By DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Illinois Correspondent

NEWARK, Ill. — Scott Brummel, a 2008 graduate of Sandwich High School, will join 4-H delegations nationwide in Atlanta, Ga., for the National 4-H Congress Nov. 28 through Dec. 2. He will be one of 30 club members representing Illinois.

Brummel learned of his accomplishment in July, received acknowledgment at the state fair in August and was honored at Achievement Night earlier this month.

“I’m not really sure what happens there, but I feel I can probably learn a few things,” said Brummel, 18. Learning is his primary occupation these days as he’s a freshman at Joliet Junior College studying ag production and management.

He said he was just pleased to be chosen, knowing “that I’ve done my best.”

Brummel entered 4-H records in the area of animal science and achievement, and excelled in both. He chose to attend in the area of achievement.

Throughout the year, more than 260,000 University of Illinois Extension 4-H Club members can receive recognition for their involvement at the local, county and state levels. County nominations for the state selection process begin in January with an intense application judging process. Face-to-face interviews are done in March. Judges select the top members in various curriculum areas during this process.

No stranger to agriculture, he works on his family’s 900-acre Kendall County grain farm. Brummel is the youngest son of Gary and Jodi Brummel. He’s also the third sibling, following a brother and a sister, chosen to attend the national congress.

He is the vice president of the Kendall County 4-H Exchange, an 11-year member of the Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club, a member of the 4-H Federation and livestock judging team, a beef junior superintendent for the local fair, and he also serves on the 4-H Expansion and Review Committee.

National 4-H Congress offers states an opportunity to send outstanding club members to provide them with expanded educational experiences through seminars, community service projects and tours sponsored by local and national 4-H program donors.

After college, Brummel said he wants to either farm or “head out west to a cattle ranch.”