Staff writer
A troop of 4-H members gathered to perform, compete, and test their knowledge during the Marion County 4-H Club Day on Saturday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro.
Events included talks and presentations about 4-H projects, readings related to 4-H topics, and an impromptu topic contest, as well as performance and talent based categories that included skits, dance, singing, and instrumental sections.
Members were divided into junior, intermediate, and senior age groups, and were evaluated on various technical aspects of their talks and performances, their appearance, presence, and relevance of subject material to 4-H issues.
In other events like the “Life Skills Judging Contest” and “Pickle Power” members tested their decision-making skills.
Those who participated in the life skills portion of the day read age-appropriate hypothetical problems and chose from four possible solutions, 4-H mother Shanna Lacio said.
Questions included topics that ranged dietary nutrition to time management, as well as appropriate ways to deal with stressful situations.
During “Pickle Power” members talked to retired 4-H mother Sally Andrews about decision-making processes.
“Human beings are all in a pickle,” Andrews said. “I talked with the children privately about their decision-making process.”
Andrews said she gave each member a pickle after going over five basic steps in the decision making process.
Problem solving steps included analyzing a situation, collecting facts, thinking of solutions, predicting consequences, and selecting the best decision given the circumstances.
In addition to competing, some 4-H members also served as room monitors in order to earn leadership points.
“I helped set up the room and introduced contestants,” Callyan Lacio said.