One Last Adventure on the Way Home

Our last day at camp is always bittersweet. As one camper said to me this morning, "I have mixed feelings. I miss my family and will be glad to see them but I have so many friends here and I have so much fun, I don't want to go. I wish there was a way to have it all." Knowing we can't have it all our campers got up this morning, packed up, cleaned the cabins and headed to breakfast. After bacon egg and cheese English muffins and hash browns everyone headed to the Rec Hall for a fashion show, awards, and the slide show. The fashion show is a compilation of items that are in the lost and found. If it is yours you hope you claim it before Damien puts it on to model it.
Then it was time for each group; Head, Heart, Hands, Health, Earth, Sun, Adventurers, and Trekkers, to take the stage. Each set of counselors gave an award to each camper and L.I.T that fit their specific personality or skills. Awards included the "Mouth of the South", "Yes, I'll Try It", "Super Team Canoeer" and let's not forget, "Super Camper". After the awards it was time for the slide show. It gave us a chance to reflect on all the fun we had during the week and a chance to see ourselves with our friends. Then it was time to dismiss by counties, say thank you to those who took care of us, and load up on the buses to head home.
Usually when Damien dramatically rolls us out of camp we have a quiet ride home. However this year there was one more adventure before we could get there. One of our buses threw a fan belt and had to pull over in Greensboro. After assessing the situation and finding a really big parking lot our drivers and 4-H Agent determined that we should wait for the mechanic to show up. While we took order for lunch, the mechanic showed up in record time and took just a few seconds to replace the fan belt to get us back on the road. Then we went and got our campers drinks and chicken nuggets and fries before pulling out around 2 p.m. After a brief stop in Rockingham to drop off our Richmond County campers we made it home around 4:45 pm. Perhaps a few hours later than we planned but safe and sound which was our goal for the day.
We need to say thank you to many people for our camp adventures. First and foremost to the United Way, who thanks to their financial support of Robeson County 4-H allows us to offer this experience that would cost more than $400 for much less. I also want to thank Indian Education for partnering with us to send more than 20 campers to camp this year, and our other anonymous supporters who graciously donated almost $1,000 in camp scholarships. We must also thank the camp staff for taking excellent care of our youth and to the bus company for their professionalism and goal of getting us to and from safely. Most importantly we want to thank our parents and volunteers for allowing your children to experience this life changing event and help them develop life skills.
With all the stories parents are hearing they have probably heard what I have, "I can't wait to go back again next year!" If your child wants to go back next year please feel free to call us so we can send you that information as soon as we know. Our date is usually assigned in October so you can start planning ahead and maybe even make it a Christmas present. Just a thought as we lay our heads down and rest from all the fun of Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center in 2011.

Camping to its fullest!

Our last full day of camp started with new adventures. We awoke to our usual schedule of chores, breakfast and flag raising before hitting the trail. Some of us hit the rock wall while older campers headed up to the ropes course. Of course there was archery, swimming, and horses built into the schedule because that seems to be every one's favorite. Of course we went canoeing and even got to pick our most favorite of activities to do during the day.
By camp store the Trekkers had returned. Our $15 in the camp store went to food, stuffed animals, water bottles, and other sundries. We spent it all on the last day and cleaned some shelves for them.
Of course the real talk of the day was the evening activity. Girls and boys were talking about who should ask who, and who did ask who, and who said yes, and who said no to invitations to the dance. It was all the talk at camp. Of course our personal D. J. Damien cranked the dance tunes for those in the Rec. Hall.
If dancing wasn't your thing, that's alright too. There were games outside to play as well as sidewalk chalk so you could express your creative side. The L.I.T's were also outside slicing and dicing ice to make snow cones for all the campers. At times the lines were so long for this cold treat the counselors came out to motivate the L.I.T.'s to work faster, harder, and more efficiently, although that was not always the impact.
After the dance and games it was time for our final campfire. Complete with traditional campfire songs and skits everyone had a good time around the fire. When that was over we had a special surprise a fireworks show. Some of our campers had never seen fireworks and were surprised by how loud they were. Others just ohhh and ahhed at the pretty colors and how high in the sky they got.
After campfire it was time to head back to the cabins, grab showers, and start collecting our stuff to pack up. This has been a whirlwind five days, but it has helped us become more confidant in ourselves and our capabilities.
Friday is another big day as we have an awards ceremony in the morning and a slide show right after. Then it will be time to load up the buses to head home. Miss Shea Ann said she will tweet after we leave camp (when she gets a cell signal again) to let all the parents know we are headed home.

