Falling into Training

It was an early and chilly morning as Robeson County 4-H Volunteers, Rosie Jones, Sonny Sampson, and Veronica Powell climbed into the state van with 4-H Agent Shea Ann DeJarnette to head to Anson County. This wasn't a scenic tour, more of a day of hands on learning and training at the annual South Central District Fall Day.

Anson County hosted the event this year at the Extension Office in Wadesboro. The day started with a welcome, workshops, district meeting and ended with an incredible home cooked lunch by the Anson County volunteers.

The workshops this year included a Hungry to Help Workshop, ACE trainings, a health and fitness opportunity and a bow making workshop. Dr. Mitzi Stumpf-Downing with the state 4-H office conducted the training on the 4-H Hungry to Help initiative. This is a state wide community service project in which youth and adults in 4-H will help address the hunger issue within our state. Dr. Stumpf-Downing educated the volunteers on the issue of hunger within our state, why we are addressing it, and different opportunities on how to engage youth and other community partners to help make a difference. Sonny Sampson and Rosie Jones took part in this workshop.

Elenor Getz, better known to most of our 4-H community as Mom, is a Master Volunteer from Cumberland County. She lead two workshops. The first was on working with different ages of children and the stages they are at. The second workshop was about adult and youth partnership. Veronica Powell and Sonny Sampson took part in these workshops.

Pearl Blount, an Anson County volunteer offered a colorful workshop on bow making. Each participant learned how to make bows of different sizes for different purposes (wreath bows, pew bows, hair bows, etc.). All of the volunteers chose colorful wired ribbon and worked together to make some fantastic bows. Veronica Powell and Rosie Jones attended this workshop.

Another volunteer taught a health and fitness workshop teaching volunteers about the little things they can do to stay in shape and help our youth stay physically fit.

After the workshops the volunteers met to discuss district business. They elected new officers, our own Veronica Powell will be the District Secretary. The group also discussed their roles and responsibilities at the State volunteer leaders conference. After adjourning we enjoyed a wonderful lunch, visited with each other and then headed back to Robeson County. I would like to thank our volunteers who attended and will be bringing back new information and skills to share with others, and represented Robeson County in the best light. Thank you!

Thank You is Where we Start

Thank you seems like so little to say to our incredible Robeson County 4-H volunteers. That is why we hold our annual Robeson County 4-H Adult Volunteer Appreciation Banquet for the more than 100 volunteers that we have. This year our harvest theme was a hit with our adults who had the opportunity to enjoy dinner and entertainment from Hailey Ivey, a winner of the talent competition at the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair and our featured speaker was Charles Graham, candidate for the House of Representatives. Mr. Graham talked about the importance of opportunities like 4-H and commended our volunteers on their efforts.

Of course the highlight of the evening was when we honored our volunteers, without whom we would not have a successful program. Our first year volunteers include; Melanie Allen, Candi Blackmon, Amanda Dial, Brian Dial, Anna Hatcher, Gary Henderson, Marie Henderson, Felicia Hill, Willie Johnson, Rosie, Jones, Atha McArthur, Fredrick McKinnon, Vanessa Moore, Veronica Powell, Elizabeth Shockley, Nakiea Wearins and Jeffery Wright.

Our second year list of volunteers was even longer than our first year volunteers. Honored for two years of service to Robeson County 4-H are; Ellis Baker, Barbra Cain, Robert Cryer, Leigh Cryer, Nikki Edwards, Jeff Floyd, Paula Greene, Pascha Harrington, Emma Hill, Beverly Howell, Emmarld Jackson, harry Jhala, Charles Keenum, Sr., Leon Littles, Jessica Parker, LaKeisha Patterson, Tommy Prevatte, Julia Pierce-Lowry, Cicely Pighet, Lee "Oscar" Ratley, Kerrie Roach, Kimberly Robinson, Joyce Russ, Linda Scott, Patrice Smith, Elizabeth Titton, Pamela Walton, Sonja Watson, and Katrina Williamson.

Our third year honorees included; Cassandra Bennett, Gwen Colvin, Jessica Drake, Margaret Crites, Cheryl Liles, Pat McRae, Hubert and Linda Sealey as well as Tanya Underwood.

In their fourth year Tony Bullard, Holly Burney, Sandra Cox, Staci Kinlaw, Carolyn Lewis, Connie and Millard Locklear, Ida Murphy, Gail Rogers, Sonny Sampson and Arlene Grissett received their certificates and gift for their hard work.

At five years our volunteers receive a special gift. This year it was a hand etched vase with the 4-H clover on it. Sarah baker, Joan Britt, Libby Burney, Tiffanee Conrad-Acuna, Retha Ekwunoh, Melissa McLean, Kusum Jhala, Vicky Pipkin and Larry Russ all received this special honor.

We have one six year honoree and one seven year honoree who are Debra McBride and Susan Floyd respectively. Our eight year honorees were Bessie Jones, Carolyn McMillan, Lillian McNeil and Gwen Rogers. We have three volunteers with nine years of service. They are; Renee Blue, Jane Hurst and Hattie Troy.

Once a volunteer reaches the ten year milestone with Robeson County 4-H they receive a special gift as well, a silver julep cup with their name and the 4-H clover engraved on it. This year Sharon Byrd and Addie Mae Caple were our ten year recipients of this award.

Our list continued growing after that. With eleven years of experience Beverly Chambers and Erlaine Dinnerson were honored while Ervin Ratley received a thank you for his twelve years of work with the organization.

Patrica Andrews-Ford and Sallie McCallum received a 14 appreciation award. At 15 years our volunteers reach another milestone and this year received a silver bowl with their name and the 4-H clover engraved on it. receiving this special gift this year were Lorraine Ocean, Joyce Peay, Louise Ratley and Juanita Smith. Marilyn Merrit reached 16 years while Deborah Mitchell was honored for 17 years with us. Kenneth Betha and Hazel Sumner both were recognized for 18 years of service, while Linda Brown and Bobby Rogers have reached the 19 year marker.

Our last three volunteers have a combined total of 69 years of service to Robeson County 4-H. Katherine Betha and Roberta Grissett both reached the 21 year marker and Joyce Jones has served an incredible 27 years with Robeson County 4-H in a volunteer capacity.

Each of our volunteers received a certificate, a 4-H wall calendar, a 4-H pocket calendar and a mini-screwdriver set as a thank you for their hard work supporting the youth in our community. Thank you and small gifts never seems like enough for all that they do and give back. These people deserve a standing ovation because they are truly making a difference in our community.

Going from County Blue to State....?

Sunday was bitter sweet as we had to take down our 4-H fair booths. However, packing up the Extension trailer to head to Raleigh was the start of a whole new adventure for us. Each year a different county 4-H program has the honor of designing the state fair booth for the district. This year it was Robeson County's 4-H's turn.

After a great deal of planning we decided to use a fair booth that our volunteers and previous staff had designed when we did this more than a decade ago. However, when we went to find all the pieces, some were not in good shape, others were just m.i.a. So Aggie and Shea Ann stuck their heads together and asked our blue ribbon winners from this year, the Dirty Rascals Junior Master Gardener 4-H club, if they could possibly borrow their booth. The answer from club leader Missy McLean was a resounding yes!. So with help and item donations from Larry Russ of the Dirty Dozen Shooting Sports club the booth got loaded up and Aggie, Shea Ann, and Mr. Bobby headed to Raleigh on Monday morning.

After several hours of unloading, constructing, and reorganizing the booth expanded from an 8x8 space to a 10x20 space. It was stapled, taped, fluffed and tucked in time for judging the next day. The judges looked at 6 booths and gave our effort of "Growing Great Kids" an honorable mention. That ribbon came with a check for $450 for our county program. $100 of the prize money will be given to the Dirty Rascals JMG 4-H Club to thank them for donating their blue ribbon booth for our county and district efforts.

The North Carolina State Fair is from October 14-24th, at the state fair grounds in Raleigh. If you have a chance to go don't forget to stop by and check out our South Central District booth as well as the other incredible booths that 4-H members and volunteers from across the state put together.

