4-H Animal Science

 

4-H Animal Science is the cornerstone of the 4-H program. Youth get the opportunity to raise an animal for show at the fair. In the process they learn about responsibility, record keeping, anatomy of that animal and more. It is a fun project with real world learning opportunities.

This year we are turning the animal science project on its ear so please read the following information carefully.

-All youth taking part in this project must be actively registered in 4-H Online to receive an animal.

- This project is open to all youth ages 5-18. Please note our 5-7 year old Cloverbud division is non competitive.

- Youth must register and pay in Eventbrite prior to the deadline.

-Please note the deadline to register and pay for the Turkey project is earlier than all other animals. The deadline for this project will be April 8.

- If completing the turkey project youth will also be required to show at the state turkey show prior or during the state fair.

- Before registering please consider the needs of the animal (cost, pen, feed, outdoor area, predators, fencing, weather, etc.) before registering for this project. Once you register care, food, and other needs will be the responsibility of the family. Also think about vacations and schedules so that you can maintain a steady schedule for your animal in terms of water, feed, exercise, etc.

- There will be a mandatory Animal Science training and animal give-out at the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair Grounds on June 29 from 9:30-11:30 am.

- Other in person scheduled visits, video trainings, and possibly in person trainings per species are likely during this process. This will be discussed at the animal science meeting/training/giveaway in June.

- Youth are required to show their animal at the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair.

- We recommend the youth start by showing rabbits or chickens as a first project and move up to larger animals such as turkeys and goats.

- Please check the zoning ordinances and if applicable Home Owners Association policies, on raising animals where you live.

-Youth may complete up to 3 different animal projects.

- A project record book will need to be completed and turned in as part of this project. There will be a training on record books and we will offer virtual help in completing the books. Please note that there is a separate competition for record books in January as well that you may turn these books in for. More information will be given about that program during training.

To register please go to programs in your app or click this link:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4-h-animal-science-robeson-county-tickets-873386541657

If you have any questions please contact Shea Ann DeJarnette at sadejarn@ncsu.edu or Jade McNeill at jade_mcneill@ncsu.edu

Cooking with Ms. JoJo

 

Join Joanna Rogers, 4-H Expanded Foods and Nutrition Program Assistant who will lead this awesome opportunity.  Youth will arrive first thing in the morning and have the chance to make snacks and lunch as they gain valuable skills that will last a lifetime.  As part of this hands on cooking program youth will learn how to make healthy snacks, learn about food safety, and how to use various kitchen tools and implements.  This is always a fun and tasty club that meets once a year for various age groups.  This session will be for our 9-13 year olds and next time it will be for our 14-18 year olds.

You can register today for this tasty program by going to our app under programs or by clicking this link.  All youth must be registered in 4-H Online to participate.  This opportunity is limited to the first ten youth who register.  Deadline to register is April 1.  For more information please contact Jade McNeill at jade_mcneill@ncsu.edu.

4-H Family Holiday Crafting SPIN Club

 

This club is for all currently active member in 4-H (actively enrolled in 4-H Online) and their families. We will meet three times and work on a craft each time and learn the value of crafting, as well as the entrepreneurial side of creating your own business. Each meeting will be at the NC Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center office at 455 Caton Road in Lumberton. We will meet starting at 6 pm and wind up by 8 pm at the latest. Please see the dates and crafting projects below. Each project is designed to be completed during the club meeting and a list will be provided of supplies if you would like to continue these projects at home.

By registering you are registering for all three craft club meetings. Please register each member of the family that will be attending. If you can not attend a meeting we will have supplies for you to pick up and a video tutorial to try at home.

Thursday, November 2- Yarn Wreaths. Come in a learn how to make festive wreaths for the holidays that will last for years to come.

Thursday, November 16-Cross Stitch Ornaments. We will teach you the fun of making designs with needle and thread. If you can count and make an X you can do this fun and easy ornament project.

Tuesday, November 21-Get ready for Christmas Charcuterie. We will work on festive holiday snacks for gifts, celebrations, and more.

To register for these club meetings please go to:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-family-crafting-4-h-spin-club-tickets-748639891067?aff=oddtdtcreator

4-H Family Seed Saving Club

   We don't give them much thought but with a possible seed shortage and more folks wanting to know where their food comes from this is a great time to learn about not only saving seeds but the versatility of seeds.  Many families have planted gardens for generations.  There is nothing like using fresh herbs or veggies from your own garden or even gifting them to neighbors.  How that all starts is with a seed.  If you take a little time you can harvest your own seeds to plant again, or swap with someone else.  

