DATE:     7/17/96 
CONTACT:  Kim Alexander, (864) 656-3848
WRITER:   Susan Bedingfield, (864) 656-3876

Chester County 4-H'er Wins
Clemson Presidential Tray

     CLEMSON -- Thanks to a grandfather who taught her to always
give her all, a Chester County girl has won the highest award
given to South Carolina 4-H'ers.
     Tracy Laws of Chester was one of four winners of Clemson
University Presidential Trays named at the annual State 4-H
Congress on July 9 in Columbia. Her award was presented by
Clemson University President Constantine Curris.
     Laws, 16, is the daughter of Janice Counterman of Chester.
She has been a member of 4-H since she was 5, when her
grandfather enrolled her and his five other grandchildren in the
4-H horse club, and then taught his grandchildren: "Never give
yourself to doubt -- only to prove you can do it."
     Laws is a rising senior at Chester High School. She was a
member of the Beta Club, show choir, cheerleading squad, Spanish
club and music honor society, and she was elected student body
president for the 1996-97 school year.
     She joined the dairy club in 1993, and has won over $300 in
prize money at 4-H county and state shows. Also, she has served
as vice-president and secretary of the Chester County Dairy Club. 
     Tracy spoke with over 200 third-graders about dairy heifers
at the Chester County Farm-City Day. 
     She was elected 1996-97 4-H State Teen Representative. She 
helped plan and conduct Junior and Senior Teen Weekends and
served as a chaperone at the Junior Teen Weekend.
     Her other 4-H projects have included raising money for the
county hospital, March-of-Dimes, and Brace-a-Child Foundation.
     Other Presidential Tray winners are: Jason Osgood, 17, of
Monks Corner; Matt Grier, 17, of Calhoun County; and Rebecca Ann 
Bozard, 18, of Orangeburg County. 
                            END