Top 10 Table Manners

As you are aware our 4-H Agent Shea Ann DeJarnette is a certified Emily Post Institute Trainer.  Every once in awhile she sees something that our families might like and are just a gentle reminder of easily practiced good manners in the world around us.  Recently she found an article from the EP Institute on the top table manners.  Take a look and see if these might apply in your home too.

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Etiquette Today: Top Table Manners Here's a quick guide to our top table manners tips. Feb 5   READ IN APP   Photo by Jesse Vigil on Unsplash Top Table Manners Tips Table manners have evolved over centuries to make eating with others more pleasant and sociable. The more we use good table manners when we dine with others, the more we, and our dining partners, can focus on the conversation and enjoy our time together at the meal. Here are some of the most basic, but oh-so-important, table manners to keep in mind as you eat. Keep your phone out of the meal Your phone should be silenced and put away during the meal. It’s okay if your host invites you to take a picture of the table or your plate to do so before you begin dining. Absent that, your phone should not be at the table. You want to keep your focus on the people you are with, and a phone will only be a distraction. If you are in a situation like having a loved one in the hospital or a child at home with a fever, it’s okay to keep your phone on vibrate and let the group you’re dining with know you may need to take a call because of this. But step away from the table if that emergency call comes in. Put your napkin in your lap and then use it Place your napkin in your lap as soon as you sit down for the meal. Remember to use it throughout the meal. Your napkin is there to help you clean up little messes and to keep you and your appearance tidy while dining with others. It’s a great tool, don’t overlook it! Maintain your posture Avoid slouching at the table; you don’t want it to look like you’re too tired to participate. Instead, sit up straight and keep your head level when talking with others. Obviously, you’ll have to look down at your plate, and that’s okay. Avoid placing your elbows on the table while eating. It is okay to prop your elbows on the table while conversing between courses or once the meal is finished, and always has been, even in Emily’s day. Hold utensils correctly Holding your utensils correctly is not only elegant but also helps you maintain the best control over them, so accidents don’t happen. Don’t use your fork or spoon like a shovel. And don’t grip your fork full-fisted and stab your food. Instead, when cutting, hold your fork and knife with the handle in your palm, and use your thumb, index, and middle fingers to grip just at the neck where the handle joins the head of the utensil. This will give you the most control and dexterity with your utensils. When using your fork or spoon alone, the handle rests in the web (perlicue) of your thumb and index finger with your middle finger underneath the neck of the implement, and the thumb and index fingers holding the same spot from either side. Chew with your mouth closed It’s incredibly important not to gross out others while we dine with them. And chewed-up food being seen, or worse, escaping your mouth, is definitely gross to most people. Keep your mouth closed while there is food or drink in it. This also means no talking with your mouth full. If you have a condition that prevents you from closing your mouth while you chew, do your best to cover your mouth with your hand or a napkin. If someone asks you a question when you’ve just taken a bite, you can gesture with your hand (usually index finger up) to convey you will answer in “just a moment” while you finish chewing and then swallow before you speak. Don’t groom or attend to hygiene at the table Brushing your hair, applying makeup, and doing things like picking at your teeth should all be done in the restroom, not at the table. Do not pass gas at the table While a small burp, kept silent, can sometimes be done at the table by covering your mouth with your napkin and not taking a gasp of air before or after it, any other passing of gas should be done away from the table. Excuse yourself to the nearest restroom. Pace yourself with fellow diners Avoid rushing through your meal. Take bites while others are talking to you, and then pause while you respond. If you eat quickly, try to slow down so that you don’t finish long before everyone else. While a slow diner shouldn’t be rushed, they can do things like eat while others are talking to help move their meal along. Pay attention to your pacing. Cut only one piece of food at a time It’s best to cut only a piece or two of your food at a time, rather than cutting an entire item up at once and then eating it. Do not slurp your soup or beverages If your soup is too hot, let it cool for a moment before eating it. Otherwise, remember not to slurp it off your spoon. Slurping is an unpleasant noise at the table, whether it’s coming from eating soup or drinking a beverage. Ask for items to be passed to you Do not reach for or grab items on the table; instead, ask that they be passed to you if you need them. Participate well Bring your best self to the table. This is a time to enjoy others’ company, to both listen and share, and to enjoy food together. Be sure to take part in all of that as you dine with others.

4-H Top 4 for February 9, 2026

Happy Monday!

Hope everyone enjoyed thier weekend and the Super Bowl?

