They're Here!

Can you hear them? The new cheeping going on around the county. As you get closer to second and third grade classrooms it is getting even louder. That's right we are at the end of round one of Embryology and the eggs are hatching. Embryology is a 4-H curriculum that is implemented in the second and third grades as part of the standard course of study. What a better way to study life cycles?

On Wednesday we traveled to Union Chapel where we actually saw one chick hatch, another class had one pecking through, and yet another classroom had two that had been born with several more trying to get out.

J.C. Hargrave e-mailed us Wednesday afternoon and said they expected several to be making their appearance today. At Knuckles we have heard there is a total of nine new chicks in the world with two more expecting to make an appearance today. Can you say WOO Hoo?

To support the teachers in this endeavor we also have an incubator at our office. Our eggs started hatching on Tuesday. We had our very first chick after a long day of labor on Tuesday and that one encouraged seven more out of their shells on Wednesday. On Thursday morning we had nine more chicks just waiting for us in the incubator, with three more still trying to hatch out. If you would like to see video from this morning you can click here and see them in the incubator and how they were doing once we placed them in their brooder box (a brooder box is a box with a light where they can move around and stay safe and warm). What an egg-citing day!

Stay tuned to the 4-H blog for hatching updates around the county.

Spring=Summer

Biggs Park Mall was full of Easter spirit, shoppers, and parents looking for a great summer experience for their children. More than 20 agencies set up shop in the mall as part of the annual Summer Camp Expo. There parents and youth could learn about the different opportunities from outdoor overnight camps to educational tutoring options. Truman the dragon even walked through waving and hugging as he made his way through the mall and lead parents and kids by the Summer Camp tables.

Robeson County 4-H took the opportunity to advertise their Summer Fun day Camp programs and the week long overnight camping opportunity. We talked with more than 100 people and even ran out of information on site but will be sending it out to those who are interested. If you would like more information on what is going on in 4-H this summer you can e-mail Shea Ann DeJarnette, 4-H Extension Agent at Shea_Ann_DeJarnette@ncsu.edu or call the 4-H office at (910) 671-3276. We even had the opportunity to shoot our very own video advertising our summer camps. It will be posted on the Biggs Park Mall Facebook page.

Operation Military Kids hits home

Operation Military Kids (OMK) is a national partnership between the U. S. Army and other youth partners such as 4-H. In North Carolina OMK is a major initiative with our state 4-H program and is headed by J. Scott Enroughty. This weekend Harnett County 4-H hosted an OMK event with a teen lock in at the Harnett County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Office. About 20 teens from Harnett, Cumberland and Scotland counties took part in the event.

The evening started with cake decorating. The youth had three colors to choose from and decorates their cakes as part of a team exercise. The outcome was incredible. Cakes with messages, artistically defined with fireworks and stars, and showing a positively incredible team efforts. At the end of the activity the teens got prizes for most creative, best leadership and best team effort. Best of all they got to sample their work, and I saw how tasty it was.

After that our very own Robeson County 4-H Extension Agent, Shea Ann DeJarnette worked with the youth on their media savvy. After a brief intro to the media and what makes a good interview the teens decided to create their own television public service announcements. The approaches were varied and topics all had something to do with OMK. You can click here to check out their PSA's. After finishing that project it was 3 a.m. and time for lights out.

After a few hours of sleep the youth went right back at it in the morning. They worked on creating partnerships and continued strengthening their leadership skills. To help each other identify their leadership strengths each youth would fill out a positive leadership card for another youth listing a positive leadership skill they had observed the teen using as part of the exercises. That card was then placed in a bag with the youth's name on it hanging on the wall. At the end of the event the youth had this reminder of what they learned to take home with them.

The event ended after the youth gave presentations on OMK and demonstrated their knowledge, and how they would help military youth deal with the issues of having a deployed parent. For more information about this particular OMK event you can contact Lynn Lambert 4-H Agent at Lynn_Lamert@ncsu.edu. For more information about OMK and other opportunities state wide please contact J. Scott Enroughty at Scott_Enroughty@ncsu.edu.

The Dirty Rascals Suds Up!

The monthly meeting for the "Dirty Rascals" Junior Master gardener 4-H club was anything but dirty this month. The group started their meeting Thursday with their traditional pledges, and then checked out the latest piece of equipment they helped purchase for the extension office, a three piece AeroGarden set.
The AeroGarden is actually a donation from the Robeson County Master Gardener Association and the "Dirty Rascals" Junior Master Gardener 4-H Club. The two groups paid for and donated the equipment (and 4-H volunteer and Master Gardener Larry Russ built and donated a stand for the equipment) to be used for the "Dirty Rascals" club members to raise their seedlings for the annual plant sale, and for both groups as well as the Robeson County Extension Center staff to use for education. When the youth are not using the equipment to start seedlings Janice Fields, will grow herbs and vegetables in the AeroGardens to use as part of her healthy eating activities. Kerrie Roach, the Horticulture Extension Agent, will use the machines to teach adults about hydroponic gardening. While Shea Ann DeJarnette and Kerrie will use the equipment as part of their 4-H Summer Fun Junior Master Gardener Day Camp this August.
After checking out the new piece of equipment they bought for Extension, the group then settled down to talking about the annual plant sale. The Master Gardener Plant sale takes place on the last Saturday in April in the Cox Furniture parking lot. The event starts at 7:00 a.m. and is over by mid morning or when they sell everything they have brought. The plants are propagated by the Master Gardeners and everything, regardless of size is $2. The Junior Master Gardeners often start herbs from seeds, and bring other plant material donated to them to sell. As part of their sale they also provide recipes on how to use the herbs that people purchase. The money raised goes back to the two organizations and helps support their educational efforts in the community.
After all that fun the "Dirty Rascal" members settled down and stirred up some suds. The group made glycerin soap bars that they hope to sell at the plant sale. They had a ball melting things down stirring in scents like strawberry and honey almond and adding colors to make truly unique items.

