Sevier County 4-Her’s Selected for Academic Conference

Sevier County 4-H members Andrew Spinosa and Mason Valentine recently took part in the State Junior High 4-H Academic Conference at the University of Tennessee. They were selected to attend based on their 4-H Project Work. Andrew attended in the Poultry Project and Mason in the Garden/Home Horticulture Project. Both will be eighth graders this Fall.

They studied under the supervision of university scientists and specialists during the four-day program. The conference is conducted in classroom, outdoor and laboratory settings.

“Participants get an in-depth look at college course work required in the areas of animal science, plant and soil science, and family and consumer sciences,” said Dr. Richard Clark, Assistant Dean and State 4-H Program Leader with the University of Tennessee Extension.
“The program also explores career opportunities in the fields related to the members’ project interests,” he said.

In addition to subject matter training, the conference features an opening program featuring science fun and facts, recreational activities on campus, service-learning activities in the Knoxville community, a graduation banquet and an afternoon at Dollywood.

The event is sponsored by the gifts from donors with an interest in agriculture, family and consumer sciences and other related areas. Locally the Sevier County delegates are sponsored by a donation from the Sevier County Farm Bureau.

The 4-H program is the youth development component of UT Extension and is also the state’s largest youth organization. With more than 168,000 members statewide, 4-H is available to young people in every Tennessee county.