2024 King Candidate
Eli Bryant
Eli Bryant is a ten-year independent member and the son of Brian and Sandra Bryant of Carmi.
In the past nine years Eli has enjoyed taking shooting sports, swine, crops, and vegetable gardening. In shooting sports, he has placed first in shotgun many years. He has also enjoyed attending the 4-H state shotgun shoot each fall.
Eli’s 4-H Honors include receiving the Victory Award early on in his 4-H career, the Community Involvement award, personal development medal, and the safety and health awards.
4-H has been a family tradition. The 4-H livestock auction is an event we always look forward to and never miss. 4-H has taught Eli how to communicate with adults and many life skills. He has learned which projects he really enjoys and has focused on those to make it a fun experience.
Besides 4-H, Eli is on the Carmi-White County Varsity Football team where he loves fall Friday nights, playing on the line. Going to the playoffs every year has also been a highlight. He is an FFA member and has been an officer for the past three years. He is also on the track team, a member of First Christian Church of Carmi, and attending SIC to obtain an Industrial Maintenance Certificate.
2024 Queen Candidate
Kaitlyn Aldrich
Kaitlyn Aldrich is a nine-year member of the Centerville Ripsnorters 4-H Club and the daughter of Justin and Shelly Aldrich of Carmi.
In the past eight years, Katie has enjoyed taking many different 4-H projects for instance, woodworking, visual arts fiber, visual arts scrapbooking, and visual arts paper. This past year she enjoyed making a bouquet of paper stars. She loved this project because it combined things she already knew with new skills that can be applied to other projects in the future. She received a Best of Show, Superior, and State Fair on her visual arts paper project.
Her 4-H honors include being in 4-H for the past eight years, receiving the community involvement award, perfect attendance, the safety award, the most improved award from WRUL, and receiving an Emerald Experience Award for Leadership.
4-H is special to Katie because she has learned so many new skills through 4-H programs and projects. She has also met people that she never would have known otherwise. 4-H is a great way to make new friends.
Outside of 4-H Katie is a dual credit student who is full time at Wabash Valley College. She also attends Calvary Apostolic Church in Paducah, KY where she is part of the Sunday school team.
2024 Queen Candidate
Katelyn Allen
Katelyn Allen is a seven-year member of the Mad Hatters 4-H Club and the daughter of David and Amanda Allen of Norris City.
In her six years in 4-H Katelyn has gone above and beyond in taking 4-H projects. There are too many to mention, but has narrowed them down to her favorite five projects she has enjoyed the most. Those being health innovation, passport to the world, child development, leather, and theater arts.
Her 4-H honors have included receiving four Emerald State Experience Awards, Best Secretary, two-time State Fair Grand Champion, and the WRUL Public Service Announcement Award.
4-H is special to Katelyn because it is truly like a second family to her. Through 4-H she has become the responsible, independent leader and individual that she is today. Katelyn has been equipped with life skills that will aid her in all careers and aspects of life. She has been able to make a difference in her community, while meeting some of her best friends.
Outside of 4-H Katelyn volunteers at her local library, is involved in the Move Youth Group, Works at Corner Stone Coffeehouse, and is the reining 2023 Miss Crossville Winterfest.
2024 Queen Candidate
Kinsey Allen
Kinsey Allen is a seven-year member of the Mad Hatters 4-H Club and the daughter of David and Amanda Allen of Norris City.
In the past six years Kinsey has enjoyed working on several different projects. Her top projects would have to be leather craft, shopping in style, visual arts, public speaking, and child development.
Her 4-H honors have included the Encouragement Award, the I Dare You Award, receiving the State Fair Inspire Award, and singing the National Anthem at the DuQuoin State Fair in 2023.
4-H is important to Kinsey because 4-H creates unending opportunities: helping people, growing leaders, representing our community, and so much more. Being in 4-H has taught her so much about life. She has made lasting friendships. She loves being involved in White County making connections with people and impacting lives by helping others.
Besides 4-H Kinsey enjoys working as a barista at Duo Boutique and Coffeehouse in Norris City. She has worked there for over two years and is blessed to have such amazing coworkers and bosses. Her favorite part of her job is connecting with the community. She also enjoys making candles. Her passion for candle making came from 4-H. She owns her own candle company, going around to local vendor fairs to sell her product. 4-H has taught her leadership skills, entrepreneurship, and so much more.
