Person County 4-H

4-H Gives Back

2011-12-21T12:14:00.000-08:00

Throughout the holiday season, the Person County 4-H Program always tries to give back to the community. Well, on November 14th, 4-H joined Golden Corral in honoring our Veterans at this year's annual Veterans Day Dinner. We helped open doors, carry trays, seat people, and even just walked around and talked to all of the veterans that evening. One 4-H'er, Logan Bates (pictured left), was chosen to sing the National Anthem that evening which was broadcast on the Roxboro Radio station. Throughout the month of October and November, we collected over 200 pounds of food (pictured right) that was donated to the Christian Help Center. Thank you to everyone that helped us reach our goal. A few short weeks later, the Woodland Lakers 4-H Club held a fundraiser for the Animal Shelter collecting toys, food, and other goodies for the animals there. (pictured below)

Ag Field Day & Farm City Week

2011-12-12T09:09:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, November 3rd from 9am-2pm at Huck Sansbury Park, the Person County Extension Office hosted the annual Agricultural Field Day for the local fifth graders. Booths were set up allowing for the students to rotate around all of the booths throughout the day. The students will learn about the following topics: animals, dairy production, forestry, wildlife, soil and water, plants, locally grown foods, tractors and farm equipment, etc.

The theme for this year’s Farm City Week, which which was held October 31^st - November 4^th, is “Locally Grown Foods” which spotlights the importance of showing appreciation to our local farmers by purchasing their products. The 4-H poster contest was open to area 4^th graders and were judged on their orignality, creativity, neatness, and relativity to the theme. The winners were recognized at our Farm City Week luncheon.

2011 NC State Fair

2011-12-12T09:04:00.000-08:00

Every year, we have a variety of 4-H’ers showing animals and submitting entries into the contests and the NC State Fair. This year was no different. Several youth from Person County 4-H submitted entries into the crafts and food categories of the fair and everyone brought home several ribbons. Congratulations to Hunter Alexander and Taylor Alexander on all of their ribbons from the Goat Show and also congratulations to McKayla Chambers, Eryn Haynes, Cathryn Haynes, and Hunter Alexander for their accomplishments within the different 4-H craft and food contests. If you are interested in participating in the livestock shows at the fair or submitting entries for one of the contests next year, simply contact us at the beginning of August and we can help you figure out how to get registered.

4-H Achievement Night

2011-12-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

All 4-H'ers who submitted record books were recognized with awards and ribbons at the annual 4-H Achievement Night Program that was held on October 7th. It was easy to see that the youth had done an outstanding job this past year. In addition to the projects, Michael Chaney was chosen as our Outstanding 4-H'er of the Year. Congratulations to Olivia Bottoms who was awarded the Distinguished Service Volunteer Award for her outstanding work as a 4-H volunteer at several of our 4-H events throughout the past year as well as serving on our Youth Advisory Council. And, the Special Merit Club Award went to the Woodland Lakers 4-H Club for all of their hard work over the past year. We had a lot of wonderful things happen this past year and I only hope with your help, we can continue to make the best better in Person County.

Dog Day Out

2011-10-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

It was a cool, beautiful, sunny day for the folks attending Dog Day Out on Sunday, October 2nd. From the smallest to the largest dog, these four-legged creatures brought their owners out to Huck Sansbury Park for an afternoon of activities. The 6th Annual Dog Day Out event, sponsored by the Person County 4-H Program, included afternoon activities featuring the 4-H Dog Show and demonstration by a Raleigh Fly Ball Team. Flyball is a contest where two teams of four dogs compete to jump over 4 hurdles to get the ball at the end of the lane and the fastest time wins.

The Person County Animal Shelter was on hand Sunday to provide information on dog health, care, adoption and foster services, etc. The Pet Overpopulation Patrol was also there hosting a Rabies Clinic and promoting spaying and neutering your animal. If you are interested in finding out more about their services, call 919-942-2250 or visit them online at www.pop-nc.com. Also, thanks to Ashley Marcoux and Diamond Faulkner, who run a grooming business called PrettyPawsRUs and were on hand to clip toenails and provide grooming information. More information can be found on their website at http://prettypawsrus.weebly.com or contact them at 919-308-0678.

