Dodging tornados was not on the agenda this past week in Oklahoma for our 4-H Land Judging Team. Alison Bartenslager, Laura Jane Dransfield and Brian Young got it done well last week. The three along with Coach Brian Wickline, WVU Extension Agriculture Agent and team coach once again proved Monroe County is a force when it comes to evaluating land and homesites.
The week was on the cold side for practicing from Saturday through Wednesday but turned for the better with much warmer temperatures for the actual contest on Thursday. The team was never in danger of significant weather impact despite the outbreaks of tornados just to their east during the week.
The team competed against 70 other 4-H’ers members at the 68th National Contest held in Oklahoma City, OK. All three of our 4-H’ers finished well as top ten scorers in this year’s contest. For their efforts the team brought home the Reserve National 4-H Championship in Land Judging and placed third nationally in 4-H Home Site Evaluation. The group received nice praise from Coach Wickline who commented on this team’s exceptional adaptability and focus. High comments from the coach who now holds six national and reserve titles from his county teams.
The group enjoyed the travel and experience afforded to them by the national competition and wishes to express their appreciation to all who supported the trip out to the mid-west. We also appreciate that David Pontius, 4-H volunteer joined the group mid-week to assist with the effort. 4-H is successful in so many ways because of the strength of its adult volunteers who are willing to teach across so many areas of interest.
Monroe County and Greenbrier County 4-H programs are proud of the effort this team put forth in capturing the Reserve National Championship in 2014 and for three top ten efforts! If you have to concede it is only right to concede to another West Virginia Team as Barbour County was the National Champion in Land Judging.
Once again, if you as a youth are interested in competing on a national level for championships, consider joining 4-H and participating in our land judging activities. You may too become a national champion. For more information on this and other 4-H youth development activities; contact Don Dransfield, WVU 4-H youth development extension agent or Brian Wickline at the WVU Extension Office in Union at 304-772-3003.
