From our Extension Family to Yours...

 

4-H Appreciation

 

We love to show how much we love our 4-H Families and volunteers.  4-H Appreciation is one of those days where we get to do it right.  

 

This year we had a PJ's and Waffles brunch in your honor and for those who came I think a good time was had by all.  Mrs Jade and Ms Shea Ann showed up in their special 4-H P.J.'s and were styling for this special day.  Lots of folks came in their PJ's and looked so good.  There were grinch slippers, 4-H socks, a bear PJ outfit (so comfy).  Our crowd was definitely trend setting for the occasion.

We had a great time making waffles in our PJ's and folks got creative.  That's good because we had a contest for the best looking waffle out of all that were made.  We will share the winners a little later in this post.

 

This year we had a more formal program with a power point of what our youth had accomplished.  We made this based on who was planning on attending and signed up for the event.  It was fun have friends, family, and volunteers see what our youth had done this year and we hope they have some ideas on what they want to do next year.  Mr. Mac Malloy, our County Extension Director said his favorite part of the event was listening to what our youth had accomplished.  He was proud of how invested they are in the program and how much they have obviously learned,  Actually we reached more than 6000 youth this past year, and although we don't recognize everyone we love being able to recognize those who were able to attend.  If you would like to check out our powerpoint we would love for you to see it by clicking this link. 

 

We also recognized our adult volunteers based on their years of service.  Did you know we have more than 70 volunteers who have served from 1 year to 42 years.  That is a lot of time and dedication to our program that we sincerely appreciate.  Leaders do everything from volunteering with programming to running clubs and helping with District and State level programs.  They are an amazing and talented group of folks. 

  Our youth and adults both received gifts.  Our youth received pocket baby lucky dragons (that look just like our 4-H mascot, Trifloium).  Our adults received their annual pocket calendars and 4-H car coasters to help market our program.   After a brief meeting with the youth present it was determined that the adults could also get a baby lucky dragon however they are also boaund by the same responsibilities that they youth are.  They will have to name them, give them attention, take them places, keep them warm in their pockets.  It is a lot to be responsible for a baby lucky dragon and we know our 4-H families are up for the challenge.   

 

Ms Jade said her favorite part of the event were the box photos.  She took photos of everyone willing to get in the box and made this wonderful collage for us to enjoy and use.  It is the Christmas tree photo at the top of this post and it is adorable!  These family and 4-H photos are adorable and we are so happy to have them to remember this by.

  For some folks the best part was being able to see what they and their friends had accomplished this year.  For the others it was eating some delicious brunch favorites like cinnamon rolls and tater tot casserole.  Mostly I think the big hits were games like candy cane fishing and of course what is starting to become an annual snowball fight.  Oh and lets not forget the waffle contest.  The winners received gifts for their efforts.  Coming in third was Tanya Underwood, Second was Thomas Underwood, and  in first place was Willie Roberson.  Way to go our incredible waffle makers!

  If you would like to see all the photos from our fun check it out here.  Make plans for next year's event we haven't decided what that quite looks like yet...maybe our baby lucky dragons can tell us.    

High School Summer Opportunity

 I’m excited to share an exceptional summer opportunity for high school students, designed to promote interest about agriculture, science, and research.

The North Carolina A&T State University - College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences is now accepting applications for its Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) — a two-week, residential, hands-on research experience designed especially for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in the food, agricultural, and environmental sciences. North Carolina A&T State University

Program Highlights
 Dates: June 14–26, 2026
 Location: NC A&T campus — Greensboro, NC
 Experience: Students work directly with university research scientists on independent research projects, gaining invaluable lab and field experience. North Carolina A&T State University
 Collegiate Exposure: Participants live on campus, explore Greensboro landmarks, and enjoy a true taste of college life. North Carolina A&T State University
 Stipend & Costs: A stipend is awarded upon successful completion and later enrollment in a CAES major; program participation is fully funded except for a $25 non-refundable application fee. North Carolina A&T State University

Who Should Apply?
 Rising juniors & seniors (Fall 2026)
 Minimum GPA of 2.8
 U.S. citizens
 Students ready to engage in serious research and enrich their future career pathways in STEM and ag-related fields. North Carolina A&T State University

Application Details:
Students must submit the online application and required materials—including transcript, career interest essay, letters of recommendation, and counselor endorsement—by February 27, 2026. North Carolina A&T State University

This program is a fantastic way to support your students’ STEM and agriculture interests and help set them on a path toward research, higher education, and long-term career success.

 Learn more & apply: https://www.ncat.edu/caes/agricultural-research/rap-program.php North Carolina A&T State University

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or share this opportunity with your high school students, families, and colleagues. Let’s help our future agricultural leaders thrive!

Warm regards,

Antoine.

Antoine J. Alston, Ph.D., COI, CFD 

Professor & Associate Dean, Academic Studies 

College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences 

NC A&T State University 

Scholarship Opportunity

 

Good morning folks.  We have received these scholarship opportunities for High School Seniors planning to pursue a degree in agriculture or a related field.  

One scholarship is open to anyone planning to purse a degree in agriculture or a related field however an educator (teacher, 4-H Agent, etc.) would need to nominate you if you are interested.  

The second opportunity is for anyone who has family working at a Mountaire plant and is designed to send another generation to college.  Please read both opportunities carefully and if you qualify and need some assistance apply let Jade McNeill or myself know and we will be happy to assist you.  

 Do you know of any high school seniors planning to attend college in agriculture, the trades, or related fields?  

Check out the Mountaire Scholarship Program:  

Scholarships | Mountaire Farms 

Mountaire Community Scholarship

 

• The application deadline is December 31, 2025
• 15 scholarship community winners for the NC region, all awarded at once rather than monthly as in past years.
• Each scholarship award is $3,000

AI Challenge

  Check out the Showcase: 

Visit the 4-H AI in Agriculture Showcase to see the amazing projects submitted by your 4-H peers. We had two finalists from North Carolina!  https://events.projectboard.world/4HAIinAg  

 Winner Announcement: 
We’ll announce the winners by Wednesday at 5:00 PM (12/10)  Stay tuned! 

Our Spring 4-H AI in your Community Challenge showcase is here. 

https://events.projectboard.world/4HAI 

What’s Next? The Presidential AI Challenge 

Consider entering the Presidential AI Challenge. Youth create solutions to everyday problems using AI tools. There are two tracks you can choose from, and winners could earn $10,000! 

https://www.ai.gov/initiatives/presidential-challenge

• Deadline: January 20, 2026 

• Register on the Presidential AI Challenge page to gain access to office hours and support. https://orise.orau.gov/ai-challenge/complete-the-challenge/  

• 4-H wants to help you succeed—we’d love to see a 4-H member win the top prize! 

If you plan to enter, let us know. I will provide you a  4-H mentor to guide your AI Challenge project. 
Learn more and register here: 

Presidential AI Challenge - 4-H Participant Registration – Fill out form 

 
Here are some resources to help guide you -  4-H Presidential AI Challenge Resources by Purdue 4-H 

https://extension.purdue.edu/4-H/get-involved/national-programs/4-h-presidential-ai-challenge.html 

Keep Learning About AI 

Even if you don’t enter the Presidential Challenge, explore AI education resources on CLOVER by 4-H: 
https://4-h.org/clover/activities/google-ai/  

Happy AI Education Week (Computer Science Week)!  CS Powers AI Innovation. 

Google AI Quests  https://research.google/ai-quests/intl/en_gb

Microsoft hour of AI - https://education.minecraft.net/en-us/resources/hour-of-ai-the-first-night

Let’s keep innovating together. 

Best regards, 

Your NC 4-H AI Specialist

Mark Light

The Green Elf Hunt

 

THE ELF HUNT IS ON!!! FIND THE GREEN ELF!!! How-To Play! Find the GREEN ELF somewhere on our website, a new elf each day this week. Play by texting us on Facebook or Instagram the URL you found GREEN ELF on! The Green Elf won’t show up till the same day it is eligible to find. The winner will be announced the next morning and gets to pick a prize from our prize bin. See the prizes below!  6 chances to win throughout this week!! Send us all 5 URLs by next week for the grand surprise! Prize Bin: A Place to Grow Plush toy + garden book, Suck-a-Bug activity Classroom Set, Weather garden book, or a JMG T-shirt Monday-Friday's Winners: Will be announced the next morning on socials and website! Search for Green Elf Here!

4-H Animal Science Career Night-Virtual

 National 4-H Animal Science Career Night, sponsored by the NAE4-HYDP Animal Science Working Group

December 18, 2025

7–8pm EST / 6–7pm CST

FREE for youth in grades 7–13 (ages 12–19)

Join us for an exciting evening with two incredible guest speakers from the animal science industry! Hear real-world career insights, ask questions, and explore future pathways in animal science.

Featured Speakers:

Mr. Jack Ward – Executive Vice President, American Hereford Association

Mr. Sam Cohen – Zoological Supervisor, Busch Gardens (Tampa, FL)

Register by December 17, 2025 at 11:59pm EST

Scan the QR code on the flyer to sign up or visit https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/.../SV_6Jt5H9mJnKy8En4

Questions? Contact: mb2173@njaes.rutgers.edu