Congratulations to all of the winners and their owners including Christina Bufanda and her dog Bella, who won 1st place in the cutest puppy category.

National 4-H Week

2011-10-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

We have several things planned to celebrate this year’s National 4-H Week which is held October 2nd – October 8th. The description for each day is listed below:

Sunday, October 2nd - Dog Day Out

It will be held from 2:00pm-4:00pm at Huck Sansbury Park. All Personians, young or old, can enter their canine friend in two of the fun categories ranging from craziest for a toy to most beautiful or just get more information on your pooch. If you are interested in receiving an entry form, call us at 599-1195.

Monday, October 3rd – 4-H Balloon Release
Come to the 4-H office at 4:00pm and we will each write a message about why we love 4-H and how to join and then we will release the balloons into the air, asking for the recipient to contact our office.

Tuesday, October 4th – Go Green
This is our day to get out and market 4-H. Wear your 4-H t-shirts and tell a friend about 4-H. Also, keep an ear out to the radio for our public service announcements.

Wednesday, October 5th – National Youth Science Day
It will be held from 3:30pm – 5:00pm and we will complete a few different science activities to celebrate this event. You must RSVP to attend.

Thursday, October 6th – Hungry to Help
Go to the store and purchase some can goods that we can donate to our local Christian Help Center. Bring it to the office or drop it off on Friday.

Friday, October 7th – 4-H Achievement Night

All 4-H’ers, their families, donors, and alumni are invited to our annual 4-H Achievement Night Banquet. We will be recognizing all of our 4-H’ers and their accomplishments over the past year.

Saturday, October 8th - Farmers Market Day

Be sure to take your family on a field trip and visit our local Person County Farmer’s Market. It is open on Saturday, October 8th from 8am – 12pm. Come on out and support our local farmers by purchasing some of their delicious produce.

Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Summer Camp

2011-10-20T08:20:00.001-07:00

The week of July 31st – August 5th, the Person County 4-H program took 14 kids ages 8 – 14 years old to the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Camp in Reidsville. We had a fun-filled week, full of all kinds of activities and experiences. Some of the traditional activities included canoeing, swimming, archery, horseback riding, rock wall climbing, and a variety of crafts. If you are interested in going to 4-H Camp next year, we will be going the week of June 24th - 29th so please contact our office now to get on the list as soon as possible because we fill our camp spots up at the beginning of the year.

It's Electric

2011-07-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

This year, three Person County 4-H’ers attended the 64th Annual State 4-H Electric Congress July 11-13 at Western Carolina University. Michael Chaney, Mikala Halbrook, and Zachary Chaney are the Person County 4-H’ers who earned the right to attend this annual event. They were among the 250 4-Hers, adult leaders, Extension agents, and power company representatives from across North Carolina selected to attend the three-day event. Progress Energy provided the trip and helped sponsor the 4-H Electric Congress. Jennifer Grable, Person County 4-H Extension Agent, also attended the 4-H Electric Congress along with other agents and leaders from all across North Carolina. North Carolina 4-H Electric Congress is an educational event designed to recognize excellence in the Electric Program throughout the state. Electric Congress travels from region to region of the state, thus allowing for a variety of programming opportunities for everyone. Four-H members present project reports, participate in workshops, meet their Power Company Representatives, and interact with other electric winners. Group activities included several different electric projects and a workshop on the importance of conserving energy. Also on the agenda was the choice of going white water rafting down the Nantahala River or taking a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. Overall, it was a very educational trip and the kids sure seemed to have a lot of fun. This year's 4-H Electric Congress was sponsored by three power companies – Progress Energy, Duke Power and Dominion North Carolina Power – and by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service at NC State University.

4-H Goes Green!!

2011-07-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

4-H has gone green this summer. We have held a variety of summer fun workshops so far this summer. Some have been educational and some have just been plain fun. One of our most recent workshops was "Go Green!". The youth learned about recycling, the environment, pollution, oil spills, and how we can each do our part to help better take care of the environment and Earth. During this workshop, we had the opportunity to visit the Roxboro Recycling Plant. I think that everyone learned a lot of interesting things and just looking at this picture, I can tell that the citizens of Person County are doing their part by recycling. Unfortunately, most of those bottles are soft drinks instead of water so it isn't helping our obesity problem. But if you want more information on how to recycle or what items the Roxboro Recycling Plant does or does not take, simply contact Person Industries for more information.

