4-H Top 4 for the week of August 30, 2021

 

Good morning everyone!  We hope the school year is going well and everyone is staying safe.  We are excited to update you on some things going on in 4-H and Extension today.  We hope you will take the time to look over this email.

At anytime please remember you can go to the 4-H App and register for current programs and see what is going on with our blog and social media which are all right there in one handy place for you to visit.

-September 1 is the deadline for youth to register for the Cha-Ching 4-H State SPIN Club.  This club is meant for youth (ages 9-18) who want more information about handling club finances.  Each meeting will have a lesson and practice time to implement the lesson.  The club will meet virtually from 7-8:15 pm for the course of 5 weeks starting September 14.  To register for this program you can find it on our app under programs or you can use this link.

-September 10 is the deadline to register for the Regional Egg-Cellent Egg Contest.  This is open to 4-H Members Ages 5-18 who have current producing laying hens.  The contest starts in September and goes through November meeting virtually.  Training participation via zoom and other supplemental submissions will be required to complete the program. 4-Hers will learn more about egg production and compete against other members in the participating region.  There is a $10 fee for participating in this event which will be paid for Robeson County 4-H Members who complete the project.  For those who register and do not complete the project they will be expected to pay that fee back to the program.  For more information and to register please go to the app under programs.  You can also use this link for registration.

-September 13 is the deadline for 4-H Artastic.  Artastic is our 4-H visual arts competition.  This is for items you have made since October 1 2020.  Registration is simple and can be done from the app or by clicking this link.  Please note that all entries will be judged and entered into the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair for their youth contest.  Participants will be able to claim their art work, fair ribbons and prize money on October 10 between 1-5 pm.  For questions about this contest please contact the 4-H Office at (910) 671-3276.

-October 29 will be the deadline to submit applications for the 4-H Volunteer of the Year.  This is an award that only members, parents, and 4-H volunteers (not staff) my nominate a deserving 4-H Volunteer.  The nominations are judged by a panel of judges (not the 4-H Staff) who determine the winner of the Dr. Eddie and Mrs. Brenda Locklear Endowment award.  This is a prestigious award, the highest award we bestow upon our volunteers in Robeson County, and only one deserving person per year can be nominated.  Nomination form is online and can be found on our 4-H app as well as by clicking this link.

We also have one more thing to let you know.  After 17 years with Cooperative Extension, Christy Strickland, the County Extension Director is retiring.  Her last day in our office will be August 31.  Christy has worked closely with our 4-H program even before becoming the County Extension Director.  She has helped us implement programs such as Strengthening Families, and Etiquette.  She has helped us with our Summer Fun programs, has monitored our parts is parts table at Poultry Judging, and was a staple at our 4-H Appreciation Nights often helping us install officers and bestowing the I Dare You Award on a deserving 4-H youth.   If you have had a child in our program in the last 17 years chances are that Christy has positively touched their lives in one way or another.   Although we will miss her around here, we are so happy that she will get to retire and enjoy her family (parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, and more) which means the world to her.  If you would like to reach out to her and wish her well she can be found at Christy_Strickland@ncsu.edu.  

That is all for today.  We hope you have a great week and stay safe out there.

Wendy, Christy, and Shea Ann
 

A New Chapter

 

This article was written by our own Christy Strickland for the Robesonian and is also published on the NC Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center website.

Seventeen years ago, Everett Davis introduced me as the newest Extension agent in the County;  I was beginning my role as a Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center. On July 1, 2015, I began a new role as County Extension Director (CED) for Robeson County. At that time, I wrote an article to introduce myself and shared a little about my family. Not much has changed since writing that introduction, except for the number of people in my family. I now have four wonderful grandchildren. This little change is important to note as you continue reading.

Today, I share with you the beginning of a new chapter in my journey! On August 31, 2021, I will become the latest retired County Extension Director of N.C. Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center. As I begin this new journey into retirement, I can’t help but reflect on the years I have worked with Extension. I have had some of the best coworkers anyone could ask for in a career – compassionate, caring, capable, dedicated, and even challenging are all words I would use to describe them over the years. My current team of staff and those I have worked with since becoming CED can only be described as incredible! They have survived me as their boss, two devastating floods, and now a pandemic. Even through all of that, they always rise to the occasion to further Extension’s mission throughout the county and make me proud to call them my staff. But they are not just my staff; I am honored to call them friends and think of them as family.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the leadership that has guided and supported me on this journey:  the Extension leadership team, led by Dr. Rich Bonanno and my District Director, Keith Walters, along with County Manager Kellie Blue and her team, who have given me support and encouragement all along the way. The collaboration between the county and the land grant universities (North Carolina State University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University) is unique and an incredible resource in this county.

The past 17 years have been some of the most meaningful of my 30-plus years of work. It has been my honor to follow a long line of CED’s and Extension professionals who have carried the mission of the land grant universities and Extension throughout this county. I hope in some small way I have done my part to make them proud!

