Photo: Mississippi team members were Karolina Heathcock, William Cody McFetridge, and Ashlyn Henderson (L-R). The team coach was Ray Henderson and assistant coach Jennifer Henderson. (Courtesy photo)
Congratulations are in order to the Mississippi 4-H team that placed first among 11 states competing in the 42nd annual National 4-H Forestry Invitational. Teams from Louisiana and Florida placed second and third, respectively. Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Utah also competed in this year’s Invitational.
Mississippi’s Karolina Heathcock had the highest overall score in the contest. The second-place individual was Ashlyn Henderson from Mississippi and the third-place high individual was Caden Conley from Louisiana.
The Joe Yeager “Spirit of the Invitational” award was presented to Keller Stinson from Utah. This award recognizes an outstanding 4-H contestant at the Invitational. It is presented to the individual who takes initiative, is enthusiastic, and is eager to lead academic and social situations.
The Tommy and Susan Futral Inspiration of the Invitational Award was presented to the Oklahoma team consisting of McKayla Brents, Autumn Diggs, Samantha Scott, Stacey Scott, and coach Alicia Brents.
Bob Bakken is the most recognized and most trusted name in DeSoto County news and sports reporting, as readers continue to express their appreciation for his accuracy and fairness in the stories he writes. Bob is also heard on 95.3 The Rebel twice a week with sports updates and high school football play-by-play broadcasts in the fall. A former newspaper editor and writer, his award-winning background also includes television news producing, sports media relations, and radio broadcasting.
