[Image: Congress 2007]Louisiana Youth Enjoy Mix of Educational, Service, and Recreational Opportunities at 4-H Congress
Twenty-six teens represented Louisiana at the 86th annual National 4-H Congress, along with more than 1,000 other delegates from throughout the United States and its territories, in Atlanta during the Thanksgiving weekend.
According to 4-H agents Jennifer Bell and Ken Spoto, 2007 4-H Congress, a state-level 4-H awards trip for Louisiana youth that spanned five days and four nights, included the following teens: Sarah Landry of Acadia; Layken Ducote and Shelby George of Avoyelles; Sara Brakeville of Bossier; Jessica Lowe of Caddo; Kourtney Gentry of Catahoula; Weldon Nipper of Claiborne; Brittany Carlton of East Baton Rouge; Mallory Daire of Evangeline; Alyssa Watkins and Brittany Doise of Jeff Davis; Eve Franchebois of Lafayette; Samantha Lirette of Lafourche; Ciara Collins, Taylor Frey, Katherine Robillard, André’ St. Romain and Alanna Williams of Point Coupee; Colt Brister and Aaron Martin from Rapides; Jacob Albert, Donna Guidry and Linda Nguyen of St. Martin; and Nicholas Broussard, Alex LeBlanc and Sarah Zaunbracher of Vermillion. Bell, Spoto, adult leader Belinda Krumtum of Bossier and state 4-H program leader Mark Tassin also attended.
Activities at Congress included team-building workshops, informative roadrunner sessions, a lunch at Atlanta’s Hard Rock Café and an evening of culture at the Atlanta History Museum. Highlights of the museum were a catered dinner, a comedy performance, Bluegrass music and an African dance performance.
Service learning opportunities for the Congress delegates included visits to Atlanta-area middle and elementary schools, the grounds of the Atlanta History Museum or St. Vincent DePaul. Some of the exciting and educational tours delegates enjoyed in the Atlanta area included the Georgia Aquarium, Headline News, ESPN, the Martin Luther King Center, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum and the Atlanta Zoo.
Diversity appreciation and fun were shared by all the delegates during the welcome and pin exchange session on the first night of Congress and an international dinner and dance the second night. Luau and Spanish dance performances by members of the delegations from Hawaii and Puerto Rico, respectively, were extra treats for all to marvel.
Of course, no conference would be complete without guest speakers, and the most memorable of those at Congress included Louisiana native General Honore' and 2007 Miss America, Lauren Nelson, during the semi-formally attired Congress Gala with motivational speaker Dr. Rick Rigsby during the closing session.