Remembering the Old while Ringing in the New

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 cake.

We worked with almost 4,000 youth this year in 4-H. More than 200 are in one of our ten clubs. Others took part in our summer programs including summer fun and summer camp. Second grade embryology brought in 1500 more youth. Our youth took part in county, district, and state competitions. We brought home gold from every competition as well as a new sense of pride among all of our competitors.

Thanks to our supporters we announced two endowments this year. The Dr. Eddie and Mrs. Brenda Locklear Endowment will support a Robeson County 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame. Each year a deserving volunteer will receive this honor for their work with our county program and will be announced at the volunteer leaders banquet. The second endowment we were able to announce was the Robert Wilkes 4-H Entrepreneurial Endowment. This will be awarded to deserving 4-H members and clubs to support continued entrepreneurial activities and support their leadership opportunities.

To check out all the sweet things we did in Robeson County 4-H this year you can check out our 2009 photo book. It is like a year in review. If you would like one you can also order your own.

We hope you and your family and have festive and safe time ringing in the new year. As you reflect back 2009 was a year full of treats for our 4-H program so we can't wait to see what happens in 2010.

Robeson County 4-H Makes Headlines!

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 is a Year Round Gift from 4-H

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.

Stinging Back at H1N1

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 hands correctly.
Now this army of 150 youth are ready to head out and help teach others how to wash their hands correctly. They said they will teach other students at the school, and even family members including mom and dad. They realize the importance of washing their hands correctly and not spreading germs, because staying healthy and in school is important.

X-treme Youth Celebration

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 well as Mark Moses, Joyce Peay and Robert Wilkes who are members of The Robeson County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Advisory Committee on hand. Also State Senator Michael Walters, County Commissioner Hubert Sealey and Assistant County manager Rod Jenkins were on hand to help support our youth on this fantastic night.
Of course we had to have a special cake to help celebrate the North Carolina 4-H Centennial. To cut the cake while the group of more than 150 sang Happy Birthday, were: Shea Ann DeJarnette, 4-H Extension Agent; Aggie Rogers, 4-H Program Associate; County Commissioner Hubert Sealey; State Senator Michael Walters; and of course Everett Davis, our Robeson County Extension Director. After two rounds of singing (because it is after all an important Birthday) Bobby Rogers delivered the invocation and we all dug into an incredible dinner.
After dinner Xtreme Strength performed. The gentlemen not only showed powerful skills by lifting concrete balls that weigh more than 250 pounds, breaking concrete blocks with their bare hands, and laying on a bed of nails, they shared the secret to that power with our audience. They let he youth know that they need to stay focused, set goals, and achieve those goals. Don't let unimportant things detract from the positive things you want from life. If you you stay in 4-H and surround yourself with people who will support you, the sky is the limit, there is no obstacle too big or heavy to get in your way.
We followed that incredible presentation with awards. Tanya Underwood presented the "I Dare You" Leadership award to Yazmin Washington. This award is presented to an outstanding teen who has demonstrated exemplary leadership skills during the year. Along with the national award and an opportunity to apply for a scholarship the youth also receive a book by the Raulstin Purina founder who started this award and a check.
Shea Ann DeJarnette then presented to Special Youth Leader Awards to Christopher Bullard and Tierra Troy for their willingness to volunteer to help with events and all of their special efforts during the Summer Fun program and fair. They each received a special certificate.
Allen Faircloth, Vice President for the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair, presented our Junior Fair Board members with their certificates. One hand to accept this special award for their hard work helping to plan youth events at the fair were, Yazmin Washington, Korina Pittman, James Hurst, Aljaquan Nixon, and Kristen Sealey. Each received a special framed certificate for their efforts.
One of the biggest awards of the night was presented by our Robeson County Extension Director Everett Davis. He had the opportunity to present the 4-H Club of the year award that went to the St. Paul's Pony Club. This is a new club this year that meets weekly. Mrs. Burney, the organizational club leader thanked her mother for getting her involved in 4-H when she was younger and allowing her to develop a love for everything 4-H.
After the club of the year was a very special presentation. Everett Davis called Robert Wilkes and his wife Gayle up to the stage to announce a new 4-H Endowment, the Robert Wilkes 4-H Entrepreneurial Endowment fund. This fund will allow clubs and members to apply for funds dealing with entrepreneurial subjects. The funds can be used to help start youth businesses, as seed money for club fundraisers, or to support other youth leadership activities. It is named after Robert Wilkes, the owner and operator of TLC Catering because of his entrepreneurial vision as well as never ending support of 4-H. We are proud to have the endowment and the support of Robert and his family as they continue to enhance our program.
After that Aggie introduced the 2010 County Council Officers and we sat back and watched the 2009 slide show. That was all a prelude to the ultimate event of the evening, honoring each of our youth. Aggie read off the names and all of their accomplishments. Many of our youth ended up with multiple certificates for all they have accomplished during the year. Our favorite comment came from Dakota Strickland, a cloverbud with the Horsin' Around Horse Club who said, "that it was an awful lot of hard work but boy was it fun!"
After honoring our youth we gave our thanks to our volunteers who organized the event and our MC Quincy who did a spectacular job. It was a fantastic night honoring all of their accomplishments and I just can't say how proud we are of all of them.
If you would like more information on 4-H please give us a call at (910) 671-3276, we would love to hear from you!