Applause, Please!

For those of you at home who are keeping track Wednesday marks day four away from home. It also means we need to hurry up and do all the activities we need to do before it is time to go home on Friday. So you will understand why our day is so jammed packed with fun. Let's start with our two oldest groups the Adventurers and Trekkers. The Adventurers had spent Tuesday night at the outpost sleeping in tents. They cooked meals over a campfire and had the opportunity to learn how to use gps technology during the day as well as doing crafts. This group came back in time for the talent show because they had participants in the show. Our Trekkers left after breakfast to do some canoeing and then make their way to Pilot Mountain tomorrow where they will do some climbing.
Back at camp our younger campers were doing more traditional things. For example there was some creek stomping going on as campers learned about bugs and fossils today. They also got to play all sorts of games like kickball. Some of the slightly older campers took to the canoes, horses, archery field and made ice cream. While we also understand that there was some hiking to the beaver dam going on and serious crafting.
The real highlight of the day besides the presentation of the golden faucet and silver toilet seat award (which happen to be the first and second place awards for the cleanest cabins) was the evening's talent show. I guess you could say camp counselors hosted and D.J. ed the event. We had more than a dozen camper acts and some other entertainment provided by, or at the counselors expense. Our youth sang, danced, tumbled, played instruments, told jokes and had a wonderful time in general. The highlight of the night was the unknown act by the Leaders In Training (L.I.T.). By unknown I mean they knew they were getting up on stage but had no idea what they had to do. As they were pulled up there the evil plan was made clear to them. They had to perform pieces of seven different popular dances such as the chicken dance, the wobble, and the cha-cha slide. Needless to say the entertainment value of this act went up drastically as they tried to figure out what to do. By the end of the night everyone was up and dancing around, and they were significantly worn out, ensuring a restful sleep tonight.
We have one more full day of activities which we plan to enjoy to the fullest. Please stay tuned.

High Flyin' or Slip Slidin? You Decide.

By Tuesday we had the schedule figured out, the camp figured out, the system in place and everyone relaxed and just started having a really good time. After waking up, doing chores (yes each cabin assigns chores and our campers do them bright and early in the morning), and eating breakfast the fun seriously began.
For our younger youth the traditional activities like archery, swimming, canoeing, and crafts took place before lunch. Not mention a really wicked game of kickball. For our older youth there were horses and for the adventurers there was team courses and ground inititives (also known as the high ropes) as they prepared for their camp out. Of course the Trekkers were in the lake practicing canoe skills which they will need on their trip coming up later in the week.

After a lunch of meatball subs, salad, and mozzarella cheese sticks we headed back out. Our younger youth checked out the horses and finished their rotation on the other traditional activities while the Trekkers hit the high ropes. For those of you who may be wondering the high ropes course is a series of high wire exercises that allow youth to problem solve, build self esteem and challenge themselves. For example, on this pole climb a youth climbs the pole to the very top and has to figure out how to balance on a pole that is shaking, but also how to pull themselves up without holding onto anything. Once standing up straight they have to communicate their wishes to their beley team on the ground. For example Christian decides to jump out to the swing and has to let the team on the ground know that so they can hold proper tension on the rope. He decides to grab the swing and let go and it is up to them to catch him using the rope on his harness. Although many of us can not even imagine doing this, our older campers are challenging themselves this week and trying all the rope challenges. They aren't the only ones.

