Florida 4-H News Room: 4-H News from Around the State

Project Runway  designers, it looks like you may have some competition! Last night, high school students from all over the country came and competed in an intense fashion and talent show hosted by 4-H. Held in the Grand Ballroom of the Reitz Union at the University of Florida, the show, “Share the Fun and Fashion Review” showcased the talented and creative work of  25 to 30 high school students who designed and created outfits from scratch and with a budget. There were two categories of the fashion show: shopping on a budget (students had only $100 or less to create an outfit head to toe and were encouraged to find pieces from thrift stores) and construction (students had to design and create their outfits from scratch). Before the talent show, students had to learn skills that would help them for the competition, says Shaumond Scott, Florida 4-H communications coordinator. “Students had to learn how to sew, how to use patterns and durability,” says Scott. The talen

By Joey Flechas Sweat dripped from Quentin Carter's brow as he laid down chunks of pine straw over a piece of cardboard on the ground to stymie weeds. "I love to help people," Carter said. Almost 300 teens gathered at the University of Florida this week for the annual Florida 4-H Congress, which wrapped up Wednesday with a day of service. About 35 volunteers were at Wilmot Gardens, with some mulching and some hammering at slabs of granite to smooth out the surface of a soon-to-be park bench. Linda Luecking, project coordinator for the gardens, said the project marked the third year in a row that 4-H volunteers have worked at the gardens. "The great thing about getting 4-H students is that they are used to working," Luecking said. Another group worked at the Ronald McDonald House, organizing the food pantry, weeding and steam-cleaning the floors. Theresa Drew, house manager, said the volunteers were eager to work and attentive. "

4-H youth joined the University of Florida/St. Johns County Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and learned all about local agriculture last month. The Farm to Table camp was described as both a success and wonderful learning opportunity regarding the entire food production from St. Johns County farms to the community supermarket. With growing popularity of residents wanting to learn more about local agriculture, the youth experienced hands-on farm living by being a farmer for a day. Johns Sykes, Sykes and Cooper Farm, gave a tour of the farm including machinery used, the storage facility and actual harvest production. The youth also got the opportunity to shuck their own wide acre peas. While in Hastings, agriculture agent Steve Lands, gave a tour of the UF/IFAS Partnership for Water, Agriculture and Community Sustainability facility. Youth learned about edible landscaping, alternative agriculture and agricultural sustainability. Lands provided the youth with