Nine Alpena County 4-H youth recently competed in Michigan’s first annual 4-H Skillathon.

Six of Alpena’s youth have advanced and will being a part of the Michigan 4-H State Skillathon competition on April 10.

This was the first year that Michigan 4-H hosted a Skillathon that was open to 4-H youth across the entire state. The competition was separated into three regions: Region 1 being Northern Michigan and the U.P, Region 2 being Southeast MI, and Region 3 being Southwest MI. This competition was presented to youth and adults across the state offered using a virtual platform. The competitors were then divided into four different divisions based on their age: Novice, Junior, Seniors, and Adults.

This Skillathon is a test of knowledge and comprehension of animal science and livestock management. Alpena 4-H and the youth made a name for themselves in the first ever Michigan 4-H Skillathon by having the highest participation and advancers to head to the state competition.

Not only did Alpena have tremendous participation, its youth hold significant spots in scores. Specifically, four Alpena youth hold the top four spots in state scores in the senior division. Those youth are in order by score: Brooke McKenzie, Kiera Werth, Hunter Ballor, and Lilly McKenzie.

Joining the four Alpena 4-H seniors with top scores are junior Alison Borowski and novice Jazzmyne Kowalski, who made state qualifying scores and will also be in on the MI 4-H State Skillathon to take place April 10.

Alpena 4-H congratulates these youth and wishes them good luck as they head to states.