Warming Things Up

It's getting warm in Robeson County. Especially at schools like Pembroke Elementary, Union Chapel, Rosenwald, Green Grove, W.H. Knuckles, Janie C Hargrave, Rex-Rennert and Oxendine Elementary Schools. It's warm because the incubators are heated up (to 100 degrees) water is in them, it is getting humid in there and is a perfect place for our guests. Each classroom that is signed up for the 4-H Embryology program received 15 chick eggs and they are all in place ready for the hatch. Each classroom has a slew of hands on activities to learn about the life cycle process and help each student hone their critical thinking, decision making and responsibility skills.

We will be checking in with the teachers and classrooms and can't wait to see the progress. Stay tuned for updates right here at our 4-H blog or you can sign up to follow us on Twitter.

Egg-celent Training!

In case you can't guess by the title it is time for our annual 4-H embryology project. Embryology is where we offer training on our second grade curriculum for teachers and supply them incubators and eggs to put in their classrooms. As the students turn the eggs, watch the temperature, and have the opportunity to see them hatch they gain knowledge about life cycles that will stay with them for life.
We will be offering two sessions of embryology this year for teachers. The first started on Monday March 8 as teachers from Union Chapel, Pembroke, Rosenwald, Rex-Rennert, Oxendine, Janie Hargrave and W. H. Knuckles elementary schools picked up their incubators. First time teachers and those looking for a refresher of the information attended a training on Monday afternoon as well. the incubators should all be plugged in and warming up getting ready for the eggs to arrive. Eggs will be arriving on Wednesday, March 10 and should start hatching the week of March 29th. Stay tuned for all the details as we start chirping about the neat things happening in our county.

4-H has Talent!

Did you by chance go by the Rumba on the Lumber for an exciting chili cook off? Maybe you went out to enjoy the run? Or maybe, just maybe, you went out to check out the awesome 4-H talent performing at the Carolina Civic Center? It was a star-studded action packed afternoon of talent and we can't help but be impressed with how our annual 4-H Talent Showcase turned out.
We started the fantastic event with our 5-8 year olds taking center stage. This age group is known as cloverbuds in 4-H terminology and this is a none competitive division where each child is recognized for their accomplishments. We kicked things off with a group praise dance, the group made up of members of Robeson County's Spiritual generations club were Nadia Bennett, Mya Mitchell, Jada Coward, Kristen Smith and Jamal Bennett. Patrick McBride from Voices in Praise 4-H Club recited a poem (with really good illustrations) and Christian Tice with the St. Paul's Pony club treated us to a musical puppet show. We understand Christian has also been asked to perform for the Chevy on the Levy event after a spectator viewed his performance during this talent event.
Our 9-10 year old junior took over the stage after the cloverbuds were recognized. This is a competitive division and winners took home ribbons and checks. Taking home third place this year was first time participant Chasity McClay of the St. Paul's Pony club. Chasity played the viola. A club mate of Chasity's, Taylor Holden, took home second place for poem about being eaten by a boa. Jasmine McBride with the Voices in Praise 4-H Club took home first place for her keyboard styling.
Our junior 11-13 year old age division commanded the stage with five competitors. Maurice Rogers, of the Lighten' Electric Club took home first place for his vocal performance, while Megan Hurst, of the Horsin' Around 4-H club was a close second with her techno-dance routine. In an even closer third place was Sarah Willis of the Bladen County Super Clovers 4-H club who sang Carrie Underwood's "Temporary Home". Rounding off this age division were Caylee Holden of the St. Paul's Pony Club and James Nixon of the Voices in Praise 4-H Club. Caylee sang for us while James recited a poem.
After a brief intermission We concluded the performing arts competition with the Senior Division ages 14-19. 10 acts made up this very competitive level. Taking home the blue ribbon at the end of the day was Hayley Hall of the Super Clovers 4-H club in Bladen County for her rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". In Second was Allen Monk of the Bladen County Green Acres 4-H Club, for his martial arts demonstration. Christian McRae of the Robeson County Voices in Praise Club, entertained us with his vocal talents and rounded out the top three. Also competing in this division were:Keorie McMillan of the Voices in Praise Club who sang for us; Meranda and Dillon Dennis of the Green Acres 4-H club who did a choreographed dowel rod presentation; Laura Willis of the Super Clovers who sang "How Great Thou Art"; Aljaquon Nixon, of Voices in Praise, who recited a poem; Laquwanda Banks of the Future Leaders 4-H club who bravely and beautifully sang for us a cappella; and Rachel Harbaugh of the Super Clovers 4-H club who sang "these Four Walls".
After recognizing our performing arts judges, Angela Britt, Kendt Hunt, and Paul Matthews for their time and efforts judging this difficult competition it was time to announce the winners. After our youth took the stage we then focused on our non performing artists, and gave them a chance, along with our judges, Angela Britt and Brenda, to take a bow.
In the 5-8 year old division, Maggie Underwood of the "Dirty Rascals" Junior Master Gardener 4-H Club, Brianna and Julianna Campbell and Jeralyn Hill all of the Bladen County Roots and Shoots 4-H Club took home green participant ribbons.
In the 9-13 year old Junior Division Anna Kate White of the Super Clovers 4-H Club took home the blue in photography while her sister Megan took home the red ribbon. In the misc. division Megan Butler of the St. Paul's Pony club took home a blue ribbon for her wreath. Alex Evans of the Green Acres 4-H Club took home the blue for an incredible ink drawing. In the painting division the competition was fierce. Destiny Smith, of the Roots and Shoots 4-H club took home a participation ribbon for her water color. Sarah Willis of the Super Clovers took home the white ribbon for her watercolor. Brianna Cryer and Chasity McClay both of the St. Paul's Pony Club took home first and second respectively for their paintings.
The Senior division (14-19 year olds) offered a judging difficulty. When the scores were tallied Meranda Dennis of the Bladen County Green Acres 4-H Club walked away with first in photography. Luke Hill of the Roots and Shoots 4-H club ended up with the blue ribbon in sculpture closely followed by Allen Monk of the Green Acres 4-H club and Hayley Hall of the Super Clovers 4-H club. In drawing Victoria Evans of the Green Acres 4-H club came in first place for her ink drawing with Laura Willis of the Super Clovers 4-H club a close second, and rounding off the division was Dillon Dennis of the Green Acres club.
It was a fantastic day and we want to say thank you to our hosts at the Carolina Civic Center for their hospitality, technical support, and ability to go with the flow and deal with what ever might happen with our 4-H talent. We also need to give special thanks to Angela Shaver the 4-H Agent in Bladen County who was our Mistress of Ceremonies. We are looking forward to having our event there next year and know that it will be even more spectacular and talent laden then the year before.

