4-H teams place high in state competition

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Contact)

WHITE COUNTY - Three out of four White County 4-H teams placed among the topfive winners at the state Wildlife Habitat contest April 25 in Hot Springs.

White County teams finished in first, second and fourth place. The first-place team included Isaac Gauvey, Joe McAlee and Todd Mills. The second-place team included Taylor Butler, Michelle Worden, Hope McAlee and Caeley Minard. The fourthplace team included Savannah Thomas, Bethany Runyan, Monica Kidd and McKenzie Jones. Taylor Butler was the secondhighest point individual, and Isaac Gauvey was fourth-highest point individual.

The Wildlife Evaluation program is a hands-on, experiential and practical way to learn about rural and urban wildlife management planning. The program teaches youth and adults ecologically sound principles of wildlife management, strong leadership and teamwork skills and the ability to apply learned knowledge.

The teams compete in different areas: identifying common wildlife species, common wildlife foods, interpreting wildlife habitat from aerial photographs and understanding and prescribing wildlife management practices.

The teams were coached by Brian Haller, county extension agent-staff chairman, and Jamie Martin, 4-H program assistant - both of the White County Cooperative Extension Service.

Arkansas 4-H is open to youths between 5 and 19. More information is available by calling Amy Heck at (501) 268-5394 or (800) 467-8166 or by e-mailing aheck@uaex.edu.

Three Rivers, Pages 121 on 05/11/2008