House Concurrent Resolution 10

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING PUCKETT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, ALI HAMMOCK, CALY HASKINS, PAYTON LEMOINE AND COLE TOLBERT AS WELL AS HEAD COACH PATRICK LEMOINE FOR PLACING SECOND AT THE NATIONAL 4-H FORESTRY INVITATIONAL.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi team comprised of Puckett High School students Ali Hammock, Caly Haskins, Payton Lemoine and Cole Tolbert placed second at the 40th annual National 4-H Forestry Invitational which was held at West Virginia University Jackson's Mill State 4-H Camp and Conference Center near Weston, West Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the event, which consisted of teams from 13 different states, is sponsored by Farm Credit, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc., West Virginia University Extension Service, American Forest Foundation, Society of American Foresters, Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals, F & W Forestry, WestRock, USDA Forest Service State and Private Southern Region, Southern Regional Extension Forestry, National Woodland Owners Association and Black Diamond Resource Conservation and Development Council; and

WHEREAS, 4-H is a youth education program operated by the Cooperative Extension Service of the USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the state land grant universities, and more than six million youth, 540,000 volunteers and 3,500 professionals participate in 4-H nationwide, and nearly 100,000 are part of the 4-H Forestry Program; and

WHEREAS, during the invitational, 4-H members competed for overall team and individual awards in several categories, including tree identification, tree measurement, compass and pacing, insect and disease identification, topographic map use, forest evaluation, the forestry bowl and a written forestry exam; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi's team truly excelled during the competition, as their expertise and talent not only wowed the judges but the members of other teams as well as parents and friends at home, and out of all those competing, Cole Tolbert was the fifth highest individual scorer and Payton Lemoine was the eleventh highest individual scorer; and

WHEREAS, the team's coach, Patrick Lemoine, has superbly coached and inspired the team and broadened their knowledge of forestry while refining their skills in execution; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature to recognize and honor the achievements of Mississippi student athletes, especially those such as the Mississippi team comprised of Puckett High School students Ali Hammock, Caly Haskins, Payton Lemoine and Cole Tolbert, who have brought honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Puckett High School students, Ali Hammock, Caly Haskins, Payton Lemoine and Cole Tolbert as well as Head Coach Patrick Lemoine for placing second at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational, and extend best wishes to the team and coach for continued success in all of their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Head Coach Patrick Lemoine and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.