Robeson County 4-H

It is our very last day of 4-H Animal Science Day camp .  Our campers have bid farewell to the campers from the other counties as we strike out on our own for the land down under, or at least under the border.  We left right away this morning for Myrtle Beach and Alligator Adventures .  Our campers were excited to come ashore and view turtles and other reptiles on their way to the giant creatures. While at the Alligator Adventures they also viewed lemurs, all sorts of exotic birds, kangaroos, and Emus.  Our youth learned the difference between crocodiles and alligators.  They saw some of the injuries these incredible creatures suffer in the wild and from man.  They viewed Bobette (aka Bob), who is an alligator that suffers from a birth defect of having no tail.  Apparently common in the wild, but alligators do not survive long out there without a tail.  It is their rudder for swimming as well as a defense mechanism.  Bob has survived a lo...

  It was a hop skip and a jump for our third day of 4-H Animal Science Day Camp as we travelled to Raeford.  We went to see Stephanie Carter and her family's goat farm.  Stephanie is a 4-H alum and was well known in the goat showing circuit.  When we arrived we met our fellow campers from Bladen, Cumberland, and Hoke counties.  We split up into groups and worked with lots of really friendly goats.  We learned goats can be great for clearing grassy areas and problem vegetation like kudzo.  Sometimes they get a bad wrap for eating and climbing on everything but these goats didn't do that they were well behaved, just like us. While we were at the Carter's farm we learned all sorts of things.  We learned the different parts of the animal, how to care for them, how to show them, and generally enjoyed when random ones just walked up to us and let us pet them.  It was a hot day on the farm, even though we were in the shade.  Our livestock ag...

.  The second day of 4-H Animal Science Day Camp was eye opening.  To start with we joined forces today with campers from Bladen, Cumberland, and Hoke Counties.  So you could say there are a herd of us now.  We travelled to Parkton to visit the Herndon Farm.  Benjamin Herndon is a 4-H member who shows lambs, chickens, and goats.  Today we got a chance to learn about lambs.  He has a bunch of them and for those of us who had never seen one before, today was the day to get up close and personal with them.   The Livestock Agents from all the counties lead the different workshops today with a little help from volunteers from West Bladen High School, the Herndon Farm, and different Extension offices.  We learned the different parts of a lamb, how to show them and how to care for them.  We learned some safety advice on where to stand (sort of like with the horses we worked with yesterday) and how to handle them.  Some of the lambs wer...

  Kicking off our first day of our first week long day camp we were hoping no one got kicked.  For equine day, also known as Monday of Animal Science day camp , our campers were brave, daring, and most importantly safe.   We started our day by traveling to Raleigh to visit North Carolina State University's (NCSU) Equine Education Unit.  To start with the unit manager Lawson Walston who started our day with a note about safety.  We learned where to stand when we approach a horse, the importance of wearing a helmet when riding, and how to listen to horses by watching their ears.  Our 4-H members also got a chance to meet two NCSU mounted police officers who ride a horse instead of riding in a patrol car.  Our youth had the opportunity to put their money where the horses mouth is.  What we mean is that they learned how to tell a horse's age by feeling their teeth.  This way if they ever have the opportunity to buy a horse they will know how ...

It might have been an early morning for the Extension staff but it is one of our favorites.  Time for the Robeson County Farmer's Market , Summer Extravaganza .  For the last four or five years we have partnered with our local farmers to offer one heck of a sampling of the local foods they grow.  The farmers donated a great deal of what we "cook up" often with a healthy twist.  This year on the menu our staff included: Dirty Mashed potatoes, veggie pizza, cucumber salad, boiled nuts, egg plant mozzarella, sliders, much more (including blackberry lemonade and mint cucumber water to wash it all down with). The Master Gardeners were on hand answering questions and helping the Jr. Master Gardeners sell some plants.  The hospital was on hand to make blueberry watermelon smoothies.  Lets not forget all the farmer's who were on hand making sure that everyone could buy everything they had sampled and more.   We hope the extravaganza heated things up for ou...

Our first Summer Fun day camp of 2015 is a new one day version of Etiquette Day Camp .  As in past years we focused on things that will allow our youth to be comfortable, and make others comfortable in a variety of settings.  Our day started with a lesson about others.  Our youth had the opportunity to make a character filled with terrible things that people say.  Then they balled up all the terrible things that are said and tossed them away, in an effort to clean the slate and be more considerate of others. After a brief snack it was time to head to the highlight of the day for our campers... the Carolina Hotel at Pinehurst for our table manners session. We arrived at this wonderful resort with the opportunity to have lunch in a private dining room while having an incredible meal.  Many of our campers were in awe of the table settings, crystal chandliers, and wonderful service.  One of our rules before we left the office was you may not like something ...