It was an Utterly Fabulous Show

Excuse the pun because in all honesty there was no bull about this show. Okay maybe a couple of bulls in the market steer show but the heifers were mooving to new heights. In case you hadn't guessed following the 4-H lamb show at the Robeson Regional Fair was the 4-H heifer and steer show. Our youth came from all around with, yes, cows to put it simply and allowed them to take center ring.

We started with the 4-H showmanship division where youth the youth were judged on their knowledge and skills in this area. The age divisions were equally matched with three competitors in each. In the Junior I division (ages 9-10 years old) Mary Vorder Bruegge took home first, Maddy Adams placed second, and Wyatt Kendall took home the white ribbon. IN the Junior II age division (11-13 years old) Austin Cameron placed first, Eugenie Vorder Bruegge took home the red, and Anthony Bullard placed third. In the Senior division (14-19 years old) Sable Scott took home first place, David McInnis took home second, and Dennis Bullard took home the white ribbon.

The next show was the Heifer Market show. the heifers are shown based on their birth date and the judge is looking at the animal instead of the show person in this competition. Below are the birth dates and placements.

3/1/2010-4/30/2010

Sable Scott with Tarheel Miss 274x-First

1/1/2010-2/28/2010

Sable Scott with Tarheel Miss 262x-First

11/1/2009-12/31/2009

Wyatt Kendall with Brownie-First

9/1/2009-10/31/2009

Eugenie Vorder Bruegge with Geena 916-First

Maddy Adams with Double C 9/24-Second

David McInnis with Double C 9118-Third

Austin Cameron with Double C 9/26-Fourth

7/1/2009-8/31/2009

Mary Vorder Bruegge with Sally 44961-First

3/1/2009-4/30/2009

Austin Cameron with Double C 8/50-First

Anthony Bullard with April-Second

Grand Champion Austin Cameron with Double C 8/50

Reserve Champion Eugenie Vorder Bruegge with Geena 916

Our next show was the Steer and Feeder Calf market show, which like the Heifer show was based on the birth date of the animal. Below are the results from this show.

1/1/2010-2/28/2010

Eugenie Vorder Bruegge with Bryce-First place

Mary Vorder Bruegge with Ferdinand-Second

11/2/2009-12/31/2009

Eugenie Vorder Bruegge with Cameron-First

Mary Vorder Bruegge with Rhody-Second

5/1/2009-6/30/2009

Dennie Bullard with Ollie-First

Grand Champion-Eugenie Vorder Bruegge with Cameron

Reserve Champion-Mary Vorder Bruegge with Rhody

Baa Baa Black Sheep Have You A Blue Ribbon?

Things were a little woolly at the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair Saturday as the lambs came from miles away to show their stuff in the ring. We had 4-H members from Sampson, Cumberland, Stanly, and other counties lined up for the show ring. The first show was the 4-H Showmanship competition where the show person is judged. This is broken into four divisions; cloverbuds (5-8 year olds), Junior I (9-10 year olds), Junior II (11-13 year olds), and Seniors (14-19 year olds). In the Cloverbud division Shane Kendall, Hunter Mercer, Tate Naylor and Hanna Naylor all took to the ring. The cloverbud division is noncompetitive. This gives our youth a chance to learn the ropes of showing in a safe and nurturing environment. The youth all receive trophies for their efforts. In the Junior I division we only had one competitor this year Wyatt Kendal who took home the blue ribbon. Things were a little more difficult in the Junior II division where there were seven competitors. Samantha Naylor took first place in this division with Robert Seals and Hanna Carter following in second and third respectively. Rounding out this division were Benjamin Herndon, Sabrina Blake, Ashley Wilson, and Megan Baldwin. The senior division had four competitors this year. Dustin Helms took home the blue while Emerald Layton took red, Cole Mullis took the white and Cody Almond received a yellow ribbon.

