• By April Bowman
• Posted Thursday, July 10, 2014

Forsyth County 4-H’ers win honors at State 4-H Congress

Forsyth County 4-H’ers received honors during the recent State 4-H Congress. This year’s 4-H Congress, held in Raleigh June 21-24, attracted 541 youth and their adult leaders for activities including presentations on a variety of subjects, leadership and citizenship training, service opportunities, officer elections and more.

Two 4-H’ers – Lindsey Hooker and Justyn Joyce (Pictured) -- were inducted into the 4-H Honor Club, one of the highest honors a 4-H’er can achieve. New Honor Club members were tapped during a candlelight ceremony Saturday night, June 21.

Membership in the Honor Club is based on service to the 4-H program, leadership, moral standards, 4-H activities and project achievement. Less than one-half of 1 percent of North Carolina 4-H’ers are selected for membership each year. Members must be at least 16 years old and have a minimum of three years 4-H experience.

Lindsey Hooker, 18, daughter of David and Gwenda Hooker of Walkertown, is a recent home school graduate. A member of Trailblazer Teens 4-H Club and Carolina Inspirational Artists 4-H Club, she has been active in the 4-H program for 10 years.

Justyn Joyce, 18, son of Michael and Mae Lynn Joyce of Kernersville, is a recent graduate of Lighthouse Christian School. A member of Trailblazer Teens 4-H Club, he has been active in 4-H for nine years.

Two 4-H’ers, a brother and sister who reside in Davidson County, earned Gold medals in the presentation contest designed to test 4-H’ers’ knowledge of a variety of subjects.

Alex Arrowood, 13, son of Carla and Mark Arrowood of Lexington, won the 11- to 13-year-olds division of the forestry and wildlife competition, sponsored by the N.C. 4-H Development Fund. His presentation was about purple martins.

Hope Arrowood, 15, won the 14- to 18-year-olds division of the fisheries and aquatic resources competition, sponsored by Duke Energy. Her presentation was on the horseshoe crab.

Silver medalist included, Spencer Cook, 12, son of Eric and Angie Cook of Kernersville, in the Bugs and Bees category, Grant Wise, 16 year old son of Benny and Karen Wise of Kernersville. Grant was in the 14- to 18-year-olds division of Careers and Entrepreneurship with his presentation on Meteorology. Grant's younger brother, Austin Wise also earned a silver medal in the 11- to-13 year olds division of Citizenship and Community Service with his presentation on serving as a volunteer at a nearby assisted living facility.

Blaise Gourley of Walnut Cove, earned a Bronze medal for his presentation in the 14-to-18 year olds division of Arts and Communications. Blaise is the son of Leslieann and Tim Gourley. Jadyn Hooker earned a Bronze medal for her Small and Companion Animal presentation on dogs in the 11-13 year old category. She is the daughter of David and Gwenda Hooker of Walkertown.

Youth also participated in a 4K for 4-H event on Sunday, June 22. Forsyth County 4-H members raised $570 to benefit the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission through the 4K.

Pictured at the North Carolina 4-H Donor Reception held during the event are (left to right): BJ Hutchins, Laura Hutchins, Grant Wise, Jadyn Hooker, Samuel Barrick, Hope Arrowood, Blaise Gourley, Lindsey Hooker, Seth Barrick (Forsyth County 4-H Alumnus who worked as the sound and video technician for the event) and Sidney Hooker.

The 4-H program is the youth education program of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, based at North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T State universities. More than 227,782 young people between the ages of 5 and 19 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year with the help of 20,333 adult and youth volunteers.