Just want to take a moment and say we have had our first two club meetings of the year.  Young Leaders had their organizational meeting in January, and the Art Hub 4-H Club was finally able to take the field trip to the NC Museum of Art this weekend after have to postpone a couple of times due to weather.  Congrats to our club leaders for hitting the road running in 2026.  We also know that the Dirty Rascals JMG 4-H Club has their schedule completed and will start meeting in March.  If you are interested in any of these or other club opportunities please contact Jade McNeill at jade_mcneill@ncsu.edu.

1.  Project Record Books and Portfolios are due to our office by the end of the day.  We added an extra week in due to snow, so we hope to have your record books in today.

2.  Volunteer Launch Pad  

We are excited to announce a virtual learning opportunity for our volunteers.  the 4-H Volunteer Launch Pad will be a quarterly virtual training opportunity for volunteers in Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Hoke, and Robeson Counties.  We have determined topics based on the needs expressed by our volunteers in these counties who responded to a survey we sent out in December.  To learn more about the trainings please click this link or check it out on the app under programs.

3.  Project Record Book Judging

  On February 16th we will be holding our annual project record book judging.  This is a chance for you to learn about project records if you haven't seen one before and  learn first hand what it takes for a good one.  You can judge one or more if you like.   If you will be coming please register on Eventbrite so we can make sure to be set up for all our judges.  To register just click this link and answer the questions.  You can also register on the app. 

4.  Re-enrollment

Volunteers and members need to be reenrolled in 4-H Online.  If you have not reenrolled by the end of the month you will no longer get emails from us, so please make sure to take a moment and renroll on 4-H Online.

That is all for today.  Hope you have a great Valentines and Galentine's day and we can't wait to see you at one of our 4-H events.

Jade and Shea Ann

Shelton Leadership Opportunity

 

Are you passionate about making North Carolina a better place? The Red Hat Shelton Challenge at the Shelton Leadership Center helps high school students like you build skills and confidence to make positive changes in their communities by leading with their values.

During the program, you'll live on campus for a week, be part of an engaged community, and participate in activities designed to teach values-based leadership skills, such as ethical decision-making, social responsibility, effective communication, and more. Are you up for the Challenge?

The Priority Application Deadline is February 15, 2026. Applying by the priority deadline increases the likelihood of both admission and scholarship. 

2026 Red Hat Shelton Challenge Dates 

Challenge 1: Sunday, June 14 - Friday, June 19

Challenge 2: Saturday, June 27 - Thursday, July 2

Challenge 3: Sunday, July 12 - Friday, July 17

Scholarships Available

Scholarships for the Shelton Challenge are available and can be applied for through the main program application. 1 in 3 students who attend the Shelton Challenge receive a needs-based scholarship.  

Upcoming Virtual Info Session

Virtual info sessions for prospective students and families will be held on January 15 at 6:30 p.m. EST and on February 4th at 6:30 p.m. EST. Register to attend the info session here.

Have questions about the Shelton Challenge? 

Reach out to us at sheltonchallenge@ncsu.edu.

Learn more and apply now!

4-H Volunteers-New Training Opportunity

 