2024 Queen Candidate
Bailey Buchanan
Bailey is a seven-year member of the Centerville Ripsnorters 4-H Club and the daughter of Chris and Amy Buchanan of Carmi.
In her past six years in 4-H Bailey has been involved in goats, cattle, rabbits, cooking, and horticulture. This past year was her first raising, caring for, and showing goats, which she enjoyed very much.
Bailey’s 4-H Honors include the Jr. Showmanship award in goats this past 4-H season, being a gold experience award recipient, helping her club achieve Club of the Year in 2022 and 2023, and receiving the safety and health awards in the past.
4-H is special to Bailey as it builds relationships with people that I don’t see or interact with daily. I enjoy helping and teaching younger kids as well.
Besides 4-H Bailey is a member of the Key Club, Maroon Platoon, FFA, and plays volleyball and softball.
2024 Queen Candidate
Katelyn Davis
Katelyn is an eight-year member of the Mad Hatters 4-H Club and the daughter of Aaron and Holly Davis of Carmi.
In her seven years in 4-H Katelyn has gone above and beyond in taking 4-H projects. She has taken too many to mention but has narrowed them down to her favorite five projects she has enjoyed the most. Visual Arts-Stained Glass, Creative Writing, Visual Arts Cake Decorating, Public Speaking, and her top favorite Legislative Connection. She loved meeting with legislators in Springfield to lobby for 4-H.
Her 4-H honors have included Outstanding First Year Member, Grand Champion at the State Fair in Stained Glass, Nature, and Family Heritage, State Fair in Public Speaking, State level Emerald Experience Award in Project Learning and Leadership and being elected President of her club.
4-H allows Katelyn to grow as a person in a variety of areas, gives her a chance to give back to her community, allowing her to experience things she wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise, and helps her create new personal connections that will last a lifetime.
Besides 4-H Katelyn is a member of the Carmi-White County Girls Golf Team, member of the Class of 2027 Student Council, member of the CWCHS Drama Club which she will be Mrs. Frill in the upcoming Mary Poppins Play, Key Club officer, and attends Carmi Emmanuel Church.
2024 Queen Candidate
Katelyn Garner
Katelyn is a seven-year member of the Centerville Ripsnorters 4-H Club and the daughter of Kelly & Jaclyn Garner of Crossville.
In 4-H Katelyn takes a variety of projects including Clothing, Photography, Visual Arts Heritage Arts, and Beef. She has enjoyed showing her heifers these past six years, especially her heifer Honey. She also was very proud of her photo editing project which was a picture of her show heifers. She received a Grand Champion at the state fair.
Her 4-H honors include the Public Service Announcement Award in 2023, Reserve Grand Champion Heifer and Junior Showman in 2024. She won the Emerald Award in Project learning in 2021-2022 and Community Service in 2022-2023.
4-H is special to Katelyn because of the opportunities she has had over the years. There are certain things she would never have gotten to do if it wasn’t for 4-H. Some examples are being President of her 4-H club, showing her beef project, and taking her photo editing to state fair. Overall, she is so thankful for the opportunities that 4-H has given to her.
Other than 4-H, Katelyn was the 8th grade track manager, a freshman cheerleader, in FFA, in student council, and received high honors in 7th and 8th grade.
2024 Queen Candidate
Eva Grogan
Eva is a six-year member of the Mad Hatters 4-H Club and the daughter of Justin and Jessica Grogan of Carmi.
In her five years in 4-H Eva has enjoyed taking entomology, creative writing, entomology, floriculture, and weather, which she received a grand champion at the Illinois State Fair.
Eva’s 4-H honors have included State Fair Grand Champion in weather, the State Fair Inspire Award, receiving the silver and bronze 4-H experience awards, and the perfect attendance from her club.
4-H is special to Eva because it has allowed her to connect with people she would’ve never even had a chance to meet. She might not have even been brave enough to speak to them. Through projects, like entomology, she has gained incredible amounts of knowledge. 4-H is a great way to grow as a person, either by growing your social skills or giving you new knowledge.
Outside of 4-H Eva is a member of the Kiwanis Key Club, Math Team, Thespians, and Historians. She is also a member of the Carmi-White County Girls Golf Team.
