For the school year that ended in 2020, Boyle County 4-H was set to begin a new Showcase program to reward students for their full body of 4-H work. The goal was to financially reward all seniors who put significant time and effort into their projects and who took further steps of growing themselves as communicators, leaders and citizens.

However, COVID-19 restrictions stopped the program, which was going to help the youth complete their 4-H Achievement application for the year (a resumé of their 4-H work that grows over time and is useful for job and college applications.) The program was also going to host a Showcase event where students would present their project work to community members.

The program was partnering with the Boyle County FFA to financially reward the students who participated in any project in a significant way. In fact, 4-H and FFA members held their first meeting to build the program just prior to schools shutting down in March.

The school year, as the pandemic continues, the students are still trying to work out the program.

Despite the pandemic’s effects on last year’s Showcase program, five 4-H seniors who graduated in May of 2020, who would have had many end-of-career 4-H experiences in a normal year, have been awarded the first Boyle County 4-H Showcase Scholarships. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship, sponsored by Listeners On Call.

The scholarship winners are:

Faris Allahham, Gracie Goode, Jacob Graves, Jed Greene and Landry Woodrum.

• Faris Allahham is a 10–year member of Boyle County 4-H with project work in leadership, citizenship, communications, and foods during his career. He also served as a Junior Counselor at summer 4-H Camp. He is a 2020 graduate of Boyle County High School and is currently attending the University of Kentucky, majoring in biology on a pre-med track and is minoring in Arabic and music theory.

Faris said, “4-H has given me the means by which I can explore the world and be a leader (or a follower, if necessary) in whatever I may do.”

• Gracie Goode is a 10-year member of Boyle County 4-H with project work in leadership, foods, and shooting sports during her career. She also served as a Junior Counselor at summer 4-H Camp and Cloverbud Camp. She is also a 10-year camper. Gracie is a 2020 graduate of Mercer County High School, who previously was a student at Danville High School.

Gracie is attending Campbellsville University in Harrodsburg and is majoring in middle school education with a focus on social studies and language arts.

Gracie said, “I would not be the person I am today without 4-H. Through 4-H, I learned what it meant to be a good communicator, a leader, and overall someone who values commitment to others. Without it I probably would still be that shy fifth grader who never raised her hand in class. I would have never even thought of becoming a teacher, and I wouldn’t be the same person I am today.”

• Jacob Graves is a 10-year member of Boyle County 4-H with project work in livestock, communications, and entrepreneurism during his career. He is also a 10-year member of the Boyle County 4-H Livestock Judging Team. He is a 2020 graduate of Boyle County High School and iis enrolled in UK’s landscape architecture program.

Jacob said, “The many programs I have participated in through this organization have all taught me many skills such as public speaking and how to work as a team, but the biggest take away I got is that no matter who you are or where you come from, you can always accomplish your goals by working hard.”

• Jed Greene is a 10-year member of Boyle County 4-H with project work in leadership, foods, and citizenship during his career. He also served as a Junior Counselor at summer 4-H Camp and is a 10-year camper. He is a 2020 graduate of Boyle County High School and is attending UK majoring in agriculture.

Jed said, “4-H has made me a more self-confident and responsible person. I’m better prepared to deal with the roller coaster of life.”

• Landry Woodrum is a 10-year member of Boyle County 4-H with project work in leadership, communications, entrepreneurism, foods, and citizenship during his career. He also served as a Junior Counselor at summer 4-H Camp and Cloverbud Camp and is a 10-year camper. Beyond Boyle County, Landry served on the District 4 4-H Teen Council, the State 4-H Teen Council, and is currently serving as the 2020-21 Kentucky 4-H State President.

He is a 2020 graduate of BCHS and is currently attending UK and is majoring in agricultural economics.

Landry said, “4-H has made an incredible impact on me over my ten-year career.  It has given me my closest friends, helped me identify what I’m best at, and lead me to discover my passion for agriculture.”

 

About Listeners on Call: Listeners On Call®, is the pioneer in Consumer Listening Services. Listeners on Call® promotes mental health and well-being by connecting callers anywhere to trained listeners, anonymously and affordably.  We are very grateful for this major investment in the lives of these five terrific young people.