BIWEEKLY UPDATE | JANUARY 2026 NLT Registration Closing Soon! Kendra Scott JMG Fundraiser Seed Your Future Professional Development Conferences 2026 JMG Speaker Announcements Enroll Your JMG Students in 2026! ONLY 10 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER FOR THE 2026 JMG NLT! Registration closes FEBRUARY 9TH! Who should attend? This dynamic, virtual & interactive training conference will equip teachers (public, private, charter), nutrition services, librarians, school district admin, Extension faculty/staff/volunteers, homeschool teachers/collaboratives, Farm to School, Farm Bureau, AmeriCorps, and other youth garden support organizations to support teachers/leaders' implementation of Junior Master Gardener curricula AND to grow sustainable school & youth garden-based programs. Why should I register? The 2026 JMG NLT will have BRAND NEW sessions, presenters, topics, and school field trips!! Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity!! The 2026 JMG NLT Conference Tracks include: TRACK 1: JMG Garden-Based Curriculum Options TRACK 2: Game-changing AI & Garden Tech for Your Garden Classroom TRACK 3: Cultivating Garden-based Literature Connections with Students TRACK 4: Growing Sustainability in Your School/Youth Gardening Program $85 Registration Gift Includes: -Access to ALL General & Concurrent Sessions -4 interesting & impactful conference tracks -Live Door Prize Giveaways at EVERY Session -An entire track of HANDS-ON curriculum sessions! -26 CPE/Professional Development Hours Awarded -Access to ALL Conference Recordings for 4 Months After Conference Click HERE to register for the 2026 Virtual JMG NLT Conference! ONLY 10 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER! Don't miss out!! Kendra Scott & Junior Master Gardener Program Giveback Campaign Starts February 10th! Get a special gift for a special someone! Kendra Scott is partnering with us for an online-only giveback event. Steps for how to use the code are below! ***Code not limited by location*** WHEN: Feb. 10 @ 12:00 AM - Feb. 20 @ 11:59 PM (CST) 20% of purchases made using the code GIVEBACK-JMGKIDS2026 will be donated to support the Junior Master Gardener program! *Not restricted to Valentine's Day Collection* Kendra Scott Website Don't miss this immersive Seed Your Future Professional Development Training for High School Educators! Seed Your Future is seeking 30 high school floriculture and horticulture educators for an expenses-paid, immersive professional development experience (a $1,900+ value!) designed to strengthen your confidence across all segments of the green industries. This hands-on learning journey, called "Seed to STEM", hosted by Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania from June 14-18, 2026, equips you with the knowledge, resources, and industry insight needed to seamlessly integrate career exploration, pathways, and real-world applications into your curriculum. Through direct engagement with industry professionals, dynamic classroom resources, and collaborative learning with peers nationwide, you’ll gain the clarity and confidence to help students better understand their options by empowering them to make informed decisions about college, careers, and their future in horticulture and floriculture. Click here to apply for the Seed Your Future Educator Professional Development Conference! 2026 JMG NLT Speakers: Anali Vidana, Lauren Ward, Valerie Bang-Jensen & Dr. Azadeah Alizadeh  Lightning Round Spotlight!  Get ready to meet an educator who brings learning to life—literally. With a passion for kids, community, and the magic of growing things, she turns every garden bed into a doorway to confidence, curiosity, and connection.  Anali Vidana is a dedicated educator and Master Gardener with over a decade of teaching experience. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, she combines her passion for education with her love for gardening to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences for her students. Anali’s mission is to help children develop healthier eating habits, strengthen their English language skills, and master academic concepts through the vibrant, living classroom of the garden.   Breakout Session Speaker Spotlight! Ready to see how the outdoors can transform the way children read, think, and learn?  Valerie Bang-Jensen is a literacy consultant for schools, libraries, and outdoor spaces. She earned her A.B. at Smith College, and her MA and Ed.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University. After teaching in K-6 schools, she was a Professor of Education at Saint Michael's College for 23 years, teaching literacy methods and children's literature courses. She loves serving on the Vermont State Library’s Red Clover committee. Her most recent book is Literacy Moves Outdoors: Authentic Learning Approaches for Any Environment.  Breakout Session Speaker Spotlight! Get ready to dive into the buzzing world of bees with a speaker who has spent over a decade exploring, researching, and teaching everything about these incredible pollinators. If you love insects, agriculture, or the magic of natural systems — this session is made for you!  Lauren Ward is an expert on bees. She earned a master’s degree in Entomology from Texas A&M University and has over ten years of experience in honey bee research, education, and practical beekeeping. Lauren has had a lifelong interest in insects, agriculture, and natural systems.  Breakout Session Speaker Spotlight!  Get ready to learn from a scientist who’s turning data, soil, and water into smarter growing decisions! From cutting-edge crop sensors to hands-on field trials, she brings powerful insights that help growers and educators understand what plants really need to thrive.  Alizadeh brings extensive experience in agricultural field trials, focusing on irrigation water optimization, soil quality and plant wellness. Before joining Extension, she was a plant research scientist with Upterra, a company specializing in agricultural water management equipment, where she evaluated soil quality and studied the effects of water molecules on plant performance. Click HERE to learn more about the 2026 JMG NLT Speakers! Don't forget to enroll your students for FREE in the JMG program! Attention JMG Teachers and Leaders: Group Enrollment for the Junior Master Gardener Program is OPEN for the 2025-2026 School Year!!! As a reminder, JMG group enrollment does NOT roll over from year to year, so groups must enroll or reenroll their students each year to be eligible for JMG certifications and other recognition! JMG Enrollment Steps: Type in jmgkids.us Click the “Enroll” Tab. Click the Orange “Register” Button. Login to Your Existing Account or Set Up Your Profile.  Enroll Your JMG Group for Free! Click here to enroll or reenroll your JMG students for FREE for the 2025-2026 School Year!!! Junior Master Gardener Program | juniormastergardener@gmail.com CONNECT WITH US: