Learning Without Boundaries

Hinds County 4-H’er unlocking her potential, discovering new skills in 4-H competitions

Story by Leah Bowers | Photo by Kevin Hudson

Lucy Haskins placed third in the Dixie National Crepe Cook-off, she hit a bullseye in a county archery contest, and she is beyond ready to go to the next level competing in 4-H.

She’s only recently started taking advantage of the activities the youth development program has to offer, and Dr. Rocheryl Ware, a Mississippi State University Extension Service agent in Hinds County who helps deliver 4-H, says Lucy’s achievements in competition are just the beginning.

“We want these kids to take what we teach them and take it to the next level,” Ware emphasizes. “Lucy’s being innovative and creative and just building on the things she’s learning. She’s not afraid to try new things.”

Lucy started 4-H in January 2025 at a Mississippi 4-H Shooting Sports archery safety meeting. She had a bow already, but she didn’t know how to use it.

“The first thing we did,” Lucy laughs, “is learn about safety. We learned how to properly hold and use the bow and to make sure you’re not getting hurt while using it. They told us how to aim properly and which way to put the arrow in the bow.

“I learned a lot.”

Lucy continued attending practices, and when she got the chance to participate in 4-H food and nutrition programs, she joined immediately. She also learned about sign-ups for the Dixie National Crepe Cook-off in February and jumped at the opportunity. It was her first-ever 4-H competition, and she earned third-place honors.

“I just really like cooking,” she explains. “I used my original crepe recipe, but then I made up the filling myself. It was strawberry cream cheese; it was so interesting because when I was stirring it up—I didn’t realize it was going to do this—it turned pink because of the strawberries.

“I placed third, and I was so surprised!”

While Lucy’s cooking success has only just begun, she’s also forming new connections. When she first competed in an archery contest a few weeks later, she ran into a friend she’d made at the cook-off, a 4-H’er from Madison County. Making new friends means so much to her, and she’s committed to competing and learning everything she can in 4-H, she says.

“I got a bullseye that day, and I was impressed with myself. I really like 4-H,” she shares.

She’s even entered another contest: the 2025 Mississippi Wildlife and Art Photography Contest. She drew a white-tailed deer and a squirrel, and she feels good about entering both submissions whether she wins or not.

Ware is proud to see Lucy embracing everything 4-H has to offer.

“Competition and preparation help these 4-H’ers understand more about who they are, what their likes and dislikes are, and what their strengths are,” Ware explains. “They learn real people skills, where they can interact with other people––look a person in the eye, how to greet another person, and how to be happy for another person, even when you don’t win first place.”

Lucy agrees that she’s having a great time in 4-H and encourages other young people to get involved.

“Everybody I meet has been very kind to me even if I am kind of new. Competition is really fun, and I’ve had a lot of good experiences in 4-H already,” Lucy shares. “It’s just fun, and you can learn a lot of stuff.”