Brandon Harrell, 10, of Pinehurst was among award-winners at the 2008 State 4-H Congress, held July 21-25. The Congress is the high point of the 4-H year, bringing young people from across the state to the North Carolina State University campus and Raleigh for a week of activity.

Brandon, son of Michael and Sharon Harrell, was a winner in contests designed to test 4-H'ers' knowledge of a variety of subjects. He received a $75 award for his presentation, "Baseball and Steroids," in the 9- and 10-year-old division of the Public Speaking competition. Carolina Farm Credit, East Carolina Farm Credit and Cape Fear Farm Credit sponsored the competition.

Approximately 800 4-H'ers, volunteer leaders and North Carolina Cooperative Extension agents attended 4-H Congress.

The 4-H program is the youth education program of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, based at North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T State universities.

More than 204,000 young people between the ages of 5 and 19 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year with the help of 19,000 adult and youth volunteers.