Egg-Citing News!!

2011-05-27T10:57:00.001-07:00

It is May which means warm weather, some rain showers, flowers, and baby chicks. Yes, it is time again for our 4-H Embryology Program. This year, we had 6 schools participate by hatching out 23 baby chicks. The second graders in Person County really enjoy participating in this program and get a lot out of it. We even had Earl Bradsher Preschool choose to hatch chicks this year. The eggs were dropped off at the beginning of May along with an incubator, egg turner, and candler. The eggs were incubated for about 21 days before hatching. There are a lot of things that can cause issues with eggs hatching. The main concern is the temperature because the incubator has to be 101 degrees. But, we were fairly happy with the numbers of eggs that actually hatched. The 4-H Embryology School Enrichment Program truly provides a fun and hands-on experience to teach them about the animal life cycle and meets standard course of studies objectives.

Public Speaking & Volunteering

2011-05-27T10:47:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday May 4th, Person County 4-H hosted their annual Visually Impaired Workshop. We have a few visually impaired guests attend the workshop completing a variety of crafts and played some games. The 4-H'ers had a lot of fun volunteering for this event and really enjoyed getting to know our guests. Later that afternoon, we held our 4-H County Activity Day event. 4-H'ers ages 5-19 years old came together to show off their public speaking skills by giving presentations on a variety of topic. Also, part of the day included a 4-H Entertains where a few brave young souls were able to showcase their talent. The winners of the competition will be invited to attend the District Activity Day in Randolph County in June and possibly the State Contest in July. Good Luck to all of our participants and thanks again to our volunteers!!

Livestock Show and Sale

2011-04-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

Top Honors went to Ashley Thomas who had the Grand Champion Pen of Three Hogs, Matthew Kendrick who had the Reserve Champion Pen of Three Hogs, Adam Clayton who had the Grand Champion Market Lamb, Hunter Alexander who had the Grand Champion Dairy Goat, and Taylor Alexander who had the Reserve Champion Dairy Goat in the 66th Annual North Central Junior Livestock Show and Sale held April 13-14 at the Central Carolina Holstein Association Barn in Orange Grove.

The 17 Person County youth that showed a total of 45 animals including 2 heifers, 10 lambs, 15 goats, and 18 hogs, were among the 135 youth who participated and won awards in this year’s event, which drew 4-H and FFA members from 9 area counties. The North Central Junior Livestock Show and Sale got its start in Durham on April 24, 1946. Extension agents and vocational agriculture teachers work with the young people in various aspects of growing, grooming and showing livestock for sale.

At the beginning of every year, these youth begin working on their animal projects and begin training their animals. Care for the animal includes feeding, washing, building a pen, tagging, and providing any health related care. Some of the youth are busier than ever because they are showing 2-6 animals. It requires a lot of work and a lot of dedication on the part of the youth. But the reward is in their faces at the end of the show. They are proud of their accomplishments and their hard work has paid off. This show is a big part of the agricultural history of this county. It is all about the kids and their animals but it is also is about appreciating the agricultural industry and all that it provides for Person County. It is important for the youth to know where their food comes from and that it is not produced at the grocery store.

The participants also maintain record books that document the raising of the animals, and the record books are also entered into competition in the respective categories on the second day of the event. Area business, civic and individual sponsors help the Livestock Show Steering Committee sponsor the show. We would like to thank all of the Person County businesses who helped support this wonderful event because without you, it

4-H Youth Healthier Than Peers

2011-04-12T07:15:00.000-07:00

4-H’ers less likely to smoke, drink alcohol, use drugs

According to recent findings from Tufts University, 4-H youth are engaging in positive healthy living behaviors more often than youth that do not participate in 4-H. According to the study, 4-H’ers, regardless of their background, socio-economic status, race, and gender, thrive through the health/safety education and experiences they receive through 4-H programming. Youth development scholar, Dr. Richard Lerner, works with researchers at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University to conduct The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development. The longitudinal study has found that, when compared to other youth, young people involved in 4-H are:

More likely to spend more time exercising or being physically active;

Two times less likely to engage in drug use;

Two times less likely to use cigarettes or drink alcohol.

