By: Ami Neiberger
Florida 4-H Youth Development Office
(352)846-0996 ext. 237, cellular (352)213-5654

GAINESVILLE-Roll out the red carpet and get ready for a party. It’s going to be a doozy. Where else could you find a rowdy spirit rally with a patriotic theme, a carnival and learning that is fun? And did we mention that the “Men in Black” will be on patrol to keep the peace?

It’s the annual green and white invasion for State 4-H Congress. Hundreds of 4-H teens will pour into town Monday for a week of fun, socializing and education. More than 540 teens from 56 of Florida’s 67 counties will be at the event, themed, “The Power of Youth, 100 Years of Building, Achieving, Dreaming.” They’ll be accompanied by 100 adults and more than 230 guests. It’s a banner year for 4-H, with the youth development program marking its 100^{th anniversary. In honor of the centennial of 4-H this year, all 500+ teens will be involved in community service activities on Thursday morning throughout Gainesville and there will be a carnival. It’s going to be quite a party.}

Monday - Dorm Move-In Pandemonium, Rowdy Rally with Patriotic Theme
Hundreds of people check into UF’s Graham Area dorms between 10:00am and 2:00pm carrying everything from ironing boards to prom dresses. State 4-H Council campaigning begins at 1:00pm with banners plastering the dorms. Red, white and blue treato-s welcome teens to the high energy spirit rally at 7:00pm at the Reitz Union ballroom with an 8 minute video spoof themed around “Men in Black II” and enough noise to do a rock concert proud. The day culminates in a motivational address by Mark Brown, 1995 world public speaking champion, who will talk about living a balanced life.

Tuesday - Fashion Revue Hits Runway, Competitive Events & Hands-On Workshops
State 4-H Fashion Revue will feature more than 60 teens competing with skillathons. State competitions in categories like veterinary science, media arts, food safety, horticulture judging, auto driving, and consumer education. Afternoon hands-on workshops in drama, veterinary and horse science, website design, public speaking, news writing, plant science, fishing, forestry, GPS and technology, money management, designing a swimsuit and even exercise science. The Fashion Revue will hit the runway at the Reitz Union ballroom at 7:00pm before a jam-packed audience, followed by the announcement of 4-H volunteers of the year and the Partner in 4-H award.

Wednesday - Workshop Wonders, Talent Show & State 4-H Council Officer Induction
State 4-H Council elections will be at 10:30am after the morning awards assembly. Community pride luncheon saluting 4-H clubs for their volunteer service with a representative from corporate funder Chevron in attendance. Interactive workshops will continue from the day before. The big story of the day will be the talent competition at 7:00pm at University Memorial Auditorium with 10 acts, the State 4-H Council Officer induction ceremony, and the retiring president’s address by State 4-H Council president (and Williston-native) Robert Mack.

Thursday - Crafts With Kids, Fire Hydrant Painting, Community Service, Carnival & Evening Glamour
In honor of 4-H’s centennial, hundreds of teens will do service projects to benefit the community. More than 100 4-H teens will help young children with craft projects, while others will “paint the hydrant,” clean up 3 local nature parks, sing patriotic songs at nursing homes, package food for the hungry and clean up neighborhood youth facilities. An afternoon carnival will feature rock climbing, old-fashioned games, and make your own music videos.

* PRESS COVERAGE INVITED FOR FLORIDA 4-H CONGRESS 2002
FOR REITZ EVENTS, MEDIA CHECK-IN AT CONGRESS DESK ON THE 2ND FLOOR IN THE REITZ UNION
CONTACT: Ami Neiberger, State 4-H Public Relations Coordinator, office (352)846-0996 ext. 237, cellular 213-5654, Congress Info Desk at the Reitz Union 392-2151 ext. 1809 or ask someone at the desk with a walkie-talkie to page Ami Neiberger, Late Evenings @ Reitz Union Hotel, 392-2151

Monday, July 23rd
10:00am-2:00pm Chaotic dorm move-in and check-in, Graham Hall Area **
1:00pm State 4-H Council Campaigns Open. Banners and fliers go up at Graham Area dormitories
3:30pm-5:00pm Pizza and Coke Party, Reitz Union Lawn
7:00pm-9:00pm Opening Assembly. Loud 4-H district spirit rally hosed down in red, white and blue, ROTC color guard, keynote address **

Tuesday, July 24th
8:15am-12:00pm State 4-H Fashion Revue contestants learn modeling and compete in skillathons, Reitz Ballroom**
9:00am-12:00pm State Competitive Events (not all events are listed)

Animal Science (285 Reitz Union),** Aquatic/Marine Environment (272-3 Reitz Union), Auto Driving ** (Harn Museum Parking Lot), Career Exploration (286 Reitz Union), Consumer Education (276 Reitz Union), Food Safety (347 Reitz Union), Forestry (357 Reitz), Media Arts (288-91 Reitz), Plant Connections (363 Reitz), Public Speaking (282 Reitz)**, Veterinary Science ** (362 Reitz)
Note About Competitive Events: Doors for rooms housing competitive events open at ONLY 15 MINUTE intervals. This ensures an equal playing field for all youth competitors. Photographers are welcome to enter when doors are open, but please wait until the end of a presentation to leave the room.

1:30pm-4:00pm Horticulture Judging, Environmental Horticulture Green House behind UF Fifield Hall**
Animal Science-Horses (UF Horse Teaching Unit, 376-0562)
Environmental Education-Lake Alice Sampling (boat ramp behind Fifield Hall)
Website Design - Reitz Union 282
Nature Photography - Building 116 Mowry Road, UF Campus, 392-1773
7:30pm-9:00pm Fashion Revue hits runways,** 4-H Volunteers of the Year, Partner in 4-H award, Reitz Ballroom.

Wednesday, July 25th
10:30am-12:00pm State 4-H Council Voting and Election Results, Reitz Auditorium
11:00pm-12:30pm Community Pride Lunch, University Center Hotel with presentations by competing clubs about service projects, representative from Chevron attending.
1:00pm-4:30pm Interactive Workshops
7:00pm-9:00pm “Share-the-Fun” Talent Show with 10 acts-vocals, drama University Memorial Auditorium**

Thursday, July 26th
8:00am-11:30am, Community Volunteering
Teens Helping Younger Children with Crafts, Reitz Union 282
Teens Singing Patriotic Songs at Nursing Homes, Eden Gardens, Integrated Health Services
Paint the Hydrant, Youth painting fire hydrants red around campus neighborhoods
4-H Feeds the Hungry, Packing Kits for Needy Families in Gainesville, Reitz Union 289-291
Clean-A-Thon, 4-Hers Cleaning Boys & Girls Club, 2700 NW 51st Street
11:30am-4:00pm Centennial Carnival on Reitz Union Lawn - Virtual Reality, Old-Style Carnival Games, etc. **
7:00pm-9:00pm Formal Awards Assembly with Professional Drama/Singing Group Performing Patriotic Show
Red carpet, prom dresses, scholarships and awards presentations, exciting professional youth drama group performing snazzy patriotic show, University Memorial Auditorium

Friday, July 27th
8:00am-10:30am Checkout, teary eyed and sleepy-faced departures at the buses, Graham Hall Area

The 4-H program, which is celebrating its centennial in 2002, is the youth development program of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, which is part of UF/IFAS in Gainesville. 4-H worked with more than 287,000 youth ages 5-18 last year in Florida and has programs active in all of Florida's 67 counties and on five Seminole Tribes reservations in South Florida. For more information visit http://www.florida4h.org or contact the county extension office in your area.

--30--