4-H Senior Horticulture Team competes at nationals

On Oct. 5, the Brunswick County 4-H Senior Horticulture Team of Darby Dawkins, Carlyn Clarke, Camden Clarke and coach Dr George Wong-Chong, representing North Carolina, attended the National Junior Horticulture Association (NJHA) Convention at Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
The team participated in the horticulture judging and plant identification competition, photography competition, photography workshop, horticulture jeopardy and horticulture connection.
They also toured some of Wisconsin’s cranberry production farms and the Dells of Wisconsin with more than 200 youth participating in the national convention.
The horticulture judging and plant identification competition was the major event. This competition entailed three components:
1. Judging the quality of horticultural products (plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables); 2. Identification of 100 plants from a list of 140 plants; 3. A written test on the fundamentals and practices of horticulture.
The Brunswick County team placed sixth overall and Darby Dawkins placed fifth in individual scoring. Dawkins also competed in the photography competition and achieved a Grand National Award for her “Monarch on Lantana” and an outstanding award for her “Beautiful Pollinators.”
This trip was life-savoring for the 4-H kids and was just-reward for their hard work that entitled them to go to nationals, winning the statewide competition on May 19 earlier this year.
Brunswick County 4-H is currently seeking new members for the horticulture judging team, both juniors and seniors. Interested parties should contact Blair Green, 4-H agent, Brunswick County 4-H.
Wong-Chong is a Brunswick County Master Gardener. Learn more about the county’s Master Gardening program and volunteering opportunities by contacting him or Tom Woods, volunteer coordinator, at tom_woods@ncsu.edu or call 253-2610.
To learn more about Brunswick County 4-H and how to participate in activities like these, contact Blair Green, 4-H extension agent, at blair_wooten@ncsu.edu or Angie Lawrence, 4-H program assistant, at angie_lawrence@ncsu.edu. Call the Cooperative Extension office at 253-2610 or visit its website at http://brunswickco4h.shutterfly.com/ or blog at http://brunswick4h.wordpress.com/.