Crawfordville, FL -   Wakulla 4-H Agent Dr. Rachel Pienta announced the results of the 2025 4-H Hay Bale Decorating Contest on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.  This year’s winners are listed below.  4-H members will be visiting these businesses next week to distribute the ribbons and congratulate the winners!

People’s Choice Awards

First Place: Keith Key Heating & Air

Second Place: Waggin’ Tails

Third Place: VCA Animal Hospital

Judge’s Choice Awards

First Place: Logan Roofing

Second Place: M & L Plumbing

Third Place: Family Funeral Home

About the Contest: Since 2021, Wakulla 4-H has invited the community to participate in an annual Haybale Decorating Contest. The contest is held to coincide with National 4-H Week, October 5 -11, 2025. The theme for National 4-H Week is “Beyond Ready”. The week aims to rally, inspire, and connect 4-H members, volunteers, and alumni, highlighting 4-H’s role in preparing youth for life and careers.

There are two ways to win: through People’s Choice Facebook voting and through Judge’s Choice awards. People’s Choice awards are determined through likes on Facebook photos. For the Judge’s Choice awards, 4-H youth use the contest directions and a rubric to assess each design. They were looking for the key elements to meet the theme “Love Where You Live” and to include a 4-H element.

4-H For Good: In conjunction with National 4-H Week, 4-H has partnered with NBCUniversal to celebrate the release of Universal Pictures’ “Wicked: For Good.” Through this partnership, NBCUniversal is supporting 4-H youth who show the world the powerful impact that young leaders can make when they act with purpose - and a little green.

From hay bales to peanut butter collection drives and road clean ups, Wakulla 4-H youth work to exemplify #4HForGood. Youth members work to engage and serve the community through events, partnerships, and projects.  This year, Future Leaders of Wakulla President Caden Gruebel has asked members to take the #4HForGood Challenge, to do an act of good in the local community.  Gruebel said, “Doing good in our community exemplifies a way to show our love for where we live. Through our actions, we are working to serve our community and make it a great place to live.”

The 4-H For Good challenge kicked off on October 9th during National 4-H Week and runs through November 21st.

For more information about 4-H and other UF/IFAS Wakulla County Extension programs, please visit us at 84 Cedar Avenue in Crawfordville or call us at 850-926-3931.   University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution.