Santa Rosa County’s own 4-H club competed in the Marine Ecology Event in Ocala, at the Marion County Extension Office according to Prudence Caskey, SRC 4-H agent. According to the Florida 4-H website, “The 4-H State Marine Ecology Event (MEE) provides 4-H youth with opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge of the marine and aquatic worlds.” Joy Tsubooka, SRC public information officer said the Junior Team members included Landyn Keeton, Cayden Smith, and Alexis Walls. The Intermediate Team included Makenna Carmichael, Kyle Caskey, Jr., and Lance Keeton. The Senior Team included Brandon Bradford, Katie Carmichael, Rachel Pollard, Jasmin Rhea and individual, Steven Holster.
Senior team member Rachel Pollard said the event involved identifying marine plant, as well as vertebrate and invertebrate animal identification. She also said the team competed in a scavenger hunt using clues to identify marine life. Pollard said the team prepared by using flash cards and reading up on ocean plants and animals. However, she said the contest presented an unexpected challenge with young examples of certain creatures.
“It was enjoyable. I learned quite a bit,” she said. For example, Pollard said she learned about the upside down jellyfish, so named because it catches light for algae, both making substances the other need.
According to Caskey, the senior team won third place. She said, “We were competing against 148 other 4-H'ers. There were 17 counties from around the state that competed. We also had two youth win in the Marine Photography Competition. Shea Dixon got 2nd place and Mary Ballard got 3rd place in the Marine Habitats category.” Steven Holster, Katie Ballard, Chase Dixon, and Kyle Caskey, Jr., also submitted photos, according to Caskey.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: 4H team competes in Marine Ecology event