Robeson County 4-H

It's a tradition. You can not ring in the holidays in Lumberton without Robeson County 4-H. Thanks to the organizational and decorating skills of 4-H volunteers Libby Burney and Marilyn Merritt 4-H had the shiniest, most glamorous youth float in the annual Lumberton Holiday Parade. More than 40 youth and volunteers clamored aboard the flat bed truck that was decorated with traditional holiday decorations and 4-H clovers. A half dozen clubs were represented including; Dirty Rascals Junior Master Gardeners, Horsin' Around, Lightening Electric Club, Spiritual Generations, Voices in Praise, and Young Leaders. Everyone aboard the float helped to decorate and enjoyed their ride down the parade route waving and smiling to all those along the way. It might have been cold this year, but our group stayed warm spreading all their 4-H holiday spirit, and huddling under blankets. According to Libby Burney she has a whole hosts of ideas to make it even better for next year so go ahead and se...

What a week it has been! After leaving our incredible volunteers Friday night Yazmin Washington, Cierra Buckman and I headed to Raleigh early Saturday morning for 4-H State Council Conference. The two day event offers workshops in leadership areas and is also a chance for youth from around the state to get together to make decisions concerning the 4-H program state wide. There is also a battle for the state spirit stick which involves, skits, chants, and a whole lot of mystery points. Before we could even look at our schedules Yazmin, Cierra and DeAngelo Byrd from Scotland County, video taped a shout out for our Military troops stationed abroad and wrote messages on a banner that will be sent to them. Cierra jumped into the swing of things first. She signed up for the Ambassador track of this conference. What that means is that she was learning about the 4-H Ambassador program and taking workshops to obtain her bronze level. 4-H Ambassadors are highly trained 4-H leaders. They ...

We say it too infrequently and they deserve so much more than just a mere thank you. I am talking about our incredible Robeson County 4-H volunteers. Nearly 75 of these special people joined us for our annual 4-H Volunteer Appreciation Banquet . The room was decorated in black and silver to help kick off the upcoming State 4-H Centennial Celebration. Our volunteers were dressed to kill as they came to enjoy dinner, fellowship with other volunteers, and receive small tokens of our appreciation. Cierra Buckman and Yazmin Washington, both County Council officers, served as hostesses greeting our volunteers and pinning them with centennial pins while making sure they were armed with a ticket for some incredible door prizes. Everett Davis, the Robeson County Extension Director, welcomed everyone and served as our moderator for the evening. Bobby Rogers, a long time 4-H volunteer, gave the benediction and we all enjoyed an incredible dinner from Village Station. After dinner, the fun really ...

Traditionally the South Central District Winter Enrichment takes place in late January or Early February. This year it came a few months early thanks to a very special celebration. In 2009 North Carolina 4-H will be celebrating its centennial. To get ready the District officers decided it would be best to start preparing before the beginning of the year to celebrate. So this year they moved winter enrichment up and turned it into 4-H Centennial Enrichment . Two Robeson County 4-H members, Cierra Buckman and James Hurst attended this teen event. They took part in workshops that included learning about solar energy, finding their beat during a music workshop, and learning about centennial activities and planning 100 ways to celebrate in 2009. The day also included a business meeting where county reports were given, an update from the 4-H state council planning meeting, and getting prepared for next weekends 4-H State Council Conference. The two delegates from Robeson County were among 7...

Twas the night before voting and all through the county there were creatures stirring, practicing their voting. Well, in all honesty they weren't really practicing, they were actually officially voting. Not the the country's highest office but for our county 4-H program's highest honors, the officers of the county council and leaders association. Five clubs were on hand to cast their ballots and make sure they were signed by the proper youth and adults for each club. When the votes were tallied the county council officers elected are: Cierra Buckman, President; Aljaquwan Nixon, President-Elect; Yazmin Washington, Secretary; Kristen Sealey, Treasurer; Jaboya Mouzon, Reporter; Laquawnda Banks, Sergeant-at-Arms. The Leaders' Association officers include: Renee Blue, President; Hazel Sumner, President-Elect; Sandra Cox, Secretary; Melissa Hoggard, treasurer; Kenneth Bethea, Reporter; Past President/Advisor is Jane Hurst. Marilyn Merritt, the South Central District ...

They drove to Robeson County in car loads and vans full to enjoy, learn, and work. What is it all about? The South Central District 4-H Annual Volunteer Fall Day. More than 50 people from 10 counties arrived Saturday morning to see old friends, attend workshops, and conduct business. After a brief welcome from district president Jim Hancock, the group broke down to attend two of four workshops for the day. Bobby Rogers, a Robeson County 4-H volunteer created a woodworking project for the group. The shelves, which could be used as a spice rack or whatever the imagination can muster, were put together by each individual to take home. As part of the lesson they learned about different types of hammers, different sized nails, and how woodworking can be a great stress reliever. Christy Strickland, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent in Robeson County offered some great ways to recycle and create money saving projects that will be especially handy during the holidays. Taking old m...

They are making history and planning their futures all at the same time. These 4-H members are part of our first Robeson County 4-H intensive college prep program that began on October 31st. 12 youth were selected through a nomination process from club leaders, volunteers, parents and 4-H staff. To be part of the program they had to be in the ninth through eleventh grades, be an active 4-H member, and have the commitment they will need to be a part of the program. Letters and contracts were sent to each possibly participant and when all was said and done nine dedicated members decided to take part in the program that will help them be prepared and competitive for college. Our first workshops took place on a teachers workday. the youth arrived at the 4-H office and worked on exercises to help them follow directions filled out surveys, and we had a conversation to help shape future programs. April Mowery, with CFNC (the College Foundation of North Carolina), stopped by and walked them th...