One of every one's favorite challenges is the zip line. Our youth must climb a tree to a platform, maneuver the platform to get hooked to the zip line then fly down the line. Although this challenges has admitly made teenage boys scream like little girls, it is one of the favorite challenges of all our youth. I guess I should add it is also a favorite activity of adults. Our very own Libby Burney donned a harness and helmet, climbed a ladder and tree, then had a mid-air conversation with her knee before making it to the platform. Then she flew down the line, remembered to say, "Whee!" at the end, before announcing to the world that she had great fun.

Other groups were hiking to the beaver dam and the adventurers packed up to head out to the outpost. The Adventurers enjoyed a hobo campfire dinner, played games and slept in tents.
Back at the camp our youth who had water sports last night enjoyed s'mores at the camp fire, sang campfire songs and had a night of traditional camp fun. While the other youth (those in the Sun and Earth groups) had their chance at water sports. In the lake the campers received a challenge to, as a team, sink a canoe without getting in it. They had to submerge the canoe for at least ten seconds. Needless to say that was not a hard task for our campers. However when it came time to empty the water out of the canoe and they could not put it on the bank of the lake the challenge became a little more interesting. Finally after much to do, and figuring out how to communicate they got the canoe on the dock and turned it over to empty it, proving that they can work as a team and natural leadership abilities took charge during this fun challenge.
After the lake our youth headed up the hill to the pool. There you could find beach balls flying, youth sliding in and out of the water, and could see everyone was having a splashing good time. After an hour in the pool it was time for a snack and juice break and then back to the cabins for a shower and bed. Needless to say we had some very tired campers who should sleep well during the night.
Stay tuned for more adventures on Wednesday as our Adventurers share their fun in the woods and our Trekkers head off site for their camp out and challenges.

Camp Keeps Us Rollin'

Who knew that so much fun and excitement could be packed into one day? We started very early at 7:30 am with our first breakfast. There are actually so many campers that we take shifts when we eat. After the first breakfast everyone comes together for flag raising at 8:15 and then second breakfast is at 8:20 am. When you are not eating you are in the cabins cleaning, hoping that your cabin will be so clean that the cabin inspectors will grace you with the golden faucet award or the silver toilet seat (for second runner up). After cabin clean up it is time to hit the trail as we start our activities.

Morning activities were based on age and group. For example the Head group worked on crafts for the first hour of the day while Heart and Hands went to the pool. Some were canoeing, horseback riding, or learning how to shoot arrows with a bow also known as archery. During the day they switched activities so everyone will get a chance to do everything. Lunch time was welcome as our hungry campers chowed down on salad and pizza in the air conditioning.

By about 2:00 a storms system, that sounded worse than it was moved through the area. That allowed us to move up camp store and let campers buy drinks and snacks. After enjoying that they hung out in the rec hall, talking dancing and having a good time while the storm passed by us with a few sprinkles and a much needed temperature drop.
After dinner there was a brief rest period before heading out for the evening activity, water sports. The groups were split in half and while part of them went to the pool the rest went to the lake. Halfway through the evening the groups switched so those in the pool could enjoy the lake and vice versa. The Earth and Sun Groups which are made up of older youth prepared for a camp out, sitting around a campfire but due to the earlier storm it was decided that they would sleep inside their cabins tonight.
After an evening snack it was time to head back to our home away from home our lovely A frame cabins. Showers were taken, cards played and talking occurred on all levels. Then it was time to hit the hay, as my grandfather would say. Sheer exhaustion kicked in as heads hit pillows to dream about what a fun day.

Our First Night Home Away From Home

It is that time of year again. The time when youth get excited to leave mom and dad, and let's face it mom and dad get a little camp sick. That's right today is the first day of our 4-H week long overnight camping adventure at Betsy Jeff Penn (BJP) 4-H Educational Center in Reidsville, NC.

