CLEMSON — Nicholas Stalford of York County and Myles Hutton of Pickens County won the 2015-2016 South Carolina 4-H Wildlife Food Plot Project.

For the project, 4-H members plant and grow food for wildlife and are judged based on their plots’ productivity and their plot-management records. Youth learn to identify different types of plants and signs of wildlife associated with the food plot.

The third annual Wildlife Food Plot Project was coordinated by South Carolina 4-H, the youth development arm of the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, with help from sponsors Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) and its youth component, The Rack Pack; and Wannamaker Wildlife.

The statewide competition is for youth aged 5-19. Food plots were grown through the fall and winter. Winners were announced in March.

The competition includes three divisions: the Cloverbud Division for ages 5-8; Junior Division for ages 9-13; and Senior Division for ages 14-19. Cloverbud participants are only judged at the county level. One county-level winner from both the junior and senior divisions was selected to advance to regional competitions. The top qualifier of the regional competition in each of the age divisions advanced to the state competition.

Regional winners in the Junior Division were Stalford, Carson Wilson of Abbeville County, Dylan Elmore of Lee County and Reed Gunter of Orangeburg County. Regional winners for the Senior Division were Hutton and Nathan Stalford of York County.

Regional winners received a Rack Pack gift bag, which included a hunting safety vest, resource materials, a water bottle and more. Winners of the state competition received an infrared trail camera.

Registration for the next 4-H Wildlife Food Plot Project will be in August. Details will be posted at http://www.clemson.edu/4h.

Myles Hutton of Pickens County was one of two students who won the 2015-2016 South Carolina 4-H Wildlife Food Plot Project.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_foodplotwinnerHutton.jpgMyles Hutton of Pickens County was one of two students who won the 2015-2016 South Carolina 4-H Wildlife Food Plot Project.

Staff Report