ELLINGTON 4-H CENTER IS SITE FOR ALL STAR FALL CONFERENCE

Over 55 All Stars, volunteers and Extension agents gathered at the Buford Ellington 4-H Center in Milan for the 2004 Western Region 4-H All Star Fall Conference, held Saturday, November 20, 2004. The day was full of fun, fellowship, officer elections, service projects, a recognition banquet and initiation ceremony.

This year's service project included the collection of school supplies and nonperishable food items. The 12 counties in attendance contributed enough school supplies to assist more than 40 students and over 300 pounds of food was collected. The supplies and food were presented to Youth Town in Madison County

The All Stars are still collecting donations for their Make-A-Wish project. During the conference, Shelby County presented a check for $650 that will go toward this worthy cause. To date, more than $1,700 has been raised toward their $5,000 goal.

Congratulations to the following All Stars who will make up the 2005 All Star Council for the Western Region:

• Chief: Heather McLean, Dyer County
• Deputy Chief: Brittany McGruder, Shelby County
• Scribe: Retta Riley, Crockett County
• Messenger: Rebecca Weaver, Shelby County
• Scout: Jessica Earhart, Stewart County
• Northwest Area Representative: Kelly Rhodes, Dyer County
• Northeast Area Representative: Amanda Hendrix, Henry County
• Southwest Area Representative: Liam Black, Hardeman County
• Southeast Area Representative: To be named later
• Agent Advisors: Tonya Bain, Crockett County and Joe Griffy, Stewart County
• Regional Advisor: Neal Smith

During the recognition banquet, the following guests were honored:

• Peggy Davis, Henry County and Myra Storey, Obion County, both received the Brooks/Jacock Award in recognition for their continued volunteer service to the Western Region.
• Billy Ringer received the 2003 Camp Staff of the Year Award.
• Jason Carter received the 2004 Camp Staff of the Year Award.
• Alicia Weaver received the Western Region All Star Scholarship.
• Henry County received the All Star Spirit Award, having initiated the most members in 2004.
• Crockett County received the District and State All Star Service Awards.

An initiation ceremony completed the evening, with a total of 16 members from six counties being initiated into the Western Region 4-H All Stars. Congratulations to the new members, and thanks to the agents that provided this opportunity to their senior audience.

Central Region

FALL CONFERENCE HELD IN COLUMBIA

The Central Region All Stars shone brightly at their Fall Conference October 9-10, 2004. Thirty-six teens were inducted into All Stars at the Ridley 4-H Center in Columbia. Nearly 200 witnessed the event at the evening banquet and were featured on Channel 4 WSM-TV the following week. Lisa Spencer, former 4-H All Star and meteorologist, was the guest speaker/videographer. Sixteen state 4-H project winners were honored and presented an engraved key chain.

The afternoon was filled with service projects. The historic Greenwood Cemetery was the site for 40 youth scrubbing tombstones dating back to the early 1800s and the family of James K. Polk. A graduate of the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU conducted the activity, giving instruction as to proper care of antique tombstones.

CENTRAL REGION ALL STARS CREATE MURAL FOR STATE FAIR

Fourteen 4-H members, eight 4-H volunteer leaders and two Extension 4-H Agents came together on July 9, 2005 in Nashville at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds to put together a masterpiece which will become a permanent part of the Tennessee State Fair.