Although I am stepping down, I am pleased to share with you I am leaving you in very capable hands. Duncan “Mac” Malloy, who currently serves as the Field Crops Agent in the county, will serve as the Interim CED beginning September 1, 2021. Mac has worked with Extension since 2011 and is well known throughout the agricultural community, both personally and professionally. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from NC State University and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Education from N.C. A&T State University. I know you will join me in welcoming and supporting Mac as he does his part during the Interim to lead this incredible team.

As I close this chapter and begin the next part of my journey,  I look forward to a new chapter that includes more time with those four grandchildren I mentioned earlier, along with gardening, crafting, and much, much more. Although I am looking forward to all of these things, I will dearly miss my staff, and the work of N.C. Cooperative Extension. I will always be a supporter of Extension and the great work being done. Somewhere along the way I wrote an article entitled “What I love about Extension.”  I described many of the great things we do as Extension professionals and how I loved everything about my job. The great thing is, I still feel that way. I love Extension! Thank you for a great chapter!

Millstone Memories

 

Dear Friends, Help a child create memories that will last a lifetime! We hope you will SAVE THE DATE for Millstone Memories - this year's virtual fundraiser for Millstone 4-H Camp - on October 16 at 7 pm over Zoom. Your $50 or larger donation will help a child attend summer camp at Millstone 4-H Camp. For your support, you will receive a cozy Millstone sweatshirt in recognition of your gift and can join us online for a virtual program with memories from campers and staff, musical entertainment, and a look forward to what's coming next at Millstone!  For 82 years, Millstone has helped children learn more about themselves, others and the natural world we live in. It costs $500 for one child to attend a week of camp and gain memories that last a lifetime. A week of camp helps children gain independence, develop communication skills, learn teamwork and responsibility. Join us online October 16 at 7:00pm to help a child attend summer camp at Millstone! Information on how to purchase tickets and make donations is coming soon! Follow our Facebook event page for up-to-date details and info. If you can't make the live event, a post-event recording will be provided. Event attendance is not required to make a donation. Sincerely, The Millstone 4-H Camp team All funds raised on behalf of Millstone 4-H Camp are collected and managed by The North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization whose Tax ID# is 56-6049304. You will receive an official receipt for your gift less the value of the sweatshirt (approx. $20) Millstone 4-H Camp | www.millstone4hcamp.com

Congratulations!

 

2021 Egg-Cellent Egg Contest Registration

 

4-H Egg-Cellent Egg Contest kicks off in September 2021. This comprehensive program will last through November 2021.

This program is for 4-H members in participating counties with a flock of chickens that are currently laying eggs. Participants may submit up to 2 sets of one dozen eggs, which will be judged for uniformity and interior quality.
Training participation via zoom and other supplemental submissions will be required to complete the program. 4-Hers will learn more about egg production and compete against other members in the participating region.
All participants that successfully complete the project will receive a t-shirt and ribbon (either participation or placing ribbon).

Please note that Robeson County 4-H members will not have to pay the $10 fee.  That fee will be paid for registered participants by the program, thanks to our United Way Funds.  Please note, that if the member does not complete the project they will be asked to reimburse the fee back to our program.

North Carolina Counties participating include: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Hoke, Jones, Montgomery, New Hanover, Pamlico, Richmond, Robeson, and Sampson.

***Participants must be actively enrolled in the NC 4-H Online Enrollment System*** (This is free and must be updated annually at https://v2.4honline.com/)

** IMPORTANT DATES to remember:
September 10 - Registration Ends
September 14 - Initial Training via zoom
October 5 - Egg-citing, In Depth Egg Training
November 4 - Eggs & supplemental portion submissions due
November 16 - Winners announced
****ALL Dates subject to change****

To register for this program please go to programs on our app or use this link.  For more information about this program please contact Taylor Chavis at tbhunt@ncsu.edu.

Cha-Ching 4-H SPIN Club

 

This club is for youth wanting to learn more about handling club finances.  Each meeting will have a lesson and practice time to implement the lesson.  The club will meet from 7-8:15 pm for the course of five weeks starting September 14.  

This will not be your typical zoom club meeting.  This statewide club will have lots of hands on and be lots of fun with members from across the state participating.

For more information contact Wendy Maynor at wrmaynor@ncsu.edu.  To register you can go to programs on our app or click on this link.

NC 4-H Virtual Volunteer Training

 North Carolina 4-H will host a FREE virtual training session on Saturday morning, October 23rd.  The training will be delivered over Zoom and is open to the first 200 volunteers who register!  For more information including the agenda and how to register, visit: 

https://go.ncsu.edu/falltraining

These sessions will not be recorded, so be sure to sign up and attend! Registration closes October 18th or when spaces are filled.  Please email your 4-H Agent to register.