The day started early for our families and volunteers. 8:30 am we opened the doors for registration and the they came flooding in. We got everyone registered, paperwork finished, medicines collected and then sat down for camp talk. While parents waited they viewed a PowerPoint presentation that we made to introduce families to the camp experience. Then we introduced the staff that helped check them in and the wonderful volunteers and Leaders in Training (L.I.T.s) that were going with us. After a few brief questions and letting all our youth know there were no T.V.s or video games for the next week (which did cause some commotion), we boarded the buses and headed west.

Our first stop was the Richmond County Cooperative Extension office to pick up a few more campers. Next stop was lunch in Asheboro at Golden Corral. Everyone had a chance to eat what they wanted and we even got several compliments on how well behaved they were. After filling our stomachs we climbed aboard the buses and headed the last hour to camp.

When we arrived we unloaded our things. We checked in with the summer camp staff and got our cabin assignments. The girls are in cabins 1-4 based on age. The boys are in cabins 5-8, also determined by age. The younger youth are in the Head, Heart, Hands and Health groups and as they get older move into the Sun and Earth groups with our oldest campers moving into the Adventurer and Trekker groups. This will be important during the week as we talk about what each group is doing.

After playing some team working games with our new found cabin mates it was time for dinner. Fortunately a storm was moving through which dropped a little rain but dropped the temperature even more drastically. However it did ruin our cookout, so the staff turned it into a cook in. Campers could have hot dogs with all the trimmings, baked beans, potato chips, watermelon and some very fine cookies (their choice of chocolate chip or sugar). Instead of eating outside on the ball field we ate in the recreation hall. No one seemed to mind as they were all still with their new found friends.

After dinner it was time for introductions. The camp staff introduced themselves and gave us insight into their personalities by telling us what animal would be their spiritual guide and why and an interesting fact about themselves. This also included our L.I.T.s, Chris, Cory, and Santiago. After that it was time for a little heritage dance, sort of like a square dance which our youth had a ball doing. Of course the first night of camp has to conclude with a campfire.

We did have a special celebration tonight. James Hunt who is in the Earth group celebrated a birthday today. As is tradition at BJP we had a special treat for him to share with his cabin mates and counselors. A small cup of ice cream can go a long way on a hot night and our youth seemed to enjoy this cool break. After all that fun, excitement, and shear exhaustion all of the campers made it back to their cabins, showered and laid their heads on their pillows ready to dream about what was coming tomorrow.

Presenting Robeson County in the Best Light

Tuesday morning of 4-H Congress started very early for those in Raleigh and at home. Thanks to Joyce Peay, organizational leader of the Voices in Praise 4-H Club and Penny McCartney our 4-H Secretary we were able to get a load of people to Raleigh for competition on the state level. Making the 6 am trip were; Jamal Bennett, Michicko Hill, Jaylyn McNair, Jeshaiah Moore, Camry Ocean, and Tyron Powell. Not to mention the cheering section that came with them. Congress delegates who were competing that day included; Shawndora McNair and Shabreya Vample.

We all met at Athens Drive High School for the big event. Everyone fanned out and piled into rooms to cheer on our Robeson County competitors. Jaylyn McNair, his father and Aunt were at McKimmon Center with the other outdoor cooking competitors. Jaylyn was competing in beef cookery, making his famous burgers. Back at the High School Shawndora McNair was the first one to compete in Health and Fitness with her presentation on Asthma. Then it was up to our Public Speakers Camry Ocean and Michko Hill were back to back in tough competition. Then Shabreya Vample competed in careers and entrepreneurship before we took a break for lunch. Up after lunch were Jamal Bennett in dairy foods, Tyron Alford in Health and Fitness and Jeshaiah Moore in careers and entrepreneurship. The rest of the 4-H Congress Delegation split up to cheer everyone on and make sure no one went up against the stiff competition alone. When the smoke settled from the toughest of competition Jamal Bennett won bronze, Jeshaiah Moore won gold, and Jaylyn McNair medaled with gold as well.

