Head, Heart, Hands and Health: 4-H News

By: Becky Holmes

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development

The Ohio State University Extension

Local 4-H Member Wins at National Event

            Local 4-H member, Greg Howard, from Austinburg finished 1^st at the 59^th Annual National 4-H Engineering, Science and Leadership Event in West Lafayette, Indiana, held on October 4 through the 6 of 2009.  He competed in Electricity, one of six contestants in the event.

The event drew in 61 contestants from 11 states.  Areas of competition included; aerospace, bicycle, computer, electric, lawn tractor, robotics, small engines, tractor, and welding.  All of the contestants had won county and state competitions to qualify for the national event. 

            Contestants and accompanying adults spent a day on educational field trips at Purdue University and Indianapolis.  Included were workshops in the Department of Electrical Engineering Technology, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Aviation Technology and guided tours of Fowler Ridge Wind Farm and Subaru of Indiana Automotive.

            The event was conducted by Extension Agricultural Engineers and the 4-H Professionals from participating states.  John Deere and Company sponsored the Lawn Tractor and Small Engines contests.  Lincoln Electric sponsored the Welding contest. Landis and Gyr and Stuart C. Irby Company sponsored the Electric contest.   

            Greg received his first place after competing in three areas.  Fifty percent of the score was from a 15 minute presentation prepared by Greg.  The other fifty percent was from two different tests.  One of the tests was on identification of electrical parts and the other test was questions from all of the 4-H Electricity project books.

            Our County 4-H program is so proud of Greg and his accomplishments at this National Event.  Congratulations Greg!!!!!!!!!!!