The summer of 2025 our county 4-H members brought home lots of awards from the district and state levels.  Starting with District Activity Day in June with 4 youth participating in presentations, all the way to State 4-H Presentations in July and the State 4-H Horse Artistic Expressions contest, Cherokee County 4-H members brought home some impressive ribbons and metals.

At District Activity Day, the team of Carlie James and Kaelyn Hedden, and individual presenters Cole Kimbrell and Eli Setless, all won gold medals moving them forward to the state competition.  At State 4-H Presentations, the competition was tough.  All the youth displayed their best efforts.  Eli Setless won the silver medal for his presentation, although our other youth didn't place at state they are already planning for next year.

Members from the Cherokee County 4-H Horse Club submitted entries in the Artistic Expression and Creative Writing Contest that is hosted every year in Raleigh, in conjunction with the state 4-H horse show.  Bringing home ribbons and a few medals were:

Senior Winners(pictured below):   (In Pink Shirt)Sanorah Watson, won 1st place in the craft competition, and 5th place in the drawing competition.  Carlie James(in black shirt), won 4th place in the painting contest.  Kaelyn Hedden(not pictured), won 2nd place in the painting contest.    Cole Kimbrell(not picture), won 6th place in the painting contest.  Eliana Meiners(in green shirt), won 2nd place in the essay contest,  3rd place in photography, 5th place in the painting competition, and 6th place in the drawing competition.

Junior Winners(pictured below):  AnneliseWilson(not pictured), won 1st place in the painting competition.  Elsa Payne(ball cap), won 9th place in the painting,  and 8th in the photography competition.  Eliza Meiners(blue shorts), won 3rd place in the short story competition.

Cloverbud Winners won ribbons and medals:  James Henry Hadas(first), Rylee Robertson(picture only),  and Thomas Anderson(green shirt) all were winners in the painting competition.

We are very proud of our youth for stepping up and out to enter these state competitions.  They worked hard to enter each competition while "Making the Best Better" through 4-H.

Be on the lookout for some more winners from Cherokee County 4-H after the Mountain State Fair ends because we have 42 entries heading there for the September competition.

Please contact Shannon Coleman, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, for questions regarding 4-H in Cherokee County. Email shannon_coleman@ncsu.edu or call (828)837-2210 ext. 4.