Thida Diamond t 4-H Club meets, plans for year ahead

Members will set a date to write the club skit for Performing Arts, ideas were discussed. Eight thank you cards were written to those who has helped the club in the last few months. New business discussion included upcoming livestock workshops in March, put on by club members and guest.

Record Books are a record describing a members work in their projects, community Service and leadership work. This record helps youth while preparing for future employment, college applications, scholarships and household management with the skills they gain from record keeping. All club members turned in their record book and all were county winners. Lisa Davis and Christa Meeks, two beginner’s books, Logan Wiltrout intermediate book and Noah Stephens Advance book will continue to the District and State level competitions.

Members campaigned for the 2023 office of their choice. After election, each member practice their speech and modeling for the upcoming County Fashion Revue activity. Next meeting will be held Feb. 12, at the Thida Community Center at 2 p.m.

[Editor’s note: The Batesville Guard received a thank-you note from these outstanding teens. It is much appreciated.]

Madison Ireland of the Diamond T 4-H Club is a State 4-H Record book winner in the category of Civic Engagement. She received a plaque and trip to Atlanta, Georgia to attend National Congress. During her trip, she was able to participate in a huge community service at the Atlanta History Center where she was able to help with cleaning the gardens. She had opportunities to join educational workshops and team building events while enjoying an international dinner and entertainment. She took an educational tour of Atlanta and got to put on formal attire for the National 4-H Gala with all the other delegates.

Ireland has been a member of the Diamond T 4-H Club for seven years where she was involved in leadership and community service. She was President of the club and Vice-President of the Independence County Teen Club. She was an Arkansas Teen Star, Bronze Congressional Award recipient and an Arkansas State Ambassador for three years where she planned and attended the Teen Leader Conference at the 4-H Center in Ferndale each year.

Ireland’s main project was Art and her other projects were Engineering, Photography and Archery. She has won many awards with her drawings, paintings and photography, even earning the title for Best of Show. One of her biggest art projects, was painting a 4x4 ft. sign on a county highway to showcase 4-H to the public. Her photography has been featured in the AgHeritage Farm Credit Services calendar twice.

Ireland’s 4-H and community service projects are too numerous to name them all but here are a few. She has implemented fundraisers for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, made lap quilts for nursing homes, donated water to emergency personnel, school supplies to needy children and books to the public library. She has donated food and supplies to food banks, blessing boxes and helped to pack over 1200 boxes to less fortunate families during Christmas Brings Hope.

Madison has been a mentor, leader and volunteer to many youth during her time as a member of Independence County 4-H and Diamond T 4-H Club. The year of 2022 was her last year in this phenomenal organization. She gained so much knowledge and skills she will have for a lifetime.

Keylee Harris, member of the Diamond T 4-H club is named state 4-H goat record book winner for 2022. She received an all-expenses paid trip to Atlanta, Georgia in November. She was recognized at the State 4-H O’Rama in July at the Bud Walton Auditorium on the campus of University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Harris has been a member of the Independence County Diamond T 4-H club for thirteen years and is involved in leadership and community service. She has held every office in her community and county clubs, currently she is the Diamond T 4-H club reporter and Teen club Historian. She is an Arkansas State 4-H teen star and Ambassador.

Harris’ main 4-H project is Animal Science – Goat. She owns a herd of twelve registered Boer goats that she raises, sells, and shows. She exhibits livestock at the local fair, district fair, state fair, and national fairs.

Her other projects include theater and drama, and health and fitness, as well as fashion. In her fashion project she has won on county, district, state, and national levels.

Harris has participated in numerous community service and leadership projects including in sewing and donating over 900 reusable cloth masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, placed American flags on veterans’ graves, volunteered at Benteen elementary school in Atlanta, Georgia, collected bottle lids for the VFW in Phoenix, Arizona, picked up trash along the roadside and at Jacksonport State Park, and put on showmanship clinics at her arena for aspiring youth showman. Harris has won over 50 belt buckles throughout her show career.

She was awarded Junior and Senior Leadership Awards, citizenship award, herdsman award and the congressional award gold medal. Harris has demonstrated how to be a true 4-Her and role model in 4-H.