CC 4-H Trash to Treasure contest

Like clever, one-of-a-kind creations? Hate waste? Check out our new 4-H Trash to Treasure contest which is sponsored through the T.D.O.T. Litter Grant Program. With the 4-H "Trash to Treasure" contest, 4-H members in grades 4th-8th had a chance to help our environment while showing creativity at the same time. Rescue some trash from the recycling bin or the garbage and make it into something pretty or useful. We hope this contest will help all of us to see the treasures in our own trash!

The Trash to Treasure Contest was offered in all of the 6 Cannon County public elementary schools allowing 4th-8th graders to submit items they made out of recycled material. The contest was judged in the classroom by the UT Extension Agent over the 4-H Program, Sarah Malone, and pictures were taken of the classroom winners.

The classroom winners were then narrowed down by judges, 2 winners per school. Only the 12 items chosen by our judges were posted to the UT Extension-Cannon County Office Facebook Page allowing the public the entire month of March to vote by "liking" their favorite picture. The picture with the most likes by March 31st became the county winners.

The contest was a huge success with 14,452 people reached through views, comments, likes, and over 80 shares.

The first place winner was Alyssa Calamia, a West Side School 4th grader, which made a picnic caddy and had 347 likes and 50 shares. The second place winner was also a 4th grader, Bella Bryson from Short Mountain School, which made a dog bed and had 270 likes with 27 shares. The third place winner, Addie King, a West Side School 4th grader made a Capri-Sun purse had 138 likes and 3 shares. The fourth place winner was a 6th grader, Jesse Tucker-Vaughn, from Auburn School that made a rocking horse that received 102 likes and 16 shares.

The four winners will be recognized in May at Cannon County Good Ol' Days and their items will be displayed at the TDOT Litter Grant Booth for the public to see. Stop by and see the well-crafted items. The 4-H members will be invited to set at the booth and share with the public how they made their item and the importance of recycling. This was the first year to implement the 4-H Trash to Treasure Contest but it definitely has been a success! For more information about the Cannon County 4-H program, contact 615-563-2554.