After all the excitement of the morning and early afternoon it was time to head back to the dorms to socialize, nap and get ready for the evening events. When we met again we headed to dinner at Applebee's where we stuffed ourselves and hoped that the overabundance of food would not keep us from staying awake for the evening festivities.

Back at the Power of YOUth Assembly at the McKimmon Center Penni Conner, 4-H Alumni, spoke about the accomplishments of our 4-H youth. We highlighted our Hungry to Help Campaign and Sarah Osborne, the 4-H State Secretary/Treasurer delivered her touching farewell speech. the candidates that we would vote on were then introduced and speeches as well as skits ensued.

After all of that we headed into another room at the McKimmon Center to check out the officer candidate booths. We had two candidates from the South Central District. Luke Hill, from Bladen County was running for Vice President. Allen Monk, from Bladen County and our very own Dirty Dozen 4-H Shooting Sports Club ran for Secretary Treasurer. Then we had a literal ball, at the Blue Jean Ball. The Blue Jean Ball was a fundraiser for local food banks. Each person who wanted to wear jeans paid a dollar for the privilege. The dollar went in a jar for your district. The money would then be donated to a food bank in the district. More than $400 was raised statewide for local food banks.

After leaving the ball it was time for the county huddle. We met in Marilyn Merritt's room and cast our 19 electoral votes for state officers. There was much heated debate about who to vote for and who should get what number of votes. After signing off on the ballots everyone turned in to get ready for our hands to service project in the morning.

Our First Day is Like a New Revolution

Our first day at State 4-H Congress started with lights, music and incredible accolades. We left Robeson County early in the morning to head to Raleigh. After going through a rather painless check in process for our delegation of 10 we headed to cook out for lunch. Then the fun began as we came back to Bragaw Residence Hall on the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Campus to find our rooms and unload the van and trailer. After getting it all unloaded (trust me that took us awhile) we headed to park the trailer for the week and then back to McKimmon for the start of Congress.

In the meantime Penny McCartney left Robeson County with Frankie Farbotko, the coach of our first ever 4-H Poultry Judging Team, and the members of the team. The team is made up of the winners from the 4-H Poultry Judging Competition at the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair in 2010. Team members included Katy Patterson, Dustin Nance, Rosie Diaz, and Jackie Cuneo. Two are from Lumberton High School and two from St. Paul's High School. The team traveled up for the 1:30 pm competition. Around 4:45 pm we found out that our first ever senior team placed third in the state!

While they were finishing up competition at NCSU's Poultry Unit the delegation made up of Nakeriah Baxley, Christopher Bullard, Alexus Jones, Shawndora McNair, Aljaqan Nixon, Korina Pittman, Keirra Richardson, Ashley and Kristen Sealey, and Shabreya Vample were at the McKimmon Center learning all about the New Revolution of Responsibility and learning the ground rules for the week. In the meantime adult volunteer Marilyn Merriett finished up judging Application, Resume, Interview (ARIE) and joined 4-H Agent Shea Ann DeJarnette in the adult meeting. There they received a message from Marshall Stewart, rules about the week and learned that Congress would have a different look to it this year. After the big meetings we broke out into district meetings and then disbanded to head to the dorms. While everyone worked at unpacking, County Council President Aljaquan Nixon changed and went back to the McKimmon Center to be our county flag bearer for the evening events.