2024 Queen Candidate
Trinity McCormick
Trinity is a seven-year member of the Mad Hatters 4-H Club and the daughter of Matt and Shelly McCormick of Carmi.
Trinity has enjoyed taking leather craft, clay, scrapbooking, quilting, and cake decorating in the past six years.
Her 4-H honors have included going and participating at the state fair, receiving the Encouragement Award, receiving the I Dare You Award, was the 2023-2024 Federation President, and enjoyed participating in the Food Challenge during the White County 4-H Fair this past July.
4-H is special to Trinity because it has helped her to mature and has given her opportunities she never would’ve gotten to have otherwise. Some of her closest friends she has made due to 4-H.
Besides 4-H Trinity is a member of the Carmi Swim team, is a lifeguard at the Carmi pool, serving in children’s ministries at her church, singing on the praise and worship team, and tutoring younger kids at her school.
2024 Queen Candidate
Jalynn Phillips
Jalynn is a seven-year member of the 76 Clovers 4-H Club and the daughter of Jeff and Stacy Phillips of Norris City.
In her past six years Jalynn has enjoyed taking child development, service learning, poultry, scrapbooking, and clothing. She enjoys learning how to sew from her grandma, as she truly loves spending time with her and hearing all the stories from her and how she learned to sew from her Granny and her mom.
Jalynn’s 4-H honors include receiving the Diamond Award for project learning in 2022 and then Emerald in project learning in 2023. She has been fortunate to receive Reserve Grand Champion in 2022 for her Health project at the state fair, then Grand Champion in 2023 for her clothing. This past August she won Grand Champion at the Illinois State Fair and at the DuQuoin Regional Showcase for her Child Development Project.
4-H is special to Jalynn because she has had the opportunity to learn many new skills through attending workshops. The T-shirt bag workshop taught her how to make the bags that then she taught her youth group and 4-H club how to make. Those bags were then donated to those in need in Africa and the Carmi Compassion Center. She is not sure without 4-H that she would have taken the time to learn these skills and absolutely loves it. 4-H has always taught her the value of hard work.
Outside of 4-H Jalynn is very busy with being Valedictorian of the 8th grade class, Vice President of the Freshman class, member of the NCOE student council, FFA, FCCLA, Red Army, Math, and Science Clubs, playing volleyball, softball, and a cheerleader. She is also a member of Ditney Ridge Church and the Ignite youth group.
2023 Retiring Queen
Annsley Healy
Annsley is an eight-year member of the Enfield Blue Ribbon 4-H Club and the daughter of Phil and Holly Healy of Norris City.
Annsley has enjoyed taking many different projects throughout the past seven years. Those include quilting, swine, photography, sheep, cattle, and so much more. Cattle would have to be extra special because she is raising her own cattle.
Her top 4-H honors would have to be being a member of the 2023 Illinois Horse Bowl Team at the National 4-H Horse Bowl Competition, representing White County in the Master Showmanship Contest at the Illinois State Fair in 2024, receiving the Emerald Experience Award in both Project Learning and Community Service, and multiple Grand Champion animals over the course of her 4-H career.
4-H is special to Annsley because it has helped her develop skills that will be useful throughout her life, especially in relation to livestock.
Outside of 4-H Annsley participates in youth group at First Baptist Church, member of the Country Roads FFA Chapter, shows at a variety of livestock shows throughout Illinois, and is a member of the Illinois Junior Beef Association and Junior American Simmental Association.
2023 Retiring King
Aidan Jordan
Aidan Jordan is an eight-year member of the Centerville Ripsnorters 4-H Club and the son of Jimmy and April Jordan of Carmi.
In the past seven years Aidan has enjoyed taking many projects in 4-H. Projects include small engines, woodworking, electricity, and tractor. Also, being in the White County 4-H Shooting Sports club has been very memorable. He along with other 4-H members have been able to attend the state shotgun shoot for the past three years.
Aidan’s 4-H honors include the Electricity Award from the Illinois Electrification Council, perfect attendance all six years, and the Nolan Encouragement Award.
4-H is important to Aidan because when he started 4-H, he was not involved in anything else. 4-H gives him a chance to help his community and the opportunity to find things that he is good at and that interests him.
Besides 4-H Aidan joined the CWC football team, FFA, and the Maroon Platoon and looks forward to seeing what these teams and clubs have to offer.