If gardening isn't your thing think about how seeds are used in cooking and even crafts.  We will explore some popular and maybe some unheard of seed recipes as well get crafty with the unique works of art.   You will be amazed at what you can create, grow, and eat just from some little seeds.

More of our 4-H families have asked for SPIN Clubs that will allow the entire family to take part.  That is what we are doing with this opportunity.  Everything starts with the seeds you plant so why not plant this seed with your family on May 4 & 11 from 6-8 pm and see what it is all about.  Some good might just grow from it.

To register for this free opportunity you can go to programs in our app or click this link:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-seed-saving-4-h-club-tickets-625700736747

For more information about this event please contact Shea Ann DeJarnette at sadejarn@ncsu.edu
  

It's a Family Thing

   This article was written for the Robesonian by our own Shea Ann DeJarnette, 4-H Extension Agent.  It can also be found on our website.

    An interesting trend has developed since the pandemic – we have noticed we are all super busy again and headed in a million directions, and parents are more involved in extracurricular activities. It seems at every 4-H meeting since we came back to primarily in-person sessions has had youth with parents as part of their experience. In the past, parent (not all, but most) dropped kids off and ran errands, coming back to pick them up so they could have their own experience. Now parents are involved in their experiences, which is wonderful; however, those experiences were meant for youth exploration and discover. What we saw happening was parents taking over projects, so youth grabbed the nearest electronic device and checked out while their parents did their projects. 

    Noticing that trend and realizing 4-H can be a great family experience, we have started 4-H Family SPIN Clubs. These experiences are meant for the entire family. In some cases, the family works together on a project and other times everyone has their own project, but it is time together where everyone is working, not on devices, and hopefully communicating and making memories while learning something new. Our 4-H Family Holiday Craft Club is an example of that. Six families registered for this club. Our thought was a gift from the heart that is handmade is truly a gift of time and talent that is appreciated. During our first meeting, we made ornaments three different ways. Some took to one type more than another, and what was great was each family member had a favorite type they made multiples of. Everyone was busy learning, creating, and sharing, which created fun memories. 

    During our second meeting, one of our 4-H families shared a favorite craft, making ornaments with perler beads. Our youth volunteer taught the youth, and adults learned from the parent. Although we were in one room, adults and youth sat at different tables. What was amazing to me was that the youth often got up to check on their parents progress while the adults were focused on their projects. Everyone had at least one, if not multiple projects to take home, and the youth inspired each other and enjoyed socializing while the adults were focused on their projects. Everyone just had fun. 

    We announced our last meeting would be this week and everyone was upset. This final meeting focuses on gifts made with food, so mixes they can put in a jar, jams, and even things folks won’t eat, like gingerbread play dough. Our overall goal with this club was to show them how to craft and talk about the cost of crafting (in case they get the bug and want to be entrepreneurial and start their own business), encouraging them to head out to the Very Local Holiday Festival at the Farmers Market on December 2 to see what it takes to sell what you make. 

    All along we have been talking about more family clubs, and our families love the idea. So next year, we are planning family cooking clubs, a seed club, bee club, animal science, and more. We will still continue just-youth activities and clubs as well, but adding families in just seems like the natural thing to do. So families out there, don’t forget 4-H can be your thing. Come check us out. 

    For more information, please contact Shea Ann DeJarnette, 4-H Youth Development agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, at 671-3276, by email at Shea_Ann_DeJarnette@ncsu.edu, or visit our website.

4-H Family Holiday SPIN Club

 

There is nothing like a homemade, handmade item as a gift for Christmas.  You never know you might start a new hobby or business from the fun of crafting.  This SPIN club is meant for Robeson County 4-H members and accompanying adults.  Youth must be actively registered in 4-H Online.  Come in learn a new craft and learn how to support your child in a business of their own.  

This club will meet on Thursday, November 3; Tuesday, November 8; and Thursday, November 17; from 6-8pm.  You are more than welcome to pick up something to eat on the way in and enjoy sometime crafting as a family.  Some of the topics we plan to learn will be hand knitting, Perler beads, glass ornaments, and other great holiday craft ideas.  This will be an in person event and we will offer video tutorials, as help when you leave. 

We ask that parents register themselves and youth (parents when you register and it asks about age just respond adult) who will be taking part in this SPIN club.  

You can register via our 4-H App under programs or by using this link:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4-h-family-holiday-crafting-spin-club-tickets-443605876117