Falling into Training

It was an early and chilly morning as Robeson County 4-H Volunteers, Rosie Jones, Sonny Sampson, and Veronica Powell climbed into the state van with 4-H Agent Shea Ann DeJarnette to head to Anson County. This wasn't a scenic tour, more of a day of hands on learning and training at the annual South Central District Fall Day.

Anson County hosted the event this year at the Extension Office in Wadesboro. The day started with a welcome, workshops, district meeting and ended with an incredible home cooked lunch by the Anson County volunteers.

The workshops this year included a Hungry to Help Workshop, ACE trainings, a health and fitness opportunity and a bow making workshop. Dr. Mitzi Stumpf-Downing with the state 4-H office conducted the training on the 4-H Hungry to Help initiative. This is a state wide community service project in which youth and adults in 4-H will help address the hunger issue within our state. Dr. Stumpf-Downing educated the volunteers on the issue of hunger within our state, why we are addressing it, and different opportunities on how to engage youth and other community partners to help make a difference. Sonny Sampson and Rosie Jones took part in this workshop.

Elenor Getz, better known to most of our 4-H community as Mom, is a Master Volunteer from Cumberland County. She lead two workshops. The first was on working with different ages of children and the stages they are at. The second workshop was about adult and youth partnership. Veronica Powell and Sonny Sampson took part in these workshops.

Pearl Blount, an Anson County volunteer offered a colorful workshop on bow making. Each participant learned how to make bows of different sizes for different purposes (wreath bows, pew bows, hair bows, etc.). All of the volunteers chose colorful wired ribbon and worked together to make some fantastic bows. Veronica Powell and Rosie Jones attended this workshop.

Another volunteer taught a health and fitness workshop teaching volunteers about the little things they can do to stay in shape and help our youth stay physically fit.

After the workshops the volunteers met to discuss district business. They elected new officers, our own Veronica Powell will be the District Secretary. The group also discussed their roles and responsibilities at the State volunteer leaders conference. After adjourning we enjoyed a wonderful lunch, visited with each other and then headed back to Robeson County. I would like to thank our volunteers who attended and will be bringing back new information and skills to share with others, and represented Robeson County in the best light. Thank you!