A record number of youth will participate in the 4-H Southeast Alabama Regional Round-Up at Troy University today and Friday.

Grant Lyons, Pike County Extension coordinator, said 174 youth, who represent their respective districts, will compete for regional titles in their specialty events.

The Round-Up will feature 22 competitions, inside and out.

“So, those who are curious as to what’s going on, all the activity will be top 4-H’ers competing for first place honors in the 2012 Southeast Alabama Regional Round-up,” Lyons said. “Competitions will begin at 1 p.m. today and conclude on Friday.

“There will be a lot of activity around Sartain Hall, where 4-H’ers will compete in the Chicken-que, ‘What Wood You Build,’ junior baked foods, public speaking, photography, tractor driving and bicycling.”

The competitors are first and second place district winners and Lyons said they are all outstanding 4-H’ers.

“They will represent Southeast Alabama well,” he said. “Each event is very competitive, but the youth learn that there’s much more to these events than where you place.

The 4-H-ers will be treated to a dance, swimming, basketball and volleyball tonight. Many of them will spend the night in the dorms and be ready for the competitions that continue on Friday.

“This is a great opportunity for our 4-H’ers to be exposed to a university setting and make new friends and meet campus administrators,” Lyons said.

Lyons said that he appreciates the relationship with Troy University.

“We would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Jack Hawkins, Herb Reeves and LuAnn Knight for their hospitality. This is an outstanding event that involves much work behind the scenes. We hope to continue having this event at Troy University. It’s a great way to expose our youth to the campus while continuing to build on the great relationship between Alabama 4-H and Troy University.”

Participants in the 2012 4-H Southeast Alabama Regional Round-Up represent Pike, Houston, Geneva, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Coffee, Barbour, Bullock, Russell, Chambers, Lee, Tallapoosa, Montgomery, Macon, Elmore, Butler, Conecuh, Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe counties.

The Regional Round-Up is organized and planned by 4-H Regional Extension agents Doug Summerford and Lindsay Kimbro.