Thirteen Liberty County middle and high school 4-H youth competed at Southeast District 4-H Project Achievement on February 7–9, 2020. 501 competitors from 39 counties across southeast Georgia competed at this year’s event. Youth choose from more than 50 project areas — ranging from food and nutrition to recreation and leisure activities. In order to compete, students had to compile a portfolio of their project work, leadership experiences, community service projects, and 4-H activities of the previous year. During the competition, youth present about a topic of their choice through speeches, fine arts performances, and cooking presentations. 

Our Junior (7th–8th Grade) participants and their project areas were: 

➤ Kyra Burmeister — Forest and Wood Science

➤ Daisy Clay — Performing Arts Dance

➤ Kye Lachowsky — Safety

➤ Kylah Mack — History

Our Senior (9th–12th Grade) participants and their project areas were:

➤ LeJon Crawford — Food for Health and Sport

➤ Jared Johnson — Food for Health and Sport

➤ Lexi Kozak-Baumgartner — Forest and Wood Science

➤ Kelly Lachowsky — Entomology

➤ Makayla Nash — Flowers, Shrubs, and Lawns

➤ Jakobe Roberts — Computer Information Technology

➤ Lily Stamps — Plant and Soil Science

➤ Cynthia Steele — Performing Arts Instrumental

➤ Jonathan Woolf — Festive Foods for Health

Kelly Lachowsky, 12th-grade 4-H’er, placed 1st in her category and will attend the Georgia 4-H State Congress in July. She will compete against high school 4-H’ers from across the state in her category in hopes of gaining the status of Master 4-Her. 

Another huge accomplishment came from Kyra Burmeister, a 7th-grade 4-H’er, who was elected to the Southeast District Junior Board of Directors. Throughout the 2020-2021 year, Burmeister will have the opportunity to plan district wide 4-H events and make decisions that will impact her fellow 4-H’ers across the district. 

4-H Youth Development Agent Gabi Wall and 4-H Program Assistant Gypsy Tart assisted youth in preparation for the competition and served as chaperones for the weekend. “Project Achievement is probably the most critical event our youth take part in,” said Wall. “Youth gain skills in public speaking, record keeping, research, and much more. They are skills that will follow them and they will use for life. We are so proud of these youth and their desire to learn and compete.” 

To learn more about the 4-H programming in Liberty County, you can contact the Liberty County Extension Office at 912- 876-2133 or uge3179@uga.edu.