After dinner in the NCSU dinning hall, with fresh milk and ice cream from the NCSU dairy unit we all headed back to the McKimmon Center for official opening assembly. LeAnthony Boone, the State 4-H Council President presided over the evening's events which began with the parade of Counties. That is where Aljaqan came in with our official Robeson County 4-H Flag. After the pledges and singing the National Anthem Dr. Joe Zublena, Assistant Vie Chancellor for Extension, Engagement, and Economic Development and Associate Dean & Director, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, NCSU, brought greetings and gave us a brief message suggesting that we do not let our challenges define us, but let our challenges be defined by us. Then 4-H Alumi Carol Ann Tucker brought us a message of how 4-H is helping mold us and how it changed her life for the better. LeAnthony Boone then brought forward his challenge of leadership success and challenged all of our 4-H members to strive to be the best.

Then it was time for the biggest part of the night, the North Carolina 4-H Honor Club Tapping Ceremony. Members of the honor club circulate through the audience and find those who are being inducted into the club that night. It is a candlelight ceremony steeped in tradition. The inductees do not know they are being inducted and it is a tremendous honor to be a part of this group. Inductees are chosen based on an application that includes grades, 4-H work, outside activities, and character references. This year our very own Yazmine Washington was tapped to be inducted into the 4-H Honor Club. Her sister Kewanda Merriett who is a Robeson County 4-H Alumni and Honor Club member drove to Raleigh for the ceremony and to specifically tap her. Yazmine was not only surprised, but honored by the festivities of the night. Yazmine was whisked away, along with family members to a reception for the inductees.

After all of the fun of the opening ceremony our group loaded back up on the van and headed back to the dorm. It is an early curfew of 11:00 tonight since we have to leave just before 8 am to get to Athens Drive High School for presentations in the morning. What a day we have had and we still have some in front of us. Follow us on Twitter to get all the breaking news as it happens.

4-H Where We Have Been, Where We Are Going

As many of you know we just finished celebrating our 4-H Centennial. With 100 years behind us it is important to reflect were we have been so we know where we are going. Many people think 4-H is about cows and cooking and sure enough when we began it was all about agriculture, boys corn clubs and girls canning clubs. To learn more about how 4-H began and where are roots started click here to watch a brief video about the history of 4-H.

As I mentioned 4-H began in North Carolina more than 100 years ago. We have a strong 4-H past and present to learn more about the power of 4-H in North Carolina click here to watch a brief video about 4-H in North Carolina.

With all this talk about centennial celebrations you might be wondering when Robeson County celebrates their centennial. As it so happens Robeson County had one of the first organized 4-H programs in the state of North Carolina. Just three years after the program started, Robeson County started an organized youth program in 1913. In other words, in two more years, we will have a centennial to celebrate our strong roots. Start planning now for the big event.

Keeping Cool with Summer Fun

Extension has partnered with the Robesonian to publish a news article each week. This week I had the opportunity to write about something timely. What could be more timely than our Summer Camp opportunities and what they mean to youth? Below is the article that was printed in Wednesday's Robesonian. You may click here to go to the online version of the story or read below.
" Have you ever felt like you are stepping into an oven when you walk outside? With days that reach into the triple digits, I find myself reflecting on my youth when I thought things were cooler. However, after a recent discussion with friends, I have found things probably weren’t cooler; I was having so much fun outside I really didn’t feel the heat. That leads me to think about how I spent my summers as a child.
My main activity that I looked forward to from year to year was summer camp. Now many of you who know me may not believe this, but my parents sent me to overnight camp with the nuns, for a month at a time. It was the most fun I could imagine. There I learned about arts and crafts (something we never did at home), became an archery instructor, learned to swim, and actually became a life guard. As a matter of fact, as I reflect on my time at camp, I can’t help smiling thinking of the fun I had as a camper and the hard work I put in to work my way up to Head Counselor for three years. At camp, I learned skills such as swimming, building a campfire, and cooking outside, but that was the small part. The big lesson was gaining self-esteem and confidence, learning to make decisions, and taking on responsibility. It was the place that taught me work can be fun and can be fulfilling and everyday is an education.
You can imagine my pleasure when I found out as part of my position with 4-H that I have the opportunity to introduce almost 80 youth a year to the fun of overnight summer camp. We don’t go for a month, just a week to Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center in Reidsville, N.C. There in the foothills it is a little cooler and the planned water activities in the pool and lake help keep things cool as well. Our youth have the opportunity to do traditional camp activities such as horseback riding, canoeing, swimming, and archery. They also have the opportunity to do some newer things such as rock wall climbing, ropes courses, and GIS navigation. There is so much fun packed into each day our youth are exhausted when their heads hit the bunk and they sleep well in their cabins before getting up early the next morning to do it all again. The funniest part of all is on Sunday before they leave and find out there are no cell phones, video games, or T.V.; you would think the world ended. On Friday, when we return they are crying and wondering how they will live without their new friends and their new fun activities and not a single one of them complains about the heat.
If you would like to help your child make cool memories and forget the heat this summer, there is still time. We leave July 24 and will return July 29 for our week long overnight 4-H camp. The cost for the week, which includes transportation, all meals, a store card, T-shirt, and accommodations, is just $300. We still have a few slots left. If overnight camp is not quite your thing, we also offer several week long day camp programs.
For more information about our camps, please contact Shea Ann DeJarnette, Extension 4-H agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, at 671-3276 or by E-mail at Shea_Ann_DeJarnette@ncsu.edu. You can find a copy of our Summer Fun Programs online at http://robeson.ces.ncsu.edu. If you just want to enjoy the fun of summer camp, you can enjoy it with us through our blog at www.robeson4-H.blogspot.com."

