Helping Others and Voting in New Leadership...All In One Day

Wednesday at North Carolina 4-H Congress started with an amazing and incredible project. Each year on Wednesday the Congress delegates take part in a community service project. It can be anything from cleaning off a gigantic kangaroo for UNC-TV or pulling ivy at the arboretum or cleaning up and organizing a food pantry. This year almost all the counties present took part in something special. To go along with our "Hungry to Help" theme the group travelled to Dorton Arena where they found about 50 palettes holding ginormous boxes filled with dried pasta. The youth gowned up with aprons, gloved up, and even put on hair nets to start packaging up the pasta into individual bags, filling empty boxes. When they got done they had processed 37,990 pounds of pasta or almost 32,000 meals. What an incredible job they did.

After the hands to service project the youth came back to the McKimmon Center for lunch. Waiting for them was a small bowl of rice and a small bottle of water. The point of the exercise was to let them know what it is like for people who are hungry who may live off of a small bowl of rice and water for an entire day, if they even have that much. After making the point, an hour later, organizers brought in burritos from Moe's to the thrill of all of those hungry teens.

In the meantime our 4-H Agent, was in the donor lunch across the hall. There Dr. Eddie and Mrs. Brenda Locklear, and Robert Wilkes were recognized for their efforts in starting endowment funds to support Robeson County 4-H. Also retired Extension Director Everett Davis and Shea Ann DeJarnette were recognized for starting a restricted fund that will benefit our county 4-H program.

After all the food, it was time to get down to business. The youth kicked out most of the adults and got down to the business of electing state officers. Each county casted their ballot. Their choices were between six well qualified candidates for four positions. In the running were; Justin Simmons and LeAnthony Boone for President, Sally Dixon for Vice President, Ashley Williams and Sarah Osbourne for Secretary/Treasurer; and Joshua Black for Reporter. When the ballots were counted the winners and 2010-2011 4-H state officers are: LeAnthony Boone, President; Sally Dixon, Vice President; Sarah Osbourne, Secretary/Treasurer; and Joshua Black as Reporter.

After all the work, and business was concluded it was time to get back to the dorms and get ready for the big banquet. We heard from our outgoing officers and were introduced to our incoming officers. Then we walked to the Dorton Arena where our youth created a 4-H clover. Dr. Marshall Stewart, Department Head, State Program Leader, Department of 4-H Youth Development and Family and Consumer Sciences, installed the incoming state and district officers during this candlelight ceremony that has a long standing tradition at the North Carolina 4-H Congress.

After the candle lighting ceremony it was time to celebrate. The youth travelled back to the expo center and danced the night away. They said goodbye to the old officers, congratulated the incoming officers and had fun with their new friends.

Thursday will be our last day at 4-H Congress, and we know it will be jam packed. Stay tuned to the 4-H blog for what happens and photos from the day.