4-H team places third in consumer judging contest

ALBANY — A team of 4-H Club members in Dougherty County tested their knowledge in consumer trends at the Perry Area 4-H Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Contest and placed third overall. The annual competition was held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and taught participants the importance of cotton and how to be responsible consumer-citizens.

The contest featured two sections: teams presented a 90-second cotton “commercial” speech, and each contestant also ranked four classes of clothing, consumer goods and services from best to worst for a particular buying situation. The local 4-Hers who competed were Dianah Anderson, Tandria Burke, Edbonie Benefield, Shelise Byrd and Mynasia Green. County Extension Educator Jordan Sliger and County Extension Agent Jazmin Thomas coached the team.

“It made me feel so good to know that they were rewarded for all their hard work,” Sliger said. “I feel like they earned it. They definitely worked for that third place, and they used all their intelligence and skills to get to where they were. I think they were just overwhelmed and very excited to have placed third this year.”

For the commercial section, the team prepared a 90-second speech about a cotton product to explain the importance of the crop. The group chose Cottonelle toilet tissue.

“They were not required (to), but they all dressed up to play the part,” Sliger said. The 4-H coach added that one of the members dressed up as a toilet tissue roll.

The items considered in this year consumer judging contest were fast food meals, gift cards, sunglasses and ties. To prepare for the contest’s consumer ranking portion, Sliger said the group met regularly to break down the products into classes and decide which made the most sense to purchase.

“We went over background information on all the products, whether it was the nutritional value in fast food meals to the different types of ties,” Sliger said. “It’s a bunch of information that they learned about each one of their classes (of products). Then we went into how to judge those classes, how to really use their skills and their knowledge — that they’d already learned — to pick the best product based on a scenario they were given. Each week, it got a little more in-depth with choosing the products. Finally, by the end, we started working on their different reasons; they had to explain why they chose those certain products.”

As a prize for getting third place, the local 4-H team received 4-H judging contest pins and a gift from the Georgia Cotton Commission.

“The most important thing that they learned was how to become wise consumers and use their background knowledge,” Sliger said. “Not just to choose any product but to be very particular about the things that they’re buying. I think that translates into everyday life — whether you’re going to get some food or eventually, maybe, buying a house or choosing a college. It’s teaching them the skills to compare your options before you choose.”