippi, 230,000 residents lack access to high-speed internet and the many benefits it offers, but the Mississippi State University Extension Service is working to help change that. Devon Mills, an assistant Extension professor of agricultural economics, is leading an effort to build an inventory of all the organizations in the state working to promote digital skills and literacy. This effort, called the Mississippi Digital Asset Mapping Project, is helping spread the word about a survey to help construct that inventory.

Wayne County, Mississippi 4-H’ers display their first place award plaques earned at the National Wildlife Habitat Education Program contest.

4-H’ers win first place in national competition

Filed Under: 4-H September 6, 2023

WAYNE COUNTY, Miss. -- A team of Mississippi 4-H’ers brought home a first-place award this summer in a national wildlife habitat management competition. The three-member team competed in the National Wildlife Habitat Education Program contest in Milford, Iowa, July 31-Aug. 2.

A group of 4-H’ers pose for a group photo at the Congressional Awards ceremony.

Mississippi 4-H’ers earn Congressional Awards

Filed Under: 4-H, STEM – Science Technology Engineering and Math, Leadership August 14, 2023

Fifty-seven Mississippi 4-H’ers received the highest honor given to youth civilians by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

The Aug. 6 Congressional Award ceremony marks the 25th anniversary of the partnership between the Congressional Award Program and the Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development Program.

Tips for Back to School Success

Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Children and Parenting August 14, 2023

Now that school is back in session for many of us, everyone is getting back into the swing of things.

more news

Success Stories

Development Direction

4-H, 4-H Livestock Program, Youth Livestock, Youth Poultry, Join 4-H, Poultry, Family
Volume 9 Number 2

The 4-H Poultry Chain Project regularly receives generous donations from organizations across the state, but the project has never received a donation quite like Southern AgCredit’s pledge of $25,000 over 5 years.

A smiling woman stands beside a museum display.

Commitment to the County

Leadership, Agricultural Economics, Economic Development, Rural Development
Volume 9 Number 2

Former U.S. senators, award-winning authors, and influential musicians have called Carrollton home, so it makes sense that town leaders lean on those credentials to lure visitors to the town to generate revenue.

A professionally dressed woman standing in front of many rows of food cans and beside a sign that lists “HOPE.”

Where You Are

Health and Wellness, Community, Rural Development, Food and Health, AIM for CHangE, Rural Health
Volume 9 Number 2

Imagine what Mississippi might look like if everyone had access to healthy foods. The state could set an example for other rural states in using existing resources, collaborating with officials and stakeholders, and creating solutions that have measurable impacts for individuals and families.

A man wearing a denim shirt and a Master Gardener nametag smiling with a table frame around him listing #1,000 on wood.

Doing the “Heart” Work

Leadership, Community, Master Gardener, Lawn and Garden, Flower Gardens, Herb Gardens, Vegetable Gardens
Volume 9 Number 2

Paul Cavanaugh became a Master Gardener when he came off the road as a truck driver and his wife encouraged him to find a hobby.

The grant was awarded to Dr. Eric Sparks, director of the MSU Coastal and Marine Extension Program, and a team from the MSU Extension Service, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, The Nature Conservancy, Harte Research Institute, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, and the PEW Charitable Trusts.

What’s New in Extension

4-H, Extension Program Priorities, City and County Government, Mississippi County Elections: Election Prep 101, Plants and Wildlife, Smart Landscapes, Environment, Marine Resources, Waterfowl
Volume 9 Number 2

Mississippi State University and partners have been awarded a grant of nearly $6.6 million from the National Fish and Wildlife Federation for shoreline restoration work on the Gulf Coast.

Extension Matters Magazine