The Smith County 4-H Wildlife Judging Team poses near the salt marsh at the South Carolina FFA Leadership Center with 4-H Agent Rachel Petty and chaperone Leisa Bibbings.
A group of Smith County 4-H’ers have proudly brought home a National Championship title as representatives of Tennessee 4-H at the 2026 National Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) Contest, which was held at the South Carolina FFA Leadership Center in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on July 26th – 29th.
The team was made up of Easton Bibbings, Emmy Bibbings, Turner Harville, and Owen Meeks. These 4-H’ers earned their bid to compete in the National WHEP contest by first winning the Central Region 4-H Wildlife Judging Contest in May and then the State 4-H Wildlife Judging Contest in June.
In total, 18 teams from 17 states competed in the 2026 WHEP National Contest. Of these teams, 11 represented 4-H and 7 represented FFA. The contest was based around the Southeastern Mixed and Outer Coastal Plain Ecoregion.
In addition to the 1st Place 4-H Team win, Easton Bibbings was also crowned the overall 1st Place High Individual in the 4-H Contest. Owen Meeks placed 2nd individually, and Turner Harville placed 5th.
This team was coached by 4-H alumni Carson Meeks and Gabe Harville and supported by 4-H Agent Rachel Petty. Rachel Petty and Leisa Bibbings served as chaperones for the trip.
WHEP is a hands-on environmental education program dedicated to teaching wildlife and fisheries habitat management to 4-H and FFA youth in the United States. WHEP provides participants an opportunity to test their wildlife knowledge in a friendly competition where teams of 3-4 individuals compete together. Through the WHEP program, participants learn about wildlife terms and concepts, wildlife habitat, how to judge the quality of wildlife habitat, wildlife habitat management practices, and wildlife damage management.
During the three-day contest in South Carolina, participants got to enjoy time at the South Carolina FFA Leadership Center, which is located on a salt marsh teeming with wildlife. Our Tennessee team shared Moon Pies and Mountain Dew with other states as part of the Share Fair on Sunday night. On Education Day on Monday, participants cruised down the intercostal waterway to the Atlantic Ocean in search of bottlenose dolphins, which were found just off the shoreline in North Carolina. After lunch, students broke out into education stations where they
learned more about alligators, saltwater fishing, coastal ecology, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Competition Day was on Tuesday, where our Tennessee team ultimately emerged victorious!
We are so incredibly proud of Easton, Emmy, Turner, and Owen for this huge accomplishment on the national stage. These 4-H’ers have been involved in the 4-H Wildlife Judging program for many years, and this win is so well-deserved. They sure make Tennessee 4-H and Smith County proud!
Thank you to Smith Farmers Co-Op, Citizens Bank, the University of Tennessee Department of Natural Resources, Smith County FCE, Petty Farms, and the National Wild Turkey Federation – Forked River Longbeards for their generous monetary donations to support this trip. A donation by Smith County Farm Bureau paid for our team polo shirts, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency donated two different sets of hats for our team to wear during the contest.
4-H Wildlife Judging allows 4-H’ers to embrace the great outdoors as a classroom and can afford them once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like competing at the national level.
For more information about 4-H Wildlife Judging or any other 4-H activities offered in Smith County, please call 615-735-2900 or email rpetty@utk.edu.
The 2026 National Champion WHEP 4-H Team from Smith County, Tennessee L to R: Owen Meeks (2nd Place), Emmy Bibbings, Turner Harville (5th Place), and Easton Bibbings (1st Place)
2026 WHEP 4-H 1st Place High Individual Easton Bibbings
Submitted by Rachel Petty – Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development
