The Penn State Cooperative Extension Office in Carbon County held its annual holiday ornament contest for 4-H members recently.

Georgia Farrow, program assistant and youth development/4-H, said this is the 10th year the extension has held the contest.All ornaments are displayed on a Christmas tree in the Penn State office, located along Lentz Trail in Jim Thorpe.Criteria for entries include that all ornaments must be handmade by the 4-H member, be no larger than five-inch by five-inch, and depict a 4-H theme, either a project area or showing the 4-H clover. Ornaments are then judged on creativity and originality.This year's winners are Molly Mertz of Lehighton, first place; Brittany Fronheiser of Palmerton, second; Heather Moore of Albrightsville, third; Jackie Malloy of Lehighton, fourth; and Emily Buchman of White Haven, fifth.Penn State Cooperative Extension is a community-oriented educational organization that provides programs such as the 4-H program, in which children and teens up to age 18 can learn about a variety of topics from sewing and basket making to traveling and agriculture while building a strong social network.For more information on the 4-H clubs in Carbon County, contact the Penn State Cooperative Extension office at (570) 325-2788 or e-mail

gaf4@psu.edu.