Horsin' Around is a Project

The Horsin' Around 4-H Horse Club met in January for a business meeting and to start a new project. Really new project, their project records for 2011. The group met and held their regular business meeting. They talked about our upcoming entertains and artastic events and summer projects with the club. Then they dove head first into their project records devising their plans and goals for this year.

It looks like this club is ready to rear back and have a good time learning!

Leading Our Way into the New Year

As the New Year comes in we aren't wasting anytime. Our first 4-H County Council and Volunteer Leaders' Association Meeting took place at the O. P. Owens Agriculture Center. Just over 50 people attended our first meeting of the year and had a chance to hear about some of the changes the officers are making.

The meeting started at 6 with Ice Breakers and team working games that youth could take back to their clubs. At 6:30 Kenneth Bethea, Volunteer Leaders' Association President hit the gavel and called the meeting to order. Aljaquan Nixon, President of the County Council, told the group that club roll call would only involve 4-H members (not parents and volunteers) and would be based on the percentage of club members present at the time of roll call in relation to the updated club forms that should be turned in a the beginning of the club year. This meeting Young Leaders 4-H Club won the prize for highest attendance.

The County Council also announced their plans to organize a Cloverbud retreat. Anyone who is interested in serving on their organizing committee should contact the 4-H office. The officers also talked about previous programs, upcoming events and welcomed our new County Extension Director Dr. Cathy Graham.

The 4-H staff encouraged everyone to look at the 4-H blog and keep an eye on the Google calendar at the bottom of the blog to stay up to date on upcoming events. You can also get reminders sent directly to your e-mail or cell phone by following us on Twitter. The next 4-H County Council and Volunteer Leaders' Association meeting will be held March 1, 2011 at the 4-H office beginning at 6:00 pm.

Looking Back

Although I am not one who likes to dwell in the past I must say that looking back at our accomplishments over the past year is really exciting. When you can do it in photos it is even better. Each year Robeson County 4-H publishes a photo book showing what we have done. Needless to say we have done that again this year. The book is used for marketing purposes and one stays in our library and we often take them with us when we set up displays. Of course you can view the electronic version of the book and even order your own book by clicking on the link.

This year the book has a family theme, because 4-H is really another family for many of us. Over this year we have seen many changes. Our Extension Director, Everett Davis retired, after 28 years of service. We dedicate this book to him as a thank you for his support of the 4-H program. Before his departure Everett set up two endowments for 4-H to support our volunteers and 4-H members and ensure the future of our program.

Keith Walters, the Hoke County Extension Director, served as interim until our new director Dr. Cathy Graham was chosen to replace Everett. Cathy served as a 4-H Agent in Robeson County when she first started her career and is thrilled to be home.

During the year we served a record amount of youth, more than 6,000. We had more than 900 youth take part in embryology. Our first ever etiquette day camp was a huge success. Our Junior Master Gardener Day camp brought in more 4-H members than ever. Not to mention our growing numbers at County Activity Day and District Activity day. Of course none of this would be possible without our growing posse of volunteers. Their enthusiasm and excitement is what drives our club program.

2010 has been a great year for Robeson County 4-H and now we are excited about the possibilities in 2011. Give us your ideas, tell us what you think, and of course, as always thank you for being a part of our Robeson County 4-H family. See you in 2011.

Spread a Little Holiday Spirit

This morning, our first day back in the office, we have been sharing the highlights and special details of our holiday celebration. In many cases the phrase, my children our blessed, I am blessed have been repeated over and over. The spirit of the season has brought us back to center and in many cases we want to share our blessings.

Our Robeson County 4-H members, volunteers, and family know that Robeson County 4-H is a United Way Agency. In other words our funding for county programs (not salaries, overhead or typical office needs) which directly impact our youth and volunteers come from United Way. Without this money we would not be able to offer the variety of programs and trainings that you see highlighted here on our blog. 100% of our county budget is dependent on United Way.

I say all of this because this morning we had our quarterly United Way Agency Meeting. Robeson County 4-H is one of 17 agencies that receive funding from United Way. Each agency is different in how much funding they get and what it is used for. The one constant is that the funding is needed by all the agencies and makes a difference in our community. United Way has rigorous reporting guidelines to ensure that the money they give to these agencies is being used in the best way possible to make the largest difference in our community. You may be familiar with some of the agencies; Red Cross, Church and Community Center, Southeastern Family Violence Center, Rape Crises Center, Christian Care Center, Hospice, Hospice House, Protective Services for Sexually Abused Children, Foster Children's Christmas Fund, Communities in Schools, Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts. Others you might not be as familiar with such as the Radio Reading Service which provides reading services for the blind, the Born Learning Program run by the Partnership for Children which helps parents help their children prepare for school, the Mayor's Committee for the disabled which builds and moves wheelchair ramps for those in need, and Southeastern Industrial Center JOBS program which helps developmentally disabled adults find jobs in the community. All of these agencies and programs make a difference in our community, but all of us could be facing cuts. You see the United Way is $200,000 short of their goal for this year.

