Back Row (L to R): Turner Harville, Gabe Harville, Carson Meeks (Coach), Easton Bibbings, Owen Meeks, Spencer Meeks (Coach), Bradley Yerge
Middle Row (L to R): Luke Chartier, Avery Yerge, Tana Harville, Emmy Bibbings, Charlotte Driver, Clay Driver
Front Row (L to R): Titus Chartier, Josie Harville, Aubrey Hicks, Scarlett Hicks, Jay Driver, Marshall Taylor
by Rachel Petty – UT Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development
Recently, a group of our Smith County 4-H’ers may have begun to pay closer attention to the natural world around them. As a result of participating in 4-H Wildlife Judging, students may have found themselves identifying bird song in the trees, paying special attention when cottontail rabbits or eastern gray squirrels cross their paths, or even keeping an eye out for invasive plants in the landscape.
During the regional 4-H Wildlife Judging contest, 4-H’ers are tested on their knowledge of native wildlife species as well as a number of different conservation and management practices and how to apply them to a real-world habitat for certain species.
The Central Region Wildlife Judging Contest was held on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at the beautiful Batey Farms in Murfreesboro. Seventeen of our Smith County 4-H’ers really showed up and showed out on contest day!
Our Junior High Team A, made up of Charlotte Driver, Josie Harville, Aubrey Hicks, and Scarlett Hicks, won 1st place in their division. Scarlett placed 10th, Charlotte placed 8th, and Josie was the 1st place High Individual overall.
Our Junior High Team B, made up of Titus Chartier, Clay Driver, Marshall Taylor, and Avery Yerge, placed 5th overall.
Our Junior High Team, made up of Luke Chartier, Jay Driver, Turner Harville, and Tana Harville, placed 2nd overall. Tana placed 8th and Turner placed 2nd individually.
Our Senior High team, made up of Easton Bibbings, Emmy Bibbings, Gabe Harville, and Owen Meeks, placed 1st in their division and earned themselves a bid to the State Wildlife Judging Contest in June! Owen placed 5th, Easton placed 3rd, and Gabe was the 1st place High Individual overall. Bradley Yerge also competed in the Senior High division.
Our students were coached by Smith County 4-H alumni Spencer Meeks and Carson Meeks, a pair of brothers who both competed as 4-H’ers themselves and who were instrumental in getting the program established locally several years ago.
We hope that by participating in Wildlife Judging through 4-H, our 4-H’ers are more conscious of their environment and practice and rely on these skills throughout their lives as they birdwatch, hunt, fish, enjoy nature, or even go on to pursue careers in the natural resources sector.
We are so proud of all of these students!
For more information about the many activities available to our local young people through the 4-H program, please call 615-735-2900 or email rpetty@utk.edu. 
L to R: Josie Harville, Charlotte Driver, Aubrey Hicks, Scarlett Hicks
L to R: Gabe Harville, Easton Bibbings, Emmy Bibbings, Owen Meeks
