Two Liberty County 4-H members placed at the state 4-H Congress in Atlanta this summer.

During the event, 4-H members presented their demonstration — a 10-minute oral presentation with visual aids — about any topic within their project to a panel of judges. Competitors also prepared a portfolio, a resume-like document complete with project work, leadership activities and community service projects from the previous year. Participants also took part in interviews about their project experiences.  

Ciara Goodmanson, a student at Liberty County High School, participated in the environmental-science project. Her presentation was about the history of the environmentalism movement in the United States. She placed third in her project area.

Goodmanson also volunteers with Keep Liberty Beautiful and leads the 4-H Going Green, or G-Squared, Club for younger 4-H youth.

Sophia Rodriguez, a student at Bradwell Institute, participated in the communications project.  Rodriguez has served as a yearbook contributor and editor while working with graphic and video communications. She shared her recipe for a yearbook success as well as all her trials and tribulations. Rodriguez placed third in her project area.

“Simply being a competitor at state Congress is quite an honor,” 4-H Agent Kasey Bozeman said. “These young ladies had to win their project area at the district contest to even qualify to compete.”  She also said the life skills developed during this 4-H competition are critical to a young person’s success.  

“Oral and written communication, public speaking, record keeping, decision-making … I could go on and on,” she said. “4-H works to make the best better with young people each and every day.”

To learn more about the 4-H programming in Liberty County, call Bozeman at 876-2133 or email uge3179@uga.edu.