10/27/2026
Congratulations to this years Outstanding Junior, McKenna Rood!
McKenna is a well-rounded representative of Taylor County 4-H. She was part of the Archery & Shooting Sports Club, participating and placing at multiple area and state contests: 1st place female compound bow at Estill County, 3rd place female in trap at Estill County, 1st place team in Air Pistol at Russell County, 1st place team in Bare bow at Archery Extravaganza, and even pushing back surgery until after the State Contest so that she could finish the season first, where they achieved 1st place team in archery bare bow, 2nd place team in air pistol, and 2nd place team in trap. She was a member of the Art Club, Baking Club, Cooking Club, Entomology Club, Horticulture Club, Photography Club, the Country Ham Project, and the Reserve Grand Champion Horticulture Judging Team. She participated in the trash pick-up service project, the Country Ham auction, the 4th of July Parade, the Extension Family Farm Field Day. At the County fair, she received Reserve Grand Champion and Champion placements on multiple projects, and won her division of the county and area demonstration contest and placed 2nd in the state in her division.
Her favorite part of 4-H this year was participating in the new Trap discipline of Shooting Sports because she was able to experience a new hobby and help the team place 2nd in the State Contest. The one skill that she felt she grew the most in this past year was her confidence. She attributed that to the public speaking opportunities of the demonstration contests, participating in the horticulture judging team for the first time, and through the Trap program.