Aaron D. Campbell

Used to create a customizable rotating slideshow highlighting certain posts or 
pages. You can choose which posts or pages are featured by simply checking a 
checkbox on the write posts/page screen. The plugin uses the new post thumbnail 
functionality added in WordPress 2.9.
Requires PHP5.

Featured Content Showcase

Used to create a customizable rotating slideshow highlighting certain posts or pages.  Uses jQuery, which comes with WordPress (no conflicts).

AMP-MODE

Scott DeLuzio

The default Genesis Featured Post widget is great, except you only have the option to include all categories or a specific category. You can exclude previously displayed posts or “sticky” posts, but you can’t exclude all posts in a specific category.
This plugin was created out of a need to show all but one category in the featured post widget.
<h3>Why Exclude a Category?</h3>
Most blogs focus on a certain topic – technology, food, entertainment, sports, or whatever.
Your featured post widgets should show off the posts that are geared towards the audience you are attracting to your site.
Every once in a while you may have a category that doesn’t quite fit the norm. You might have your own personal thoughts, and while they are important to you, they may not fit on the homepage of your site.
You may also have a tutorial series with a dozen posts that would end up filling up your featured post widgets. You can feature the main introductory post, and hide the rest.

Featured Post Exclude Category for Genesis

Really easy way to exclude a category from the Featured Post widget.

Easy to remove a category

A new featured posts widget for Genesis themes that allows you to exclude a category when selecting All Categories in the featured post widget.

Featured Content Showcase vs Featured Post Exclude Category for Genesis