Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

The Chilton County 4-H County Round-Up featured projects in everything from baking to photography in a daylong event on April 25.

4-H Foundation Regional Extension Agent Janet Lovelady said the event had not been held in several years, but a smaller evening event had been held last year.

This year, there were 11 categories featuring students who had won a monthly 4-H competition in their club. Those 13 years old and younger who placed first advanced to the Regional Congress competition. Those 14 years old and older who placed first advanced to the state competition in June.

In the baking competition, Kinleigh Jones of Verbena made strawberry cheesecake muffins and strawberry bars.

“My family really loves strawberries and strawberry season,” she said.

Her family served as taste testers as she tried out recipes.

Kinleigh said she had not expected to place and was happy with her first-place win in the intermediate category.

“It was fun,” she said.

She had participated in the abbreviated competition last year, so she knew a little bit of what to expect.

Maci Smith placed first in the junior baking competition and second in the $15 challenge.

For the $15 challenge, students had to create an outfit from thrift store finds for $15 or less.

Smith also competed in public speaking.

For the baking competition, Maci drew inspiration from her father and grandmother. She made biscuits with chocolate gravy and chocolate chip cookies.

She said she enjoyed being a part of the day-long event and spending time with other 4-H students.

Ada Wood placed first in the “The World I See” and “The World I Imagine” intermediate categories.

“I was very interested in photography,” Ada said. “It is not something we do a lot in our family, and they (4-H) were teaching us about it. We were doing the class at Peach Pals, and it was very interesting.”

Ada said she was nervous going into the “The World I See” competition, but she felt good about her “The World I Imagine” entry. She liked that the competition let her choose what she wanted to feature in her photos. She chose peach blossoms for one of her entries.

“I thought it was really cool because a very lovely flower can turn into such a delicious fruit,” Ada said.

Participants were divided into Junior, Intermediate, Senior I and Senior II competitions based on their ages.