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Effingham 4-Hers earn top-six finish at state Challenge Bowl
1105 4H Challenge Bowl
Effingham Countys participants in the 4-H Challenge Bowl were, left to right: Tate Hendrix, Jack Hendrix, Rhett Hatcher, Mallory Morgan, Grace Kieffer, Marci Delcampo, Sophie Usher and Laura Grace Molina. - photo by Photo provided

Effingham County students competed in the 4-H Challenge Bowl at the Georgia National Fair in Perry and brought home a top-six finish in the state.

This was the second year Effingham County 4-H’ers participated in the fair’s Challenge Bowl. Team members were Marci Delcampo, Rhett Hatcher, Jack Hendrix, Tate Hendrix, Grace Kieffer, Laura Grace Molina, Mallory Morgan and Sophie Usher.

The 4-H’ers spent “hours upon hours” preparing for the Challenge Bowl, according to Abby Smith, Effingham County coordinator and 4-H agent. She described the competition as “a lot of fun for the students and for me as well.”

“It was a way to bring a team of 4-H members in fifth-12th grades together to work toward achieving a common goal and bridge the age gap,” Smith said. “Seeing these students practice together, encourage each other and work together as a team is what 4-H is all about. Even though we did not win, I couldn’t be any prouder of these guys.”

Smith and Rene Hatcher coached the team. The scorekeepers for the Challenge Bowl were Faith Jaudon and Scott Hendrix.

The competition challenges its participants to be “fast on their feet” as they race to their buzzers to answer the questions they’re asked.

Questions were from several categories, including family and consumer science, agriculture and 4-H.

“We will definitely continue the tradition of the 4-H Challenge Bowl next year,” Smith said.