The 4-H poultry program includes five state contests - Egg Preparation Demonstration, Chicken Barbecue, Turkey Barbecue, Avian bowl and Poultry judging. While we have had challenges getting 4-Hers to participate in the Egg Preparation Demonstration Contest, we had particular success with one 4-Her in particular - Emily Falica from Allen County. She won the state contest in the senior division in 2013 and represented Kentucky at the national contest held in Louisville at the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference. She placed first nationally as well.  Her mother indicated that the awards presentation at the national contest 'was a defining moment for her. She decided then and there to devote more time to public speaking. She went on to be a nationally ranked high school speech and debate competitor which turned into an incredible scholarship and highly coveted spot on the nation's best collegiate team. It was all related back to that evening in Louisville."

Emily competed in the WKU Forensics Team and has competed in both her freshman and sophomore years so far. In 2018 the team placed in the top three in almost every tournament and won the largest tournament of the semester. Emily was one of 15 WKU students to be recognized by the Gilman Scholarship Program for Summer 2019 Study Abroad. She will be studying the Korean Language at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea this summer.