By Laura Allen

Rowan County 4-H agent

Rowan County 4-H held County Activity Day on April 29 at the Cooperative Extension center. The annual event allows 4-H’ers to compete in presentations, talent and expressive arts at the county level.

To start the day, David Croyle presented his 4-H talent act, in which he dressed as Mario and played Mario tunes on a keyboard. He qualified to participate at District Activity Day on June 14.

Following the talent portion, 4-H’ers divided into two rooms for their presentations. Each gave an oral speech and presentation to a panel of judges and a room full of people. All participants are eligible to compete at District Activity Day on June 14.

Below are the 4-H’ers, their age division, presentation category and placing.

• Guy Deal, ages 5-7, livestock and dairy production, participation.

• Elaina Bolick, ages 8-10, small and companion animal, first place.

• Allison Mares, ages 11-13, horse, first place.

• Josie Correll, ages 14-18, public speaking, first place.

• Emily Barlow, ages 14-18, foods and nutrition, first place.

• Laney Gabosch, ages 14-18, foods and nutrition, second place.

• Holly Wallace, ages 14-18, foods and nutrition, third place.

Students in 4-H could also participate in the 4-H expressive arts competition. A total of 36 categories were offered for youths to compete in. The entries were turned in on April 18, judged by a panel of local artists and art enthusiasts, and displayed at the extension office with their winning ribbons.

The 4-H Expressive Arts participants are listed below along with their age division, category and ribbon color.

Cloverbud, ages 5-7

• Horse photography: Taybryn Dietz, green.

Junior, ages 8-12

• Craft horse: Bayley Krugar, blue; Audra Trevino, red; Elaina Bolick, white; Juliana Dry, green; Allison Mares, green; Kailey Newcome, green.

• Horse drawing: Bayley Krugar, blue.

• Horse photography: Maclaine Dietz, blue; Madisyn White, red.

• Photography, Nature’s Beauty: Sawyer Brown, blue; Madisyn White, red.

• Colored picture (colored pencil/crayon/marker): Madison Tesch, blue.

• Mixed media: Madisyn White, blue.

• Wood crafts: Madison Tesch, red.

• Tie-dying: Madisyn White, blue.

• Lego creation: Madisyn White, blue; David Croyle, red.

Senior, ages 13-18

• Craft horse: Livvie Hill, blue; Emily Barlow, red; Charlene Holt, white; Cyprus Jones, green; Mac Jones, green; Christian Stebe, green.

• Horse drawing: Badyn Sweatt, blue; Charlene Holt, red.

• Horse photography: Livvie Hill, blue; Emly Barlow, red.

• Horse photography (digitally enhanced): Jaysa Causby, blue.

• Photography, 4-H in Action: Emily Barlow, blue.

• Photography, nature’s beauty: Livvie Hill, blue; Emily Barlow, red.

• Drawing (pencil and charcoal): Badyn Sweatt, blue.

• Colored picture (colored pencil/crayon/marker): Laney Gabosch, blue.

• Pastels/colored chalk: Baydn Sweatt, blue.

• Collage: Emily Barlow Christian Stebe, blue.

• Crafts made with recycled products: Jaysa Causby, blue.

• Wood crafts: Sam Oster, blue.

• Leather crafts: Christian Stebe, blue.

• Crochet: Holly Wallace, blue; Emily Barlow, red.

• Pillow: Christian Stebe, red.

All photography and horse category expressive arts participants are eligible to compete at the state level.

A special thanks to the following people who served as judges for the 4-H competition: Penny Collins, Sue Davis, Cherie Gallo, County Commissioner Jim Greene, Henry Goodnight, Carole Massey, Beverly Phifer, Neil Pifer, Haley Shore. Thanks also to Sharon Angle, Carol Massey and Maggie Boreman for serving as persons in charge for the presentation rooms.

For more information about how your child can get involved in 4-H, contact Laura Allen, 4-H agent, at laura_allen@ncsu.edu or 704-216-8970. You can also visit Rowan County Cooperative Extension at 2727-A Old Concord Road.