Up to Bat for Team 4-H

The following message was sent by National 4-H and we wanted to share it with you. Please be advised to play you must be 18 years old or over. "Want the chance to win tickets to the 2011 Major League Baseball World Series and help 4-H win $25,000? You have a chance to do both just by visiting the State Farm Go To Bat website!

For the second year in a row, State Farm has selected National 4-H Council as one of the organizations to be a part of their Go To Bat program with Major League Baseball (MLB). The promotion started July 11th and will continue through the rest of the regular MLB season (September 28). Follow the instructions on the Go To Bat site which include playing a virtual home run derby and for every home run you hit, it counts as a point (entry) for you and 4-H. The charity (team) with the best collective batting average wins a weekly prize of $18,000 for the charity. Additionally, if your team wins, you are entered into a weekly drawing to win a trip for two to the 2011 MLB World Series. The charity with the highest cumulative score at the conclusion of the 10-week program will receive a grand prize of $25,000.

To sign up and play for 4-H:

• Go to the State Farm Go To Bat website
• Choose the” Health and Human Services” category and pick "National 4-H Council" as your charity
• Play the Go To Bat online game and earn points by hitting home runs
• Return to the site to play up to 3 times each day

We know this program works, Council's own Aggie Stephenson was one of last year's lucky winners! Aggie received a trip to the World Series and National 4-H Council received $20,600 because she was playing for our team. Once you have signed up to play, be sure to check out the video on the “About the Program” tab that features Aggie going to bat for 4-H!"

Three Forks. One Mouth and No Cell Phone?????

Sitting down in any formal setting can be nerve wracking and when you are trying to make a good impression but not sure what utensil to eat with what do you do? Pick up your cell phone and call a friend for help? Send a text message or a quick plea for advice to Facebook friends? Having a quick shot of self confidence can help you land that perfect job, or college placement. That is exactly what Christy Strickland, Family Consumer Science (FCS) Extension Agent and Shea Ann DeJarnette, 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent with the Robeson County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service tried to do for almost 40 youth and adults taking part in the Upward Bound Program (UBP) at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) tonight.
Youth learned the basics of handshakes and introductions, on-line and cell phone manners, the art of the conversation, and how to set a table. With each lesson came time for hands on practice and critique. The most important lesson to learn from the night was that etiquette is not about drinking hot tea and keeping a pinkie finger in the air while you do it. Etiquette is about following a certain standard to make sure everyone feels comfortable and has a good time. After the hands on practice we got a chance to put our new found talents to work. Veronica Powell, the Upward Bound Coordinator (and 4-H volunteer) had a spread of snack and dessert foods ready for the youth to put on plates as well as beverages. In turn they had to figure out how to balance the plates, cups, eat and be able to shake hands and carry on a conversation without sitting down. It is something you don't think about until you end up trying to balance it all. Before we left one of the students presented the workshop leaders with UBP t-shirts that they will proudly wear (especially since they are 4-H green). We are looking forward to working with Upward Bound students again in the future.