Getting Familes Ready to Calmly Apply Their Tools

Tackling the really tough topics is how we rounded out our sixth "Strengthening Families" program this week. In our separate sessions youth and parents learned how to work on topics such as drugs, drinking, cheating, and stealing.
In the parents session our adults learned about how to help protect their youth against drug and alcohol abuse. They worked with Christy Strickland, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent to learn about ways to interact effectively with the youth's school and how to properly monitor their children and ask the important questions that need to be asked and answered.
In the youth session our children finished up learning and practicing the tools it takes to avoid peer pressure. They learned about walking away from the situation and using the person's name and asking them to listen, to help calmly diffuse the situation and give them a way out. They also learned about the qualities they want in a good friend, one who will not get them in trouble. They also identified the qualities that make a bad friend and show the people they do not want to be around.
During the family session the families named the tools they will need to solve issues together as a family. They also demonstrated how as families they can work together to support their youth as they face peer pressure and let them work it out themselves. The parents learned the need to stay calm and discuss the problem while making sure they support their child.
We will be taking a break while our families apply their tools in the real world. We will come back together as a group April 1 for a refresher, support and to graduate from this program. If you would like to learn more about the "Strengthening Families" program please contact Christy Strickland, Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent at (910) 671-3276 or Christy_Strickland@ncsu.edu.

Learning the Signs to Peer Pressure

Week five for our "Strengthening Families" has us learning all types of signs. Our youth learned about the signs of peer pressure while the parents learned about signs youth give them and what they are communicating.
After a fabulous lasagna dinner we split up into our parent and youth sessions. The parents learned about listening for feelings. For example when your child is complaining about doing the dishes, are they just complaining or are the trying to let you know how they feel? Often times youth have a difficult time expressing their feelings. their complaints may be a way of them to express frustration. Often how parents handle complaining and frustration are two different tactics and it is important for them to know the difference between the two. The listening exercises will give them the opportunity to better listen to their youth and validate their feelings making communication between the two easier.
The youth learned about the effects and causes of peer pressure. They also had the opportunity to learn about some ways to combat peer pressure. As part of the lesson our youth had the opportunity to practice these tools of asking questions, naming the problem, talking about the consequences, and offering an alternative.
During the family session the youth and parents practiced listening and communicating skills. Together the families worked on problem solving. Each family picked a problem such as, fighting over the bathroom. Then the families worked together to understand each person's view on the particular subject and together created a plan to solve the problem while keeping everyones point of view in mind.
Our next meeting will take place on March 4 then we will take a small break to practice the skills we have learned and then come back together in April to refresh, recap and graduate. For more information about "Strengthening Families" please contact Christy Strickland, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent at (910) 671-3276 or Christy_Strickland@ncsu.edu.