Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Burchfield Elected To 4-H Office

Trey Burchfield has been elected to serve as a 1999-2000 4-H state officer. Burchfield will serve in the position of reporter.

In order to run for office one has to first become a Teen Star and 4-H Ambassador. Burchfield completed these requirements last year.

Burchfield is the 17-year-old son of Robby and Kathryn Burchfield of Okolona. He is an active member of the Terre Noire 4-H Club, president of the Clark County Teen Leader Club and member of Baring Cross Baptist Church.

Burchfield was the 1998 Ross Foundation 4-H photography state contest second place winner in the black and white category. Along with his active membership in 4-H for eight years, he has been involved with the Clark County beef ambassador, most outstanding Clark County 4-H member, veterinary science district record book winner five years, the fitness leadership district record book winner one year, and an advanced record book finalist this year.

The 4-H member has shown dairy goats, beef cattle, turkeys and broilers at the county, state and regional levels. Burchfield is currently a member in good standing of the Arkansas Junior Holstein Association and has assisted other 4-H members at the state fair with their dairy cattle.

He has competed in the instrumental talent division of district and state 4-H O'Rama. Burchfield, John David Coston and Cameron Coston received first place in the 1998 Southwest District O'Rama.

In 1995, Burchfield hosted a Labo exchange student from Japan. Daiji Otsuka spent four weeks with the Burchfield family. The cultural exchange was a wonderful experience.

The Terre Noire 4-H Club's main focus is the restoration of the Blackland Prairie near Okolona. The members spend a lot of time cutting encroaching cedars and other woody vegetation between isolated prairie openings. They also collect wild flower seeds for replanting degraded areas.

Burchfield has spent two summers as a teen counselor for the statewide 4-H junior camps. This involves leading the young campers through each day's activities. Burchfield attended the Citizenship-Washington Focus of the Kansas City Youth Conference's 1997 and 1998 high adventure programs along with local trips. The high adventure program this year takes place August 7-15. The group will travel the Pecos Wilderness Area in New Mexico. The past program took place at Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N. Mex.

The National 4-H system established a display of peace and friendship from the youth of the United States to the young people of Russia. Burchfield participated in this display by donating a collage of photographs and a hand-woven oak basket. The display has become a permanent part of the Friendship Museum in Sochi, Russia, with other items donated from 4-H members throughout the United States.

Some of the qualifications for becoming a state officer are integrity of character, high moral standards and goals, outstanding achievements in both project and service activities, ability to work with others, positive attitude and interest in the 4-H program.

If you are interested in joining a 4-H club, you should contact the Clark County Extension office at 246-2281.