Carter County 4-H members attend 70th Annual Tennessee 4-H Congress

Published 11:17 am Monday, June 5, 2017

BY BRILEE CULBERT AND ELIJAH SMITH

Carter County 4-H member delegates were welcomed to the 70th Annual Tennessee 4-H Congress recently at the Music City Sheraton in Nashville.

The conference was held March 19-22, and was attended by local youth Brilee Culbert of Elizabethton and Elijah Smith of Hampton. Culbert served as delegate for the House of Representatives and Smith served as delegate for the Senate.

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The Opening Assembly on Sunday night included a Pageant: “Tennessee, Land that I Love” and Awards Ceremony in a Dinner Theater setting performed by the 4-H Performing Arts Troupe. Following, on Sunday evening were regional meetings where delegates nominated area delegates for the offices of Congress Governor, Speaker of the House and Speaker of the Senate.

Eastern Region nominees were John Ryan Scarlett of Jefferson County for Speaker of the Senate and Hannah Freeland of Knox County for Speaker of the House. Jeremiah South of Hancock County was nominated for Governor.

On Monday morning, delegates got down to business in a mock session of the House of Representatives and Senate which was referred to as the “Know Your Government” sessions.

Here, students debated bills that will be on the house and senate floors in the upcoming sessions. Both Smith and Culbert represented Carter County well by discussing these bills in the House and Senate. Some of these bills included a tax on gasoline, as well as public education issues. Delegates also considered and passed a resolution acknowledging the damage caused by fires recently to the Great Smoky Mountains.

After the mock legislative sessions and lunch, students had small group sessions explaining specific issues related to government. Then, students were provided the opportunity to meet their local legislators. Delegates from Carter County spent time discussing 4-H and their communities with Sen. Rusty Crowe, Sen. Jon Lundberg, Rep. Timothy Hill, and Rep. John Holsclaw Jr.

The students were pleasantly surprised to also be greeted by Lundberg’s dog “Nash”.

“It was a great experience to speak with someone who is serving at that level of government. We talked about our communities with them, and they could relate us. It was nice to see how they operate and see just how much they do while in Nashville,” Smith said.

Monday concluded with a great dinner at local favorite, Old Spaghetti Factory, where Carter County delegates enjoyed visiting with new friends, 4-Hers from the Central and Western regions, during dinner.

Tuesday’s events began with Regional breakfasts. During breakfasts, regional sponsors were recognized. Sponsors of the Eastern Region include KVAT Foods/Food City, River Valley AgCredit, Tennessee Valley Fair and Friends of William Hale. “It was nice to see how many groups and businesses support 4-H in Tennessee,” Smith said.

After breakfast, delegates voted on their Congress Governor, Speaker of the House and Speaker of the Senate. “We gained experience in the voting. We used real electronic voting booths just like what we will use when we turn 18,” Smith said. Congress officers for 2018 were announced at the Morning Assembly. Governor-elect is Sorrell Martin of Lincoln County; Joshua Wade, Speaker of the House of Bedford County; and Speaker of the Senate, John Ryan Scarlett of Jefferson County.

Culbert entertained the delegation at the Eastern Region Breakfast and Tennessee 4-H Congress Morning Assembly by performing “Something in the Water” by Carrie Underwood.

Following the assembly announcing the state winners, delegates were dismissed from official duties to enjoy an excursion down the Cumberland River aboard the General Jackson where they enjoyed lunch and entertainment.

The final event of the Congress was the Citizenship Banquet and Inaugural Ball where delegates, volunteers, advisors and distinguished guests donned their formal apparel for dinner and awards followed by a dance in the ballroom.

On Wednesday morning, delegates said farewell to many new friends and returned to their homes in almost every county of the state.

The Tennessee 4-H Congress is an annual event that gives nearly 400 teenagers an in-depth look into state government. Students are selected by submitting a written essay in January. You must be a 9th or 10th grade student, or you may be a 4-H Regional Public Speaking or Portfolio winner to attend. Numerous teens have been inspired to pursue a career in public service due to this program.

The 4-H delegates would like to give a special “thank you” to the donors who sponsored their registration and travel for this event: Farm Bureau and Kiwanis.

Also, a special thank you to the Coffee Company, Sycamore Shoals State Park, and Roan Mountain Citizens Club for their help with our Carter County gift sets for this event.

For more information regarding this and other educational programs through the UT Extension, readers may contact the local 4-H agent at 423-542-1818.