It has been a hard economic year for all of us, and that is reflected in the amount of money given to United Way this year. The problem is in hard economic times the need is even greater and provider costs are going up. If a dollar were given for each child who was touch by 4-H in 2010 United Way would be $6,204 closer to their goal. Would you miss a dollar a year? Two dollars? Five dollars? Just think about it.

United Way Agencies touch the lives of one out of every five people in this county. If you are part of our 4-H program, you have been touched by United Way. If you would like to give to Robeson County United Way please contact them at (910) 739-4249 or you can mail a donation to P. O. Box 2652, Lumberton, NC 28359 or drop one off a donation at their office at 202 N. Chestnut Street, Lumberton, NC 28358.

This is just our opportunity as we count our blessings to bless someone else.

A Christmas Poem

The following is an original poem from those excellent equestrian entrepreneurs in St. Paul's. Yes, they created their own Christmas poem as part of a contest in the Fayetteville Observer about their 4-H club and we could not help but share it with you.

Santa Needs Help!

It was fourteen days, till Christmas, that we knew.

All the reindeers, and elves came down with the flu.

Poor Santa, he just didn't know what to do.

"Now Santa!" said Mrs Claus, "don't worry,

I know who to call!

The 4-H Club in St. Paul's."

When the 4-Hers got the call, they grabbed all the ponies,

then took off, so they could help out Santa Claus.

They got to the North Pole just in the nick of time,

because they knew Santa, was getting behind.

"Now! Alicia, and Brianna, Now! Caylee, and Chasity,

Now! Christian, Daniel, Meagan, Taylor and Paiton too,"

Santa said, "we have lots of work to do!"

They washed all the ponies, and the sleigh too,

They knew there was two more weeks, of lots of work they had to do.

They helped with all the wrapping and packaging too.

They hitched up the ponies, so they can go on a journey.

With Star, Sally, Sweetpea, and Honey to.

Now , then there was Turbbie, to lead them all

Because, he knew how to help them jump over the walls.

Santa, and the 4-Hers are all in the sleigh.

Turbbie is all ready to lead the way.

they went all over the world that night, in a very fast flight.

Santa said, :This was a funny sight, for this is a very special night!"

So if you need any help, we know this is true,

that there are 4-Hers waiting to help you.

Good Morning 4-H

Of course anytime we have the opportunity to highlight something special about 4-H we will. If it is something about 4-H in North Carolina you better believe we will toot the horn of our fellow 4-H'ers. For those of you who watch Good Morning America you may already know what I am talking about. This video link will take you to a segment on the show. A group of 4-H'ers from Graham County taped a little snip it that made the edit this morning. If you are wondering which ones they are check out the piece around the 54 second marker. Congratulations Graham County 4-H!

Naturally, it's Christmas

It was all about nature as the members of the Dirty Rascals Junior Master Gardener 4-H club meet last night. Nature and Christmas were the main topics of this meeting right after they got done with a little business. The club members elected officers that will serve through September of 2011. Dillon McCartney will be President, Tyson Alford Vice President, Tyron Alford Treasurer, Andra Turbok Secretary, and Kieren Hatcher will be Reporter. After getting done with the difficult business of elections the group spread out to make some really neat and natural craft projects

Club leader, Missy McLean worked with the youth to make some really neat mouse ornaments. They used acorns, gumballs from trees, straw, google eyes and pom poms to make the unique creatures. With a ribbon placed strategically between the body and head during construction they had some really cute, yet personal tree ornaments.

The youth also worked with Kerrie Roach who volunteered to come play as she calls it. They used clementine oranges and whole cloves to make pomanders. Usually these are hung with ribbon and elicit one of the most wonderful Christmas smells. Many people will remember this as a craft they learned with their grandparents and our youth had just as much fun learning how to do it.

Tanya Underwood, a club co-leader worked with the youth to make some festive candles. Each got a vanilla candle and a bottle of cinnamon sticks. They glued the sticks on their candles in whatever pattern they liked then tied ribbon around it. The candles are not only festive to look at but smell good whether or not they were burned.