Twelve South Carolina youth go to National 4-H Congress

Published: October 15, 2009

CLEMSON — Twelve South Carolina youth have earned an all-expense paid trip to National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Nov. 27-Dec. 1, along with a $500 college scholarship. The winners were announced at the state 4-H Congress held at Clemson University.

To be selected for the National Congress, senior 4-H members (ages 15-19) submit a portfolio of their 4-H accomplishments to a committee for judging.

The winners are:

• Taylor Gallardo, Charleston County
• Robert Gore, Chester County
• Lance Haymaker, Charleston County
• Sarah Lanier, Charleston County
• Lauren Masters, Charleston County
• Chelsea Nichols, Saluda County
• David Placko, Charleston County
• Larabeth Schurlknight, Berkeley County
• Lauren Schuster, Lancaster County
• Rachael Stansfield, Lexington County
• Christopher F. Sumpter, Jr., Sumter County
• Timothy White, Richland County

Taylor Gallardo, Charleston County (16, Summerville)
Taylor Gallardo’s main project area is citizenship and community service. She enjoys volunteering at the assisted-living facility in her community, preparing plates for senior citizens at Thanksgiving and participating in the Coastal Carolina Fair. She has written thank-you letters to servicemen overseas, which inspired her club to chose the theme “tribute to our military” for the Christmas Tree contest at the county fair. She also has participated in the wood science, entomology, arts and crafts, food and nutrition, electric and horticulture projects.

“4-H has helped me become a better leader and citizen,” Gallardo said. “By working together with my club, we can accomplish anything.”  Her future plans are to attend college and become an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Robert Gore, Chester County (18, Chester)
Robert Gore’s main project area is safety. Through the 4-H fire cadets and explorers programs, he has learned how to have fun and be safe at the same time. He also has participated in the 4-H Breads Workshop, the Food, Fun, and Fitness camp and 4-H Summer Camp at Tree Tops, where he first attended as a delegate and has been a counselor for the past two years. He is a member of the Chester County 4-H Teen Council and participated in community-service projects such as packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child, placing book plates in dictionaries for the Rotary Club, and helping with a winter coat donation program.  

“I love 4-H because it has so much to offer,” said Gore. “There are things to do in the spring, summer, fall and winter. Everyone needs to be involved in 4-H.”  

Lance Haymaker, Charleston County (18, North Charleston)
Lance Haymaker is president of the Charleston Clover 4-H Club and has learned that being a good leader will help him as he takes on more adult responsibilities.  His main project area is leadership because he wanted to develop more socially. He helps younger 4-H members in his club with their projects.  He is a State 4-H Ambassador and hopes to serve on the State 4-H Teen Council.  While participating in the USS Hobson Memorial Service, in which his club laid a wreath in memory of those who lost their lives, he realized that as good citizens we should all be involved in this type of services to show our respect and gratitude for their service.  

“My best experience in 4-H has been the opportunity to attend State Teen Weekend and State 4-H Congress,” said Haymaker. “The skills and knowledge I have learned at these events have aided me in the role as a better 4-H’er and leader in my club.”

Sarah Lanier, Charleston County (16, Charleston)
Sarah Lanier is a sophomore at West Ashley High School in Charleston. She serves as secretary of her 4-H club and her main project area is arts and crafts. She also has participated in entomology, the sewing project and wood science, where her bird house won a blue ribbon at the county fair. She credits 4-H with teaching her how to use her leadership skills. She has participated in the county and state presentations contest, and helped organize a video promoting 4-H that was shown at the County Awards Banquet.   

“4-H has helped me help others and shown me that I can make a difference,” said Lanier. Her future plans are to become a veterinarian.

Lauren Masters, Charleston County (16, Goose Creek)
Lauren Masters’s main project area is natural resources and wildlife. She is very involved in the rescue organization Greyhound Pets of America, in which she has fostered greyhounds for adoption. She also is very active in the 4-H (Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program (WHEP), in which she has served as team captain. Through this program, she has learned about southeastern wildlife, how to prepare and give speeches, and how to lead a team.  Lauren is also very active in 4-H citizenship and community service projects.  She has volunteered at a local assisted living facility, prepared Thanksgiving plates for senior citizens, donated items for her 4-H clubs booth at the Coastal Carolina Fair, and worked to repair homes in Georgia with her church. Her club also made ornaments for the Christmas Tree Contest at the fair as a tribute to military service personnel.  

“I owe a lot to 4-H,” said Masters. “It has taught me many lessons and skills that will help me throughout life, as well as helped me to meet new people.”  Her future plans are to become a physical therapy assistant.

Chelsea Nichols, Saluda County (16, Saluda)
Chelsea Nichols’s has been involved in 4-H for 11 years. Her project is showing cows. She feels that preparing for the shows builds character and helps her understand the importance of a commitment and success that comes with teamwork and dedication to a project. Her other projects include livestock judging, and training/showing goats, poultry, and dogs. She is active in the Kids in the Kitchen program where she volunteers her time to instruct kids on cooking. She has attended the National Junior Leadership conference in Chevy Chase, Md., and serves as Young Miss Saluda County and Miss Florence County.  

