Dirty Pecan contributes to 4-H student exchange program

Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. The Dirty Pecan biking event raises money annually to support 4-H programs in Jefferson County. This year's ride on March 2 brought in $20,000, and the money is already beginning to make a difference. Event organizer Betsy Barfield said that Dirty Pecan received a direct request for a contribution to support a local student, Tessia Brookins, who is preparing for a trip to Japan through the 4-H International Youth Exchange Program. Brookins had earned almost all of the $10,000 cost of the program when she appealed to Dirty Pecan to help with $1,500 that she still needed. “Thankfully they said 'yes'!” said Brookins. The total cost of the eight-week p