4-H opportunities offered
By Jillian Lucas
Many local youth are taking part in various opportunities provided by 4-H this summer, including a variety of camps.
Two camps are coming up in the next few weeks that several Albany 4-H members will be attending.
Outdoor Adventure Camp is being held in Brownwood at the Texas 4-H Conference Center July 7-9 and will teach students new skills in archery, shooting, canoeing, kayaking, tent set up, astronomy, and more.
The following week, July 14-17, others will be attending Prime Time camp, also at the Texas 4-H Conference Center in Brownwood.
District Horse Show
4-H is not just about summer camps, however. Students also participate in different competitions throughout the year.
Most recently, 10-year-old Gage Burton won the high point judged Horseman Award at the District 7 4-H Horse Show on his horse ‘Rex.’
The show was held on June 15 in San Angelo.
Burton was up against 18 other competitors for the title, earning the highest number of points overall.
The classes included Stock Horse Reining, Stock Horse Trail, Stock Horse Pleasure, and Stock Horse Showmanship.
According to Burton’s mother Alicia Burton, he is planning to continue on to an even higher level next year.
“He hopes to compete in the State 4-H Horse Show in College Station next summer,” she said. “He wants to participate in all the same events he did this year but also include Working Cow Horse and Cutting.”
Burton has been participating in the local 4-H horse program that started earlier this year.
“We are very proud of how hard Gage has worked this year,” said Burton. He has set several goals and has worked hard to achieve them. We are also so thankful for such a supportive environment for him to learn in.”
Sewing and Fashion
Other students are discussing their plans to participate in the Junior and Intermediate Fashion Show in Brady on July 13.
In order to prepare for this, a sewing clinic was conducted at Friendship Baptist Church June 23-24.
According to Texas 4-H Fashion and Interior design project state ambassador Johnnie Hise, students cut out and constructed shorts and hair scrunchies.
“The students also worked on fashion design focusing on inspiration and color,” she said.
Hise was assisted by Myra Hise and Alice Branham.
Hise mentioned that the club would appreciate donations of sewing supplies in order to build sewing boxes for future projects.
“We could definitely use things such as scissors, tape measures, seam rippers, elastic, thread, pins, etc.,” Hise said.
A donation box is located at the Shackelford County Courthouse on the first floor until July 30.
Donations can also be given to Cheri Hawkins or Kim Russell.
