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More than 540 4-H teens from 58 Florida counties will pour into town Monday for the annual green and white invasion called State 4-H Congress for a week of fun, socializing and education. Accompanied by more than 100 adults and 280 guests, 4-H'ers will travel with their "passports" to workshops, funshops and competitive events as they push 4-H into the next century during: "Congress 101: Breaking New Ground With Old Tradition."

Monday - Dorm Move-In Pandemonium, Rowdy Rally 
Hundreds of people check into UF's Graham Area dorms between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. carrying everything from ironing boards to prom dresses. State 4-H Council campaigning begins at 1:00pm with banners plastering the dorms. 4-H district colors welcome teens to the high-energy spirit rally at 7:15 p.m. in the Reitz Union Auditorium with a video spoof themed around "The Crocodile Hunter" and enough noise to do a rock concert proud. The day culminates in a motivational address by Carmen Agra Deedy, an award-winning storyteller and the author of numerous bestselling children's books, who will share short stories about "Growing Up Cuban in Decatur, Georgia."

Tuesday - Walk on the Wild Side Fashion Revue Hits Runway, Competitive Events
State 4-H Fashion Revue will feature more than 70 teens competing in skill-a-thons and making "4-H Care Bears" as part of their Stitches that Serve project. The bears will be presented to a Ronald McDonald House representative during Wednesday's talent show. State competitions in categories like veterinary science, media arts, food safety, horticulture judging, auto driving, and consumer education. Youth led consulting groups will spend the afternoon discussing how to develop topics such as career resources, diversity, technology and youth adult partnerships in 4-H programming. The Fashion Revue will hit the runway at the Reitz Union ballroom at 7:30 p.m. before a jam-packed audience, followed by the announcement of the 2003-04 state 4-H project.

Wednesday - Workshop Wonders, Community Service Projects and Talent Show
Hands-on workshops in drama, animal science, website design, public speaking, news writing, plant science, fishing, forestry, and more. Community pride luncheon saluting 4-H clubs for their volunteer service. The big story of the day will be the talent competition at 6:45 p.m. at the Center for Performing Arts with 11 acts, preceded by the "4-H Care Bears" presentation to the Ronald McDonald House and followed by awards for competitive events.

Thursday -Workshops and Community Service Projects Continue, Evening Glamour
Wednesday's workshops and community service projects continue. Volunteers of the Year, scholarships and awards will be presented during the "Fairy Tale Endings" evening awards ceremony at the University Memorial Auditorium. 

FOR REITZ EVENTS, MEDIA CHECK-IN AT CONGRESS DESK ON THE 2ND FLOOR IN THE REITZ UNION

CONTACT: Kristin Guira, State 4-H Public Relations Coordinator, office (352) 846-0996 ext. 237, cellular 278-0807, Congress Info Desk at the Reitz Union 392-2151 ext. 1809 or ask someone at the desk with a walkie-talkie to call
Kristin Guira, Late Evenings @ Reitz Union Hotel, 392-2151

Monday, July 21st
9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.: Chaotic dorm move-in and check-in, Graham Hall Area

1:00 p.m.: State 4-H Council Campaigns Open. Banners and fliers go up at Graham Area dormitories

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Barbecue, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, North End Zone

7:15 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: Opening Assembly. Spirit Rally, ROTC Color Guard, Keynote Address ** (Reitz Auditorium) 

Tuesday, July 22nd
8:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: State 4-H Fashion Revue contestants learn modeling and compete in skill-a-thons, Reitz Ballroom**

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: State Competitive Events (Not all events are listed) Animal Science **(285 Reitz Union), Aquatic/Marine Environment (272 Reitz Union), Auto Driving ** (Harn Museum Parking Lot), Career Exploration (B70 Reitz Union), Consumer Education (B74 Reitz Union), Food Safety (347 Reitz Union), Forestry (291 Reitz), Media Arts (277 Reitz), Plant Connections (363 Reitz), Public Speaking (362 Reitz)**, Veterinary Science ** (B60 Reitz)
Note About Competitive Events: To ensure an equal playing field for all youth competitors, doors remain closed once demonstrations begin. Please contact Kristin Guira at 278-0807 to arrange demonstrations photographs and interviews.

1:30 p.m.: Horticulture Judging, Environmental Horticulture Green House behind UF Fifield Hall**

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Passport to the Next Century of 4-H Joint Consulting Groups 
Career (286, 287 Reitz), Diversity (361, 346 Reitz), Technology (347, 349 Reitz), Mentoring (B60, B74 Reitz), Youth Adult Partnerships (284, 285 Reitz) 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: Walk on the Wild Side Fashion Revue hits runways,** Introduction of 2003-04 State Project, Reitz Ballroom.

Wednesday, July 23rd
8:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Interactive Workshops and Community Service Projects
(Not all workshops are listed) 
Animal Science-Horses (UF Horse Teaching Unit, 376-0562), African Dance and Culture (Rion Ballroom A, Reitz), Greenhouse Tour and Career Exploration (Fifield Hall), Sea Animals, Adaptations, and More (3117 McCarty Hall A), Junkyard Wars (French Factory - Corner or Museum & Hull Roads, tin building with black mailbox), All Stressed Out (Reitz 355), 4-H Congress Press Corps (Reitz B75), Environmental Awareness Nature Photography - (Building 116 Mowry Road, UF Campus, 392-1773)

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Community Pride Luncheon, Arredondo Room, Reitz Union

12:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.: Tours: Center for Performing Arts, Harn Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History

6:45 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.: "4-H Care Bears" Presented to Ronald McDonald House, "Share-the-Fun" Talent Show - 11 acts: vocals, dance, drama; followed by Tuesday's competitive events awards, Center for Performing Arts**

Thursday, July 24th
8:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Interactive Workshops and Community Service Projects Continue (Not all are listed)
Animal Science - Roping (Horse Teaching Unit, 376-0562), Careers in Public Relations (Reitz 278-9), Improvisation (Rion Ballroom A), Landscaping Habitat for Humanity Houses, (105 SE 13th Lane), Recycling 101 (Reitz 357), Haiti Medical Supply Project (Reitz B70) 

1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Interactive Workshops and Community Service Projects Continue (Not all are listed)
Pests in Your World (Entomology Building Room 2217), Help a Farmer Overseas (Reitz 346) 

5:30 p.m.: Introduction of Hall of Fame Inductees, Friends of Music Room at University Memorial Auditorium

6:15 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: Fairy Tale Endings Awards Assembly. Red carpet, prom dresses, scholarships and awards presentations, University Memorial Auditorium

Friday, July 25th
8:00am-10:30am Checkout, teary eyed and sleepy-faced departures at the buses, Graham Hall Area

The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of IFAS and the Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Last year 4-H worked with more than 271,000 youth ages 5-18 in 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.

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