Bumpers College Student Helps Washington County 4-H Win First National Championship

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Bumpers College student Kelby Biswell, third from left, and her team won the 4-H Parliamentary Procedure national title in Denver.

A freshman in the U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences recently helped her team win the national parliamentary procedure 4-H competition at the National Western Roundup in Denver, Colorado.

Kelby Biswell, a double-major in horticulture, and agricultural education, communications and technology, and Gabby Luney, a U of A computer science major, teamed with Autumn Gregg, Sara Gardner, William Penny III and Sagely Burnett to capture first place in the parliamentary procedure contest in January. The group claimed the first-ever national team championship for Washington County 4-H.

"I think the most rewarding part of the whole process was paving the way for future teams," Biswell said. "Being the first team to ever win a national contest, we hope to inspire 4-H members to do their best and reach their goals. We raised over $7,500 from various supporters of the 4-H program to attend the Western National Roundup."

At the national event, teams consisted of four to six members. Teams presented a model meeting providing their own minutes, treasurer's report, letter of communication and committee reports. Teams conducted meetings according to items of business presented to each group, and executed all required motions and actions.

Biswell's team began preparing for the national contest in January 2017. To advance to this competition, the team won first the state level championship.

"We hope that in the future our success will help supporters feel confident in their choice to donate their time, money and encouragement to the Washington County 4-H program," said Biswell. "We are so thankful for the opportunities 4-H has given us."

National Western Roundup, a national competition for youth in 4-H and Future Farmers of America, is held in Denver every year. The National Western Roundup encourages teamwork and self-confidence while focusing on the 4-H Mission Mandates of science, engineering, technology, mathematics, healthy living and citizenship.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.