Robeson County 4-H

Needless to say we are always excited about the year ahead so ringing in 2010 is very exciting for those of us here at 4-H. Of course we can't ring in the new without remembering some of the highlights of our year as it passes by. To start with we celebrated North Carolina 4-H's Centennial. There were special activities each month, a balloon release of 100 balloons at the fair, and lots of cake. Dr. Marshall Stewart, our state 4-H leader, joined us to help us honor our volunteers. Dr. Theron McKinney came all the way from Raleigh to help us open the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair, as they helped us celebrate the centennial in a big way. Clinton McRae, our new district director, also honored us with a visit to say thank you to our volunteers for their service. Our newest State Senator Michael Walters came by to honor our youth, as did Rod Jenkins, our assistant County Manager. It was a start studded year for Robeson County 4-H and that was just the icing on the top of the ca...

Have you seen the local paper lately? Robeson County 4-H is making headlines as part of a continuing series on United Way Agencies. The articles highlight the many opportunities available through United Way Agencies. This week's article focuses on 4-H and shows some of our programs and even gives some of the statistics of our program benefits. If you have not seen the paper for Tuesday, you can still catch the article on line at the Robesonian . Take a gander and feel free to offer your opinion of the program to the newspaper public or right here on our blog. You can also check on the thumbs up if you like the article. So take a quick read and see why we are so proud of this incredible program.

Giving back to the community, or creating citizen leaders as Dr. Marshall Stewart says, is a large aspect of 4-H work. Our Robeson County 4-H members are no different. On the night we honor them, our annual 4-H Youth Achievement Night, they were thinking of others. Each family brought a gift for a child in the foster care program. Many of these youth will not receive gifts if it were not for the thoughtfulness of others. When we got done collecting there were so many toys that we filled 5 large boxes with games, books, toys, coloring books and so much more. Sanora Stephens with the Department of Social Services Protective Agency came by to pick up the toys. She was just in awe of the thoughtfulness of our 4-H families giving to youth they have never met and all the love and well wishes that went into the choices they made. It is just another example of the difference 4-H makes in Robeson County.

Germ Busters! That is the name Aggie Rogers and Shea Ann DeJarnette are going by these days. At least in the schools as they come in to teach Glo-Germ. This week we hit Littlefield Elementary's six, fifth grade classrooms. The Hornet's as they are called were already feeling the sting from illnesses this year about 75% of the students reported that illness had kept them out of school for one day this year. The students were all very receptive to our Glo-Germ program and grossed out by the glowing germs on their hands. Some who thought their hands were clean left with horrified looks on their faces as they saw the germs glow under the black light. However after a quick lesson they headed straight to the bathroom where they washed their hands with soap and water for 20-30 seconds. When they got back and placed their hands under the light...the germs (for the most part) were gone. A few had to rewash, but their classmates told on them and said they did not wash their hand...

WOW! That is all I can say about Friday night. It was our annual Robeson County 4-H Youth Achievement Night and all I can say was what a celebration! What accomplishments! What incredible youth we have in Robeson County. We started our event in a beautifully decorated auditorium thanks to our Youth Achievement Volunteer Committee made up of Missy McLean, Libby Burney, Jane Hurst, and Lillian McNeill. they not only decorated but put together the program and planned the entire event. After the introduction of our Master of Ceremonies, 4-H Alumni Quincy Dinnerson introduced Renee Blue the Past President of the Robeson County Volunteer Leaders Association who welcomed all of our guests. Christopher Bullard and Yazmin Washington lead our pledges and County Extension Director, Everett Davis recognized special guests. We were very pleased to have Tanya Underwood and Jane Hurst who are members of the Robeson County 4-H Specialized Advisory Committee on hand to help us with the night, as...