Richmond County 4-H’er Kayla Butler took home a gold medal from State 4-H Congress.
Congress is the high point of the 4-H year, bringing young people from across the state to the North Carolina State University campus and Raleigh for four days of activity July 16-19. More than 560 4-H’ers, volunteer leaders and North Carolina Cooperative Extension agents attended 4-H Congress.
“I was surprised,” said Butler about her win. “I was like, there is no way. I was really happy and it made me feel proud.”
Butler, 15, the daughter of Jamie and Sam Gerald of Hamlet, won the 14 to 18 year old division of the fruit and vegetable use competition with her presentation on homemade blackberry jelly. Southern States Cooperatives and the Dinah Gore 4-H Foods and Nutrition Endowment sponsored the competition.
Butler said she got into 4-H because a friend mentioned it in passing and it sounded interesting to her. She said she truly loves the country life and all the animals and food involved. Her goat this year is named Cletus, and he is white and brown.
“This is Kayla’s first year presenting,” said Laura Grier, Extension agent. “This is a huge accomplishment for 4-H and Richmond County. Kayla also attends early college.”
The 4-H program is the youth education program of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, based at North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T State universities. More than 235,000 young people between the ages of 5 and 19 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year with the help of 21,500 adult and youth volunteers.
Go to www.facebook.com/richmondcounty4h to learn more about the opportunities offered through Richmond County 4-H. Or for more information on 4-H Youth Development or volunteer opportunities, contact Laura Grier, Extension Agent, at 910-997-8255 or laura_grier@ncsu.edu.
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.





