Robeson County 4-H Jumps High at State 4-H Horse Show

Robeson County made the trip to the big horse show this year for the first time in more than a decade. Boy oh boy did our members make a show! The State 4-H Horse Show takes place in Raleigh at the Horse complex. On Wednesday Megan Butler, of the St. Paul's 4-H Pony Club, took the trip and competed in several events. This is the first state show for Megan and for the St. Paul's 4-H Pony Club. She had more than 23 competitors in her division. Megan competed in Junior Barrel Race, Junior Texas Barrels, Flag Race, Pole Bending, Stake Race. All of these are speed competitions. In the flag competition Megan placed 10th which is a wonderful accomplishment.
On Sunday Chasity McClay, who is also a member of the St. Paul's 4-H pony club competed in Dressage on Sunday morning. In Chasity's first time in the ring at the state show she competed in USDF Intro A and B. Both categories are part of dressage. Dressage is a competitive path and destination training category that is seen in amateur competitions and now in the Olympics. Chasity placed first in Intro A and sixth in Intro B. Incredible accomplishments in a division that had almost 25 competitors.
Although Megan and Chasity were the only Robeson County 4-H members competing on Horse back at the show they were not our only competitive entries. We had eight entries in the State 4-H Horse Expressive Arts Contest. First time cloverbuds, Alicia Monroe and Paiton Twigg, both of the St. Paul's 4-H Pony Club, competed in the Photo contest in the cloverbud division. The cloverbud division is for 5- 8 year olds and is not a competitive division. Each contest receives score sheets with comments to help them improve and very nice medals for their work. Alicia's photo was of a horse rearing back with an interesting light perspective. Paiton shot a photo of Horses cantering in a pen. They look like they are having a little fun and she captured a moment forever that is not normally seen.
Competition was stiff in the junior division. Robeson County had five competitors in the photo contest. For Dakota Strickland of the Horsin' Around 4-H Club and Christian Tice of the St. Paul's 4-H Pony Club this was their first time in real competition having turned nine this year. Megan Butler is a return competitor to the photo competition and was one of our two competing on horseback this year. Megan is a member of the St. Paul's 4-H Pony club and submitted a photo this year that plays with light and invokes a mood of a young horse walking in a field. Brianna Cryer, of the St. Paul's 4-H Pony Club, submitted a wonderful photo this year. Her photo tells a story of a young foal feeding. It is a rare moment that we often only see in photos. Chasity McClay of the St. Paul's 4-H Pony club also submitted a photo for this year's contest. Her photo of a horse rolling in the dirt captures a moment in time. In her photo the horse almost looks like he is taking a nap. Dakota had several photos to choose from and chose one that has four horses grazing on hay under a shelter. The horses are on a farm and seem very happy to have that hay to munch on. Christian turned in a close up that looks like a fantastic portrait of a horse's head for the photo contest.
In the Senior division we had one 4-H member who submitted two entries. Megan Hurst with the Horsin' Around 4-H Horse Club submitted entries in both the photo and painting categories. Megan's photo entry was one of a horse looking fashionable, with a hat on it's head. Her water color of a horses head allowed her to place 7th in that competition bringing home a purple ribbon.
Congratulations to all of our participants and especially to Megan and Chasity, their parents and Libby Burney for all of their hard work getting ready for this competition and traveling back and forth to Raleigh for the State 4-H Horse Show.