By: Alyshia Victoria
Many things have changed over the past year, but one thing we have had the pleasure to see remain constant is the hard work and dedication of our Union County 4-H youth. Regardless of the challenges sent their way, students in Union County 4-H and across the state have learned, served and developed. This hard work has produced incredible impact in the county as 4-H has not slowed down.
One pillar of Tennessee 4-H youth development is participation in judging teams. With an option for all interests, judging teams give students a practical way to learn and implement the decision-making process. Whether that be classifying livestock or determining food safety risks, students evaluate the problem and make recommendations that improve decision making, public speaking, and life skills.
Eastern Region 4-H Wildlife Judging took place on May 20 and was the first face-to-face 4-H judging team event in over a year. It was amazing!
Students have continued to participate in judging teams in a variety of productive ways this year, but it was nice to be back at an event with students from across the region learning together. The Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program (WHEP) trains young people in decision making skills related to Wildlife Management. Students learn about ecoregions and what wildlife live in them through meetings and events in Union County 4-H Outdoor Club.
There are three main learning objectives to the WHEP program:
1. To determine wildlife management practices needed for a given situation.
2. To match foods to the different species of wildlife which eat them.
3. To match the different habitats used by each species of wildlife.
At the competition, students from across East Tennessee come together to identify wildlife species and examine a piece of land and determine management practices to optimize the land for a species of wildlife. Seeing students make these decisions and reason through it is an incredible process.
Winners can go on to state and national contests, but the biggest motivator for students is getting to see their 4-H friends.
From nervous to excited, to relieved, it is a day of being outdoors and using the information they have worked so hard to learn.
Our 2021 Union County 4-H Wildlife Judging team included Silas Whitley, Gracie Tindell, Meradeth Whitley, Jonathan Tindell and Jeremiah Tindell. Congrats to this team for their hard work! The youngest member, Silas Whitley, even placed 8th highest individual. This is a tough competition with many participants, so this is a great accomplishment for Union County 4-H.
We also want to recognize all the students who come to our Union County 4-H Outdoor Club to learn about these topics. Not all students go to the competition, but without a great group of students here in the county to learn together, we could not be successful. If you would like to sign your child up for the outdoor club or maybe even volunteer call UT Extension Union County at 865-992-8038 or email avictoria@utk.edu.