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Pike County 4-H members win state awards

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Avonne Petty
4-H Program Assistant
MURFREESBORO – Pike County 4-H is proud to announce Heather Jackson of the Glenwood Caddo River Gems club was the winner of this year’s Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame award. The presentation of this prestigious award was made last Tuesday evening during the Teen Star and Hall of Fame program at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center. There was only one recipient chosen from the entire state and this is the second highest award in 4-H.
The Hall of Fame originated to recognize truly outstanding 4-H Teen Stars who have achieved at the highest level and who have contributed to making Arkansas 4-H a dynamic and well known organization. She joins Tanyoka Williams, Sydney Steely, and Natalie Jones as Hall of Fame members from the county.
Heather is the 18 year old daughter of Jimmy and Renita Jackson of Caddo Gap. She and her brother, Andy, have been very active in the 4-H program with her mother serving as a volunteer leader in the Caddo River Gems club. She is currently serving as one of six State 4-H Officers.
Her main project has been leadership with emphasis on educating the public about being prepared for natural disasters. After the tornado in Mena, she saw the need, researched the subject, and developed a plan. She developed two brochures: “Disaster Packs for the Home,” and “Disaster Packs for Camping and Lake Activities.” She has distributed over 8,000 of these brochures and the Corps of Engineers at area lakes are distributing them around their camping areas. She has presented Disaster Awareness programs and workshops to many organizations.
Some people are blessed with the natural ability to influence others. Heather is one of these exceptional individuals. Over the years she has realized her leadership potential and has used it to benefit hundreds of youth and adults in her county, state, and across the country.
Heather will receive $11,500 in 4-H scholarships this year. She was the recipient of the Prudential Spirit of Community award, the Arkansas KARK TV and Department of Volunteerism Youth Humanitarian award, President’s Volunteer Service award. FEMA Region 6 Director’s award, the Adj General of Ark. Army National Guard Recognition of Excellence award, and the Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship award. Recently she was selected as “Kids Can Change the World” One Year Road Trip – Generation of Generosity – part of a nationwide multi-media documentary project with kid change-makers in all 50 states who are making the world better.
Heather’s future plans are to attend Henderson State University and major in Family and Consumer Science with an education degree.
Ryann Grubbs was one of four finalist for the Hall of Fame award. This is a great honor in itself. If there is one word to describe her, it is “vivacious.” She has an outstanding energy level, one of those rare individuals who can just take charge when needed and without being asked and always does a good job in whichever endeavor she is involved in.
Ryann is the 17 year old daughter of Gary and Rebecca Grubbs and is a member of the Delight Bulldogs club. She is serving as an Arkansas 4-H State Officer at Large, and for 5 years has been a State Fair Ambassador. She is also an Area Vice President of the Arkansas Junior Cattlemen’s Association. She was the Beef Skill-a-thon Grand Champion at the Arkansas State Fair, and won the High Point Livestock Judging Individual award.
Livestock has been her main project with a secondary project of Physical Fitness. She exhibits cattle in the county, district, and state fairs as well as many regional shows. One of the things she is most proud of is that she showed a bull she raised from a previous show heifer. He was selected the State Fair Grand Champion Bred and Owned Bull. On the National level, she won the McPeak’s Be a Champ Camp –Effort Award Banner.
Being an accomplished speaker, Ryann has been featured several times on television during the state fair. She also assists with beef promotion statewide. She encourages those interested in raising cattle to raise and show a beef animal to gain experience and knowledge of the cattle industry. Then she helps them get their animals ready to show. Having won many Showmanship competitions, Ryann is always helping young showmen with their skills.
Physical Fitness is her secondary project. She is an accomplished softball pitcher, played basketball, and ran track, for the Murfreesboro Rattlers where she won 7 athletic awards. She shares her skills with members of the aspiring ball players by teaching pitching, batting and fielding skills.
Another accomplishment was being Salutorian of her graduating class. Her plans are to attend Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia with a major in Agriculture Education and a minor in Marketing.
Maria Eatmon was recently selected as an Arkansas 4-H Teen Star. She received a medallion during the Teen Star and Hall of Fame program. She is the 15 year old daughter of Ace and Brenda Eatmon, and is a member of the Delightful Helping Hands 4-H club. Teen Stars are recognized for their project work, community service, and leadership ability. This is the third highest award in the 4-H program with 29 being honored this year from the entire state.
Her main project is Veterinary Science and she is in a five year 4-H Veterinary Assistant Science Training program. This past year, she volunteered 226 hours at the Centerpoint Animal Hospital and the Powell / Perry Vet. clinic as part of her course work.
Maria is also an accomplished jewelry maker; and plays the piano, guitar and violin. In May she competed in the Central States Peruvian Horse Show in Tunica, Mississippi where she won Reserved Grand Champion.
Last fall she placed second in the Farm Bureau Sew with Cotton contest where she modeled a skirt and blouse she made from 100% cotton fabric. She will be competing in the District and State 4-H O-Rama’s this summer in the Fashion Review with outfits she has made.
Her future plans are to attend Louisiana State University to earn a degree in Veterinary Science.

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