4-H club reports a successful year

Shown at the Benton County Achievement Award banquet are club members: Kendall Yarbrough (left, front), Hannah Harris, Haley Harris, Hayden Harris, Cole Leonard, Sayer Smith (left, back), Carson Alsup, Joshua Lockhart, Ashton Yarbrough, Noah Smith and Lauren Leonard.
Shown at the Benton County Achievement Award banquet are club members: Kendall Yarbrough (left, front), Hannah Harris, Haley Harris, Hayden Harris, Cole Leonard, Sayer Smith (left, back), Carson Alsup, Joshua Lockhart, Ashton Yarbrough, Noah Smith and Lauren Leonard.

— The Town & Country 4-H Club of Benton County had an eventful and successful 2011 reported outgoing president, Joshua Lockhart.

Each year an annual county banquet and celebration is held to recognize the achievements of 4-H members representing 22 clubs in Benton County. Of the nine county awards presented for individual excellence and achievement, five were garnered by Town & Country 4-H Club members. These winners were Cole Leonard - Junior County Champion, Lauren Leonard - Junior Community Service Award, Joshua Lockhart - Intermediate County Champion, Noah Smith - Intermediate Leadership Award, and Sayer Smith - Senior Community Service Award.

The Town & Country 4-H Club currently has 25 active members. Each member works to excel throughout the year by focusing on a main project of interest. Town & Country 4-H members and their main projects include: Carson Alsup - technology; Ethan Bennett - beef; Cayden Bingham - beef; Levi Bingham - beef; Wyatt Bingham - swine; Karson Coffee - animal science; Kayton Coffee - animal science; Hannah Harris - sheep; Hayden Harris - market goats; Haley Harris - dairy goats; Jaydon Jarnagan - horse; Jenna Jarnagan - horse; Cole Leonard - arts and humanities; Lauren Leonard - arts and humanities; Baylee Lester - horse; Joshua Lockhart - leadership; Avery Prince - nutrition; Paige Pruitt - beef; Parker Pruitt - beef; Morgan Puryear - horse; Regan Puryear - shooting sports; Noah Smith - fitness leadership; Sayer Smith - leadership; Ashton Yarbrough - animal science; and Kendall Yarbrough - animal science. Additionally, Town & Country 4-H was named a state honor club.

Community service is a main focus of the club. In 2011 the community service organizations that were supported by the club’s members included: Feed My Sheep Food Ministry; Keep Arkansas Beautiful; ICPC (Foster Parent) Program; Salvation Army; Valentine Cards for Veterans; Benton County Animal Shelter; NWA Women's Shelter; St. Jude's Ranch for Children; AR Children’s Hospital Christmas in July; AR Rice Depot Children’s Disaster Kits; M.A.D. for Soldiers; Susan G. Komen Foundation; Gravette Community Garden; Ronald McDonald House; Honor Flight Letters to Veterans; and the HIPPIE Kid Care project.

During the Jan. 9, 2012, club meeting, newly elected officers were installed during a brief ceremony. The 2012 Town & Country Club officers are Noah Smith - president; Carson Alsup - first vice preseident; Ashton Yarbrough - second vice president; Lauren Leonard - third vice president; Joshua Lockhart and Sayer Smith - senior club leaders; Cole Leonard - treasurer; Kayton Coffee - secretary; Kendall Yarbrough - Cloverbud leader; Levi Bingham - parliamentarian; Morgan Puryear, Hannah Harris and Hayden Harris - photographers; Wyatt Bingham - song leader; Regan Puryear, Karson Coffee, Cayden Bingham and Parker Pruitt - recreation leaders; and Paige Pruitt - devotional leader.

The club, chartered in 2004, meets on the second Monday of each month at the Benton County Extension Office auditorium. Main Leader is Michelle Rieff. Co-leaders are Mellissa Smith and Brenda Lockhart. Adult Leaders include Danny Alsup, Debbie Alsup, Jacy Alsup, Lisa Amos, Jeff Coffee, LaGaye Coffee, Misty Harris, Dorian Leonard, Kent Leonard, Toby Lester, Ross Lockhart, Kelly Pruitt, Markeeta Puryear, Richard Puryear, Kevin Rieff and Kimberly Yarbrough.

Opinion, Pages 8 on 01/18/2012