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- Vega Blair – 4th Grade, Carthage Elementary – 1st Place
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- Marcus Razafinjatovo – 4th Grade, Forks River Elementary
Smith County was well-represented by 11 impressive competitors at the Area II Sub-Regional 4-H Public Speaking Contest, which was held at Hyder Burks Ag Pavilion on the evening of Thursday, January 22, 2026.
This contest brought together 4-H’ers from 8 counties across the Upper Cumberland. 4-H’ers received an invite to this contest by placing 1st or 2nd at their respective county-wide 4-H Public Speaking contests held in December and early January.
Public speaking is an important skill that these 4-H’ers will use throughout their lives, and we are so proud of everyone who competed!
Special congratulations to our 4-H’ers who placed in the Top 5 in their grade divisions. Our two Senior High competitors, Tana Harville and Turner Harville, will advance to the Central Region Public Speaking Contest, which will be held at Cumberland University in early February.
Congratulations again to the following 4-H’ers who represented Smith County:
4th Grade
· Vega Blair, CES – 1st Place
· Marcus Razafinjatovo, FRS
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- Lizzy Taylor – 5th Grade, Forks River Elementary – 5th Place
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- Paisley Jernigan – 6th Grade, Union Heights Elementary
5th Grade
· Lizzy Taylor, FRS – 5th Place
6th Grade
· Scarlett Hicks, FRS – 2nd Place
· Paisley Jernigan, UHS
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- Scarlett Hicks – 6th Grade, Forks River Elementary – 2nd Place & Aubrey Hicks – 7th Grade, Forks River Elementary – 4th Place
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- Oakley Lawrence – 7th Grade, Homeschool – 3rd Place
7th Grade
· Oakley Lawrence, Homeschool – 3rd Place
· Aubrey Hicks, FRS – 4th Place
8th Grade
· Avery Myers, FRS – 5th Place
· Luke Chartier, Homeschool
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- Avery Myers – 8th Grade, Forks River Elementary – 5th Place
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- Luke Chartier – 8th Grade, Homeschool
9th Grade
· Tana Harville, Homeschool – Advance to Region
10th Grade
· Turner Harville, Homeschool – Advance to Region
For more information about any of the many exciting opportunities available in Smith County 4-H, please email rpetty@utk.edu or ltipton@utk.edu or call the Smith County Extension Office at 615-735-2900.
Turner Harville – 10th Grade, Homeschool & Tana Harville – 9th Grade, Homeschool Both Tana and Turner will advance to the Central Region Public Speaking Contest.
