Nov. 16, 2001

COLLEGE STATION - About 70 young Texans will celebrate Thanksgiving this year with the trip of a lifetime as they attend the 2001 National 4-H Congress Nov. 23-27 in Atlanta.

In addition to a welcoming ceremony and get-acquainted event the first evening, the attendees' agenda will include presentations by guest speakers Georgia State Sen. Max Cleland, 2002 Miss America Angie Harmon, motivational speakers Dan Clark, Robbie Melton and Dan Thurmon, and entertainment by illusionist Jeff O'Lear. Participants will attend workshops, an inspirational assembly, tours and the Congress Gala.

Delegates are chosen through an application process, said Toby Lepley, Texas Cooperative Extension program specialist-4-H. Members fill out an application and submit it along with an essay describing a community service plan. From these applications, a panel of judges choose finalists who come to College Station to be interviewed by the judging panel. Once this process is completed, delegates are announced at Texas 4H Roundup in June.

Delegates are chosen based on their involvement and leadership in 4-H, and the originality of their community service ideas, he said, adding that poise during the interview and ability to communicate are pluses.

First-place winners of the Texas 4-H recordbook program earn delegate positions based on their growth in 4-H, leadership and community service.

This year's delegates are: Garrett Anderson of Menard (Menard County), Jenna Baldwin of Anahuac (Chambers County), Joshua Bowden of Coldspring (San Jacinto County), Barbara Brown of Victoria (Victoria County), Rex Claxton of Celeste (Hunt County), Skyler Cornelius of Floydada (Floyd County), James Covey of Telephone (Fannin County), Angela Crowe of Jefferson (Marion County), Whit Dale of Greenville (Hunt County), Erin Dempsey of Hale Center (Hale County), Allen Dolle of Littlefield (Lamb County), Tiffany Eurich of Gainesville (Cooke County), Rachel Felderhoff of College Station (Brazos County), Ryan Ferguson of Del Valle (Travis County), Kasie Fey of La Vernia (Wilson County), Blake Frerich of Rowena (Runnels County), Jonathon Glueck of Canyon (Randall County), Haley Guess of Jayton (Kent County), Amanda Hahn of Port Lavaca (Calhoun County), Rashonda Hayes of Forestburg (Montague County), Francie Hickman of McKinney (Collin County), Darren Hillger of Garden City (Glasscock County), Sarah Hinkle of Buda (Hays County), Keri Hoelscher of San Angelo (Runnels County), Seth Hoelscher of Hereford (Deaf Smith County), Brandon Hollas of Cameron (Milam County), Hanna Houston of Brenham (Washington County), Cindy Hutcheson of Grandview (Johnson County), Jessica Igo of Plainview (Hale County), Kody Karsteter of Hockley (Waller County), Charles Keaton of Lockney (Floyd County), Emily Keefer of Littlefield (Lamb County), Alycyn Keeling of Levelland (Hockley County), Katie Kelley of Lockney (Floyd County), Holly Lane of Dimmitt (Castro County), Jared Locklear of Cameron (Milam County), Molly Long of Floydada (Floyd County), Samantha Longino of Rockport (Aransas County), Casey Major of Levelland (Hockley County), Ashlie Manglberger of Leakey (Real County), Emily Marchand of San Antonio (Bexar County), Shayne Markwardt of Carmine (Fayette County), Garrett Mathis of Lockney (Floyd County), Patrick McCaslin of Manor (Travis County), Garrett Moore of Forney (Kaufman County), Tameka Moore of Waco (McLennan County), Kyle Muller of Littlefield (Lamb County), Dustin Naivar of Taylor (Williamson County), Matthew Parker of Willis (Montgomery County), Whitney Peil of Perryton (Ochiltree County), Ellen Pennington of Raymondville (Willacy County), Jessica Perry of Victoria (Victoria County), Tasha Powell of Lockney (Floyd County), Jay Tom Ratliff of Rankin (Upton County), Kristyn Reinders of Burlington (Milam County), Sara Rice of San Antonio (Bexar County), Christi Schlenker of Cuero (DeWitt County), Emily Sinclair of Manor (Travis County), Kari Smith of College Station (Brazos County), Kristi Smith of Detroit (Red River County), Shelby Smith of Stephenville (Erath County), Stacy Stockard of Sanger (Denton County), Lacey Teel of Canton (Van Zandt County), Ellen Tom of Campbellton (Atascosa County), Jonathan Tom of Campbellton (Atascosa County), Emily Vinson of Big Lake (Reagan County), Shane Waiser of Thorndale (Milam County), Edward Walker of Carrizo Springs (Dimmit County), Katy Walters of Sequin (Guadalupe County) and Cory Wells of Cibolo (Guadalupe County).

In addition, this year the 2001 Texas 4-H recordbook winners will also attend the Atlanta event. Many of these recordbook winners are also delegates. They are: Ellen Tom, beef; Francie Hickman, citizenship; Alycyn Keeling, citizenship and civic education; Rachel Felderhoff, clothing and textiles; Lacey Teel, communication and expressive arts (open category); Barbara Brown, conservation of natural resources; Kasie Fey, consumer education; Jonathan Tom, consumer and family science (open category); Rex Claxton, dairy; Haley Guess, energy management; Emily Marchand, entomology; Blake Frerich, environmental science (open category); Molly Long, family life; Patrick McCaslin, food and nutrition; Josh Bowden, forestry; Darren Hillger, gardening and horticulture; Katy Walters, goat; Hanna Houston, health; Holly Lane, healthy lifestyles (open category); Stacy Stockard, horse; Christy Schlenker, housing and home environment; Keri Hoelscher, leadership; Shayne Markwardt, personal development/leadership (open category); Matthew Parker, photography; Kyle Muller, plant and soil science; Dustin Naivar, plants and animals (open category); Brandon Hollas, poultry; Whitney Peil, public speaking; Jay Tom Ratliff, rabbit; Shane Waiser, range management; Tiffany Eurich, recreation; Kristyn Reinders, safety; Garrett Mathis, science and technology (open category); Cindy Hutcheson, sheep; Allen Dolle, shooting sports; Garrett Moore, sportfishing; Seth Hoelscher, swine; Jessica Perry, veterinary science; and Kristi Smith, wildlife and fisheries.

Texas chaperones are Cody Stone of San Angelo, Charla Bading of Uvalde, Douglas McKinney of Carthage, Elaine Ward of Prairie View, Dirk Aaron of Plainview, Susie Spurlock of Stratford, Jeff Howard of College Station, Jennifer Mcalister of Anahuac and Kevin Chilek of Bryan.

Recordbook sponsors are: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Texas Cooperative Extension Specialist Association, Texas Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Blue Bell Creameries Inc., Morrison Milling Co., Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers' Association, Texas Quarterhorse Association, Texas Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, Texas Pork Producers and Winchester-Olin Corp.