Huntsville, Ala. --- State 4-H winners in more than 30 categories were recognized and presented ribbons, scholarships, plaques, trips and other awards recently at a special ceremony at the State 4-H Congress and Leadership Conference held in Huntsville.

More than 260 4-H’ers, volunteers and Extension agents attended the three-day event held by Alabama A&M University on its campus and at the Alabama Space and Rocket Center and the Huntsville Hilton Inn.

State academic scholarships in the amount of $600 each were presented to nine deserving 4-H’ers. Kate Green, Tuscaloosa County, received the 4-H Achievement Award; Kendra Wood, Cullman County, the 4-H Animal Science Academic Award; Sabrina Balch, Lawrence County, the Breads Leadership Award; Rebecca Turner, Covington County, the Citizenship/Leadership Academic Award; Lea Hadley, Randolph County, the Dairy Foods Leadership Award; Ruth Garrett, Shelby County, the Farris Prickett-Breads Award; Traci Beams, Tuscaloosa County, the Fisheries and Wildlife Academic Award; Heather Parker, Calhoun County, the Foods and Nutrition Leadership Award and Tyler Smith, Clay County, the Forestry Academic Award.

State winners were announced in 16 competitive events. Event winners and their sponsors are:

Automotive Driving -- Micah Witt, Colbert County, first place; Nick Pettit, Cullman County, second place; and Jonathan Griffith, Fayette County, third place.

Breads Exhibit – Kimberly McGraw, Mobile County, first place; Jelesa Johnson, Lee County, second place; and Noelle East, Randolph County, third place. This event was sponsored by Multifoods.

Bicycle Safety -- Vincent Brown, Lee County, first place; Johnathan Santana, Cleburne County, second place; and Anthony Westbrook, Lamar County, third place.

Chicken-que -- Ruth Garrett, Shelby County, first place; Anna-Marie Adcock, Randolph County, second place; and Corey Rudolph, Lowndes County, third place. This event was sponsored by the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association.

Avian Bowl Team – This team of 4-H’ers will represent Alabama in national competition this fall in Kentucky. Team members selected include Corey Rudolph, Lowndes County, Robert Slaton, Morgan County, Nick Murphy, Lamar County and Rob Coe, Randolph County. This event was sponsored by the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association.

Egg Demonstration – Kaitlin Crenshaw, St. Clair County, first place; Rachel Voss, Etowah County, second place; and Chanda Easterwood, Limestone County, third place. The event was sponsored by the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association.

Dairy Foods Demonstration – Casey East, Pike County, first place; Carol Harden, Escambia County, second place; and Amanda Floyd, Tallapoosa County, third place.

Applications of Electrical Energy Demonstration -- Michael Robertson, Marshall County, first place; Jessica Pearlstein, Pike County, second place; and Ben Gasser, Clay County, third place. This event was sponsored by the Alabama Power Foundation.

Lawn Tractor Operation – Nick Gilpin, Fayette County, first place; Ben Johnson, Randolph County, second place; and Cody Tapley, Jackson County, third place.

Photography Exhibit – Jarrett Moore, Lee County, first place; Bailee Dykes, Pike County, second place; and Andrea Brown, Autauga County, third place.

Plant and Soil Science Exhibit – Scotty Rainwater, Marshall County, first place; Andrew Reed, Franklin County, second place; and Daniel Sellers, Jefferson County, third place. This event was sponsored by the Alabama Crop Management Association.

Informative Public Speaking – Luke Brymer, Jefferson County, first place; Kenneth Pinkston, Lowndes County, second place; and Casey Phillips, Chilton County, third place. This event was sponsored by Laird, Baker and Blackstock, LLC, Attorneys at Law in Opp, Ala.

Persuasive Public Speaking – Katie Guess, Jackson County, first place; Antheus Ezell, Washington County, second place; and Brittany Bivins, Chilton County, third place. This event was sponsored by Laird, Baker and Blackstock, LLC, Attorneys at Law in Opp, Ala.

Tractor Operation – Chase Dunham, Tallapoosa County, first place; Junior Strain, Randolph County, second place; and Daniel Hindman, Fayette County, third place.

Wood Science Demonstration – Clay McDaniel, Etowah County, first place; Amanda Gibson, Pike County, second place; and Charles Cummings, Marion County, third place.

Wood Science Exhibit – Erica Lewis, Coffee County, first place; Gregg Gasser, Clay County, second place; and Jesse Pettit, Cullman County, third place.

The Animal Science and Consumer Judging events were held in Auburn July 15 and 16. State winners included:

4-H Agri-Knowledge Contest – Walker County team, first place; Hale County team, second place; and Fayette County team, third place. Winners in the High Individual Overall were: Blake Romano, Walker County, first place; Morgan Eads, Walker County, second place; Jed Burroughs, Hale County, third place; Bethany Bigham, Tuscaloosa County, fourth place; and Mary Potts, Fayette County, fifth place.

Livestock Judging Contest -- Hale County team, first place overall; Pickens County team, second place overall; and Fayette County team, third place overall. The High Individual Overall winners were: Andrew Burroughs, Hale County, first place; Jed Burroughs, Hale County, second place; Drew Smithart, Hale County, third place; Ramie Grace, Pickens County, fourth place; and Bethany Bigham, Hale County, fifth place.

Meats Judging Contest – Tuscaloosa County team, first place overall; Hale County team, second place overall; and Coffee County team, third place overall. The High Individual Overall winners were: Jed Burroughs, Hale County, first place; Rebecca Morrison, Tuscaloosa County, second place; Andrew Burroughs, Hale County, third place; Andrew Faulkner, Tuscaloosa County, fourth place and Peter Kimbrell, Tuscaloosa County, fifth place.

Consumer Judging Contest Junior Division -- Shelby County team, first place; Elmore County team, second place; and Mobile County, third place. Junior Division High Individual Overall winners included Trevor Motes, Shelby County, first place; Taylor Nelson, Mobile County, second place; and Thomas Nelson, Mobile County, third place.

Consumer Judging Contest Senior Division -- Shelby County team A, first place; Mobile County team, second place; and Shelby County team B, third place. Kim McGraw from Mobile County was the senior division High Individual Overall winner.

The 4-H program is available in all 67 counties in the state and is conducted by regional and county agents of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. More than 180,000 youngsters, ages 9 to 19 are involved in 4-H programs in Alabama.