NOTE TO AGENT: This news release has been prepared to help you publicize your 4-H’er’s recent accomplishment at State 4-H Congress. Please fill in the information below in red, and then change the color to black. You may delete this note, insert your county letterhead and forward the release to your local media. Thank you for all you do for North Carolina’s children!

June 26, 2013

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Hoke County 4-H’er wins honors at State 4-H Congress

Hoke County 4-H’er Elijah Wood was inducted recently into the 4-H Honor Club, one of the highest honors a North Carolina 4-H’er can achieve. He and other new Honor Club members were tapped during a candlelight ceremony held Saturday night, June 22, during State 4-H Congress.

Wood, 18, is the son of G. Todd Wood and Sherry Wood of Raeford. He is a junior master gardener and has participated in 4-H for 11 years.

Membership in the Honor Club is based on service to the 4-H program, leadership, moral standards, 4-H activities and project achievement. Each year less than one-half of 1 percent of North Carolina 4-H’ers are selected for membership. Members must be at least 16 years old and have a minimum of three years 4-H experience.

The Honor Club tapping was one of the highlights of this year’s 4-H Congress, which was moved from its traditional late July time slot. The event was combined with 4-H’s Citizenship Focus event, in which 4-H’ers engage with their elected leaders in the N.C. General Assembly.

4-H Congress, held in Raleigh June 22-25, attracted 521 youth and their adult leaders for activities including presentations on a variety of subjects, leadership and citizenship training, service opportunities, officer elections and more.

The 4-H program is the youth education program of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, based at North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T State universities. More than 237,500 young people between the ages of 5 and 19 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year with the help of 20,780 adult and youth volunteers.

- Dee Shore, 919-513-3117 or -