Texas

Cody Black, 17, has been in 4-H in Bailey County for about five years. Most of his projects have been with animals. He has shown steers and pigs at stock shows, and his steer won second place at the recent South Plains Fair in Lubbock.

But a couple of years ago he decided to try something different for 4-H, so he took up photography.

"It's unique," he said. "The things you could take pictures of; the older, more antique things you could take pictures of and preserve."

So Cody, along with his younger brother and sister--also 4-H members--picked up their cameras and started looking around their community.

At the Muleshoe Heritage Foundation, Cody found what he was looking for.

"They have a lot of old antique farm equipment" at the heritage center, he said.

One of the photographs he took there was chosen to be the cover of this year's Texas Cooperative Extension holiday greeting card that will be sent out at Thanksgiving, said Coleena Burt, Extension communications specialist and graphic designer.

Each year a photograph taken by a Texas 4-Her is chosen for this honor. A committee, which Burt serves on, selects the holiday card photo from entries sent in by 4-Hers across the state. This year Cody's photo won.

"It's a beautifully taken photograph, depicting a typical rustic Texas scene with beautiful fall colors," Burt said. "We looked through several others and felt Cody's was the best for this year."

Titled "Well-Deserved Rest," the photo is a closeup of a weathered farm wagon and wagon wheel.

Photography turned out to be an unexpected pleasure for Cody, he said.

"I enjoyed doing it," he said. "It's different from other 4-H activities." And to other young potential photographers, he advised: Photography is fun ... enjoy it.

Cody has gotten a lot from his years in 4-H, he said.

"It's mostly just the people (in 4-H), the leadership quality you get out of it."

A senior at Muleshoe High School this year, Cody plans to attend West Texas A&M University next year and major in animal science. His goal is to become a veterinarian.

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This photo by Cody Black, 17, of Muleshoe, was selected to be used on this year's Texas Cooperative Extension holiday greeting card that will be sent out at Thanksgiving. (Photo courtesy of Cody Black and Texas Cooperative Extension 4-H Program.)