Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – July 31, 2025 – Three Craighead County 4-H’ers took home awards at the 4-H State O’Rama Competitions last week at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
On July 22, Craighead County 4-H members Maggie Hutton, TeAnna Williams and Jocelyn Lyles participated in the championship divisions as part of the Delta District for their project areas at the Arkansas 4-H State O’Rama.
The State O’Rama is the culmination of months of hard work and practice, offering a chance for 4-H members around the states to showcase their talent. O’Rama is held at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville annually during the third week of July. The top five seniors from each of the three Extension districts in the state compete for the best of the best in their project areas.
“These girls were in what I would say is the three hardest competition areas at State O’Rama… these areas are always full in their allocated slots per district, and the kids are tough. Super proud of this trio. This competition is not just about being good. It is about tenacity, work ethics, follow-through and ultimately how you handle nerves on the day of competition because at this level every kid competing is good. Each competitor had to win at County O’Rama and then top five at their District O’Rama to even make it to State Championships,” said Craighead County 4-H extension agent Maleigha Cook.
Hutton won first place in Citizenship, where she outlined the steps for creating a successful and sustainable community project. She used her 2024 Spice Girl project as an example.
During her project, she fundraised approximately $2,500 worth of products, which she then used to assemble over 250 kits of spice staples to be distributed to families in Northeast Arkansas in December 2024.
The project also involved creating a document with food pantry information, community meals and budget recipes. To donate spices to the ongoing project, message the Maggie Magoodle Bakes Facebook page.
“I knew I wanted to help address food insecurity through adding spice and seasonings to people’s dinner tables,” Hutton said. “I am really proud of this project and the work I did. It was hard work, but it was worth it to see the impact that it had. I hope that this project will inspire and assist other people, whether they be in 4-H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or any other organization to start their own community service project.”
Meanwhile, Williams, an artist, a Nettleton High School Band member and an NHS Flag line member, won second place in the Public Speaking division, when she spoke about artificial intelligence and its potential harms to the art and music industry, Cook said.
“4-H has been a blast, and it is only my first year,” Williams said. “O’Rama was an experience I will never forget since I got to talk to new people and experience atmospheres I had never experienced before, and I can’t wait to see what 4-H has in store for me next.”
Liles rounded out the successful trio with a fifth place win in the Wildlife and Habitat competition. During her competition, Liles identified pelts, skulls, bird calls, eggs and skat. She also took a written exam and had to write and create a habitat expansion plan for a species chosen at random.
“This competition was super intense, but I am already making a plan to go back and bring home the trophy next year,” Liles said. “I am thankful to my Junior aged counterpart Tacker Perkins for practicing with me even after District O’Rama was over.”
For more information about Craighead County 4-H, contact Cook at mcook@uada.edu.