Five Hamilton County 4-Hers were among the 35 youth on a State Fair Achievement Trip to Washington, D.C., Oct. 5-9. The youth were winners of 4-H Activities Contests held during the 2005 Indiana State Fair.

The Hamilton County attendees were Rachel Anderson, 16, of Carmel; Spencer Carson, 15, of Noblesville; Pennie Gelwicks, 18, of Fishers; Tricia Gelwicks, 16, of Fishers; and Sarah Reist, 17, of Carmel.

The trip participants visited Capital Hill for congressional visits. They also visited many of the city’s museums and memorials, including the Franklin Roosevelt Memorial, the Smithsonian Institution, and Arlington National Cemetery.

Four Hamilton County Junior Leaders were among the 290 delegates attending the 2005 Indiana 4-H Congress, Oct. 15. The event was at the Indiana Government Center and Hyatt Regency, both in downtown Indianapolis, Ind.

The Hamilton County attendees were Katie Barrett, 16, of Cicero; Aaron Birge, 16, of Arcadia; Rachel Demaree, 16, of Atlanta; and Emily Lehman, 15, of Noblesville.

Junior Leaders from across Indiana participated in a day of leadership training, attended a 4-H scholarship luncheon, and listened to motivational guest speaker Josh Shipp.

Purdue debate contest gives students opportunity to win
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A team of students representing the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow club won the recent Townsend Outstanding Communicator in Agriculture Debate Competition, held Oct. 20 at Purdue University.

The topic for this year’s debate was whether the state of Indiana should double pork production. Second place went to a team of students representing the Block and Bridle club. The competition was open to student teams in the College of Agriculture.

Arguing against doubling pork production, the ACT team consisted of Julie Douglas of Flat Rock, Ind., Amber Miller of Brownstown, Ind., and Veronica Novak of Logansport, Ind. The Block and Bridle team consisted of John Downey of Hope, Ind., Brian Arnold of Liberty Center, Ind., and Alan Duttlinger of Hebron, Ind., who argued for doubling pork production.

All participants conducted research, interviews and collected resources in support of both sides of the issue. Neither team knew until a few minutes before the debate whether they were to argue for or against the topic.

“All seven debate teams did a wonderful job and I was very impressed with their research and arguments,” said Natalie Federer, Agricultural Communication academic adviser and Townsend debate coordinator. “Each team approached the topic of doubling pork production in a different way, from economics and technology to environmental, social and community issues.”

The final debate was held in the evening with four judges.

Rodibaugh was joined by Tom Bechman, editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer, Ryan West from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and Sally Thompson, department head and professor of agricultural economics.

Speaker points were given throughout the day for each participant based on their speaking ability, attitude, clear voice, eye contact and argument content.

The ACT team received $750, along with a trophy. The second-place team received $500. The speaker award went to Block and Bridle team member Brian Arnold, who received $100 and a plaque.

Funding for the debate competition is provided by Wayne Townsend, a distinguished College of Agriculture alumnus, farmer and former politician.

This youth news was published in the November 9, 2005 issue of Farm World.