Effingham County 4-H’ers tested their knowledge in consumer trends at the Southeast District 4-H Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Contest. The annual competition is sponsored by the Georgia Cotton Commission and the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Science’s Cooperative Extension Service.

The event was held at Georgia Southern University. The competition helps youth understand the importance of cotton as an agriculture commodity and teaches 4-H’ers how to be responsible consumers with an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of the consumer, business and government.

The 4-H Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Contest activity featured two facets of competition. Senior 4-H’ers (grades ninth-12th) presented a 90-second public service announcement on cotton. Junior 4-H’ers (grades fifth-eighth) prepared a poster to promote cotton in their 30-second cotton commercial.

The second facet of competition included a test of consumer knowledge by ranking four classes of various scenarios and communicating the reasons for choices made.

Senior competitors were Sophie Usher, Breanna Brisendine, Sara Hampton, Natalyn Harris, Mikayla Neal and Hannah Weitman.

Junior competitor was Dana Mincey.

Hampton placed fourth in the overall competition and the senior team of Hampton, Neal and Harris placed third overall. Hannah Weitman placed fourth in senior speech and Neal was fifth.

Mincey was third overall in junior commercial.

There were more than 130 competitors from six counties.