TRACY GLADNEY, ArkLaTex Community Writer May 26, 2022
TEXARKANA, Ark. – Despite rainy weather, a decent turnout of youth competitors participated in the 4-H O-Rama on Tuesday at the Texarkana, Ark. Rec Center.
Miller County 4-H O-Rama agent McKenzie Rigdon was there organizing her first 4-H event.
“The kids competed in several different contest areas, and some in more than one,” said Rigdon.
The contest categories included BB gun safety, bicycle skills, bay casting, wildlife knowledge, livestock skills, and performing arts which featured dance and a vocal. Also, multiple topics on which they could choose to present a speech.
Assisting her at the event were Rigdon’s co-worker, Veronica Kennedy from the Miller County Extension office, and Bethany Barney, University of Arkansas 4-H and FCS agent from Little River County.
Rigdon said, “Today is our County O-Rama contest, basically where our youth come out and show us the skills that they possess. Then each member gets to pick out one or more contests in which to compete. And if they score high enough, they get to proceed to the district contest which is on June 14 in Malvern, Ark.”
Other volunteers were also on-hand to help with the event.
Casey Hardaway, an educator and Nick Adams, the facility manager from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission from the Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center in Columbus, Ark. were there to facilitate the fishing portion of the event.
Hardaway said the kids practiced and showcased their fishing rod casting skills and then took a difficult test that assessed their knowledge of fish, fish anatomy, legal fishing methods and topics that pertain to game and fish.
“It was a fun opportunity to partner with this activity”, said Hardaway.
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