“4-H builds character, discipline and respect,” said Nichols. “It teaches how to give of yourself freely and that develops into leadership.”  Her future plans are to attend Clemson University and major in Pre-Veterinarian Science and then to continue her education at UGA Veterinarian School.

David Placko, Charleston County (16, Summerville)
David Placko’s favorite 4-H program is learning about animals. He volunteers at the local SPCA where he helps the staff find the right home for each dog. He also volunteers at a local pet store where he feeds animals and cleans cages. Through the 4-H Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program (WHEP), he has learned about the habitat needs and requirements of different animals.  In the program, he made molds of tracks made by mammals that are used by many homeschooled students in his community. David also enjoys photography.

“The leadership and life skills I have learned in 4-H will definitely help me achieve my goal,” said Placko. His future plans are to become a Marine.

Larabeth Schurlknight, Berkeley County (16, Moncks Corner)
Larabeth Schurlknight is a senior at Berkeley High School in Berkeley County and has been in 4-H for nine years. Her main project area is the horse project. Every year, her 4-H club has participated in the State 4-H Horse Show, where they work together to prepare horses and riders for the competition. Her other project areas include ecology, woodworking, sewing, and expressive and performing arts. Her community service projects include working with the Berkeley County SPCA and Berkeley County PAWS, and volunteering at a home for abused children.  

“4-H has helped me learn that by working together as a team, you can accomplish your goal,” said Schurlknight. “It has given me confidence, goals and the opportunity to travel and meet people. Without 4-H, there would be a huge void in my life.” Her future plans are to attend Clemson University and major in agribusiness with an emphasis on biosecurity.

Lauren Schuster, Lancaster County (18, Indian Land)
Lauren Schuster is active in the 4-H horse program. She also enjoys her community service projects, including volunteering at the local nursing home and making care packages for a local orphanage. Because of 4-H she has learned to value others for who they are.

“4-H has made me a better person,” Schuster said. “I credit 4-H with helping her to believe in myself.”  Her future plans are to attend Winthrop University and study Early Childhood Education with a minor in dance and photography.


Rachael Stansfield, Lexington County (16, West Columbia)
Rachael Stansfield is involved in the 4-H horse program in Batesburg-Leesville and in the robotics club in Little Mountain. Because 4-H has done so much for her, Rachael decided to repay 4-H by becoming an Ambassador. She plans to start the 4-H Mentors Program, where Ambassadors are assigned five clubs that they help to become honor clubs. She helped plan the first state 4-H Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training and her team presented at the National 4-H Agents Conference in Atlanta.  Her love of computers inspired her to present her portfolio this year by creating a website that showcased meeting new friends, participating in club activities, attending state events, and learning about life.  

Christopher F. Sumpter, Jr., Sumter County (17, Borden)
Chris Sumpter is carrying on a family tradition of 4-H membership that began with his great-grandparents. He is a member of the 4-H Teen Council, Future Farmers of America, Future Business Leaders of America, Junior County Council, and Young Politicians of America, and has attended Boys State. He has participated in 4-H cooking class and the beef cattle workshop at Clemson. He prepares cattle and his horse for shows at the county and state level. He also has been involved with the Food and Cover Establishment (FACE) project for 10 years. He traveled to Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Conference in Texas. At the conference, he used his knowledge of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to help map out a playground, which he helped to build and donate to the community there.  

“4-H has taught me to be a better person, to make good impressions, to be my own unique self, and how to make the best better,” said Sumpter. His future plans are to attend college and become the governor of South Carolina.

Timothy White, Richland County (18, Columbia)
Timothy White is a senior at Dreher High School and has been involved in 4-H for 11 years.  He is a member of the 4-H Earthwalkers Club. At school he is involved in the Honors program, MEGGS Math, Governor’s School of Science and Math, and Duke Scholar’s program. He also is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars Registry and plays cello on the University of South Carolina’s String project.  Timothy’s main 4-H project is leadership. He has been involved in the robotics project, earning honorable mention at the Orangeburg County Fair. He is active in community service projects including Harvest Hope Food Bank, the Salvation Army, and serving on the first Teen Advisory Board for the Ronald McDonald House.  He is also a certified member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and has demonstrated how to milk a cow at the Sparkleberry Fair.  

“4-H gives me the opportunity to show and improve my leadership skills,” said White. “I also get to make new friends.”

END

With more than 6.8 million youth involved in 4-H nationwide, it is one of the country's most diverse organizations. Originally focused on agricultural projects, 4-H has expanded to support the needs and interests of young people into the 21st century. The 4-H program crosses all economic, racial and social barriers. Local 4-H agents are youth development professionals who provide leadership in each county as a part of the nationwide extension system, which is a partnership among the U.S. Department of Agriculture, state land-grant universities, local county governments and the private sector. To learn more about joining 4-H or becoming a volunteer, contact your local Clemson extension office or visit the state 4-H web site at www.clemson.edu/4h/.