In the next competition the lambs were placed in three categories based on their weight. We had three divisions Lightweight which were lambs between 75 and 112 pounds. Middle weight which were the lambs weighing between 119 and 130 pounds. The heavy weight division was comprised of lambs between 132 and 143 pounds. The competition was tough in these divisions with several laps around the ring for the show person and their lamb. Ashley Wilson with her lamb Ed took home first, followed by Hanna Carter with Turbo in second, Wyatt Kendall took home third. Rounding out that division were Megan Baldwin with Gunner, Cody Almond with Ethel, Ashley Wilson with Buddy, Emerald Layton with Bambi, and Megan Baldwin with Braxton. In the Middle Weight division Dustin Helms came in first, Emerald Layton with Jesse took second and Samantha Naylor with To Be took home third. Rounding out that division were Benjamin Herndon with Elvis, Cody Almond with Diamond, Benjamin Herndon with Ruby Ann, and Sabrina Blake with Daisy "2". The Heavy Weight division was also stiff competition and there were some familiar names in the top three. Cole Mullis took home first with Lebron, Robert Seals took home the red ribbon with Moe, and Robert Seals also took third with Larry. rounding out that division were Cole Mullis, Dustin Helms with Bob, Robert Seals with Curly (yes his lambs were named Larry, Moe, and Curly) and Wyatt Kendall.

In the grand Champion Drive all the first place lambs entered the ring and Cole Mullis with Lebron took home the trophy. Robert Seals with Moe took home the reserve champion title. This is just one of two shows on Saturday. Stay tuned for the results of the heifer show that took place later in the after noon.

What does it take for a Chicken to get an A?

Most of us are used to being in school and receiving a grade for our hard work. Well did you know chickens also get a grade for the hard work of growing? Maybe not just growing, it's that and a little more. More than 80 youth from three counties travelled to the Robeson Regional Agricultural fair on Thursday to see what it takes to judge poultry as they competed in our annual 4-H Poultry judging competition. Contestants compete as individuals and on teams for this contest. They must do their best to judge, live laying hens, give oral reasons as to why they placed the hens in the order they did, name various cut up chicken parts, grade eggs that are out of the shell, egg candling, and grade the overall chicken carcass. We split the youth into two age divisions, junior (ages 9-13) and Senior (ages 14-19).

After all the scores were tabulated the winners list looked something like this. Junior Individual competition Alex Evans took home the first place trophy and Benjamin Herndon took home second place. There were no junior division teams competing this year.

In the senior individual division Tre Lowry with Purnell Swett High School took home third place, while team mate Dustin Ramsay of Purnell Swett High School took home second. Taking home first place was Dustin Nance of Lumberton Senior High School. In the team division the scoring was even closer, and this year all three winning teams were from Lumberton Senior High School. In third place was team nine made up of Astrid Bastista and Amber Wortham. In second place was team 8 comprised of Katy Patterson and Natasha Bryant. Taking home the first place trophy was team one made of up individual winner Dustin Nance and Norman Deese.

All in all we had four teams from St. Pauls High School FFA competing, one from Red Springs High School FFA, 11 teams from Lumberton Senior High School FFA, seven teams from Purnell Swett High School FFA, a home school 4-H club from Bladen County, and individuals from Cumberland, Bladen and Robeson Counties.

A 4-H Flock

Wednesday at the Robeson Regional Agriculture Fair should make you think of chicken. Not original or extra crispy rather the kind that flap their wings, cluck and peck at you if you get too close. That's right Wednesday night was our annual 4-H Poultry Shows. We have two categories; Laying hens which are chickens that lay eggs, and broilers which are considered meat chickens. This is a combination showmanship and market show for our competitors. Judges are not only asking the youth about raising their hens but also looking at the legs, breast development and eye clarity when judging the birds.

First off were our cloverbuds. These are our 5-8 year olds and the division is non competitive. Each youth receives a trophy and $10 for their hard work. Our two cloverbuds this year were 5 year old Stephen Smith and his older brother 7 year old Andrew Smith. Both were allowed to enter the ring and sit with their laying hens while the judge asked them questions about their birds. In the junior division which is our 9-13 year olds we had two competitors. Benjamin Herndon who took home the blue ribbon with his laying hen and a close second was first timer Elizabeth Albright who took home the red ribbon. Benjamin Herndon was our only Broiler competitor and he placed first in the junior division for his broiler as well.