At this year’s Kentucky State Fair, a local 4-H member represented Bell County and Middlesboro with a first place winning speech.

Morgan Lawson, a seventh-grader who attends Middlesboro Middle School took first place in her age division with her 4-H Country Ham Speech.

Lawson and Bell County 4-H Agent Brandy Calvert of the UK Extension Office attended the Oct. 10 Bell County Fiscal Court meeting to present Lawson with an award and promote the community involvement the 4-H Club participates in.

Lawson was part of a project that had various children participate in a ham curing contest over the course of six to nine months.

The end of that process the participants have to give a speech at the Kentucky State Fair.

“This was her second year doing that. She went the first and figured out what she needed to do win, and she went back and she won. So in her age division, she took first place for her speech. And this is out of 700 or 800 hams and kids so the competition was strong,” said Calvert.

Lawson was just elected president of her 4-Club, titled The Crater Club.

“My favorite part of my 4-H State fair experience was spending time with my friends, and getting to know them better. I learned that I am more creative than I ever imagined, I also learned that getting your hands a little dirty can lead you to amazing accomplishments,” stated Lawson.

Bell County Judge-Executive Albey Brock stated “You take just a minute and think about you getting up in front 700 people when you were a seventh-grader and making a speech at a state fair — that’s pretty special.”

“Bell County’s 4-H’ers should be proud of their accomplishments at the Kentucky State Fair. To watch them grow, to become more confident, to achieve more and more with each passing year is really amazing. 4-H really does ‘Make the Best of Better’, which is our motto,” said Calvert.