“The results of this longitudinal study continually reinforce the idea that when youth participate in programs such as 4-H, they thrive in numerous ways including health, positive development, and community contribution,” said Dr. Lerner. “The comparisons we’ve made between 4-H youth and other young people highlight the considerable strengths and health of the young men and young women participating in 4-H around the country.” 4-H Healthy Living programs are conducted by the 109 land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System, and seek to address national issues including nutrition, physical fitness, substance abuse, safety, and social and emotional wellness. “With nearly 2.7 million youth enrolled in 4-H healthy living programs in 2009, the findings from the Tufts study underline 4-H’s unique ability to make a significant impact on the health and wellness of many of our nation’s future leaders,” said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council. “Working in conjunction with the White House Let’s Move! campaign and the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award challenge, 4-H’s extensive healthy living programs equip youth with the knowledge and skills that will prepare them physically, emotionally and socially to meet the challenges of the 21st century."

Golf Tournament Fundraiser in May

2011-04-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

The Person County 4-H program, in addition with the Orange and Caswell County offices, will be hosting our annual 4-H Golf Tournament fundraiser sponsored by Piedmont Electric. It will be held on May 25th at the Challenge Golf Course in Graham, NC. We are still looking for companies to sponsor some teams as well as we are in need of items for our silent auction. This is our main fundraiser with the funds going to our 4-H Development Fund helping provide college scholarships for 4-H'ers in Person County. So, if you know anyone interested in participating or making a donation, call the 4-H office at 336-599-1195.

Winterfest

2011-03-08T05:48:00.001-08:00

On Saturday, January 8th, four Person County 4-H'ers attended the North Central District Winterfest event in Guilford County. The threat of snow did not deter these four young gentleman from a day of fun and learning. The day started off with a district meeting followed by several leadership and fun workshops. The boys first started with the Expressive Arts workshop that featured drawing using their creativity and spontaneity skills. They were given something very generic such as a bunny rabbit and told to create a masterpiece on page. They could draw whatever they wanted but they had to incorporate the bunny rabbit. The objects they used varied throughout the workshop. Then all of the boys decided to attend the District Officer workshop in the hopes that one day they decide to run for the office. While they were learning about that, I had the opportunity to observe the Cultural Workshop where the youth learned and performed a variety of dances using music that spanned over a few decades. And, the afternoon was capped off by a game of bowling at the local bowling rink. If nothing else, the boys learned that their 4-H Agent is much better at bowling than they are.

Seeds of Hope

2011-02-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

Israel and Mia Farnham, two 4-H'ers in Guilford County, are working on an incredible project called Seeds of Hope to help others who really need it. They want to plant seeds of hope in the lives of others through the World Vision Animal and Agriculture fund. They are asking for help from the 4-H family!

Did you know nearly 30,000 children die every day, most from hunger or preventable diseases?Seeds of Hope provides the opportunity to help children and families around the world who are in desperate need. Your gift will provide hardworking families with livestock or farming tools that can put food on the table. Please join them by donating, so that we can bring life-changing help and hope to others.

Here is the link to their fundraising site: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/farnham/seeds-of-hope

4-H Clover in the 21st Century

2011-02-01T10:59:00.000-08:00

4-H is a youth organization committed to building outstanding citizen leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today's global society. Through the efforts of a dedicated statewide network, 4-H offers programs, trips, and scholarships for members, leaders, and families. Check out the new and update NC 4-H website at http://www.nc4h.org/ where it describes the benefits of 4-H, lessons youth learn and any new 4-H news and stories.

A Hog Started A Revolution

2011-01-31T13:38:00.000-08:00

It all started with a hog and then came more hogs. Prize winning hogs that 4-H’er Lindsay Binegar started showing when she was four. She saved the winnings from her livestock shows and by the time she turned eighteen, had enough to buy a house. 4-H taught Lindsay the importance of perseverance and fiscal responsibility. And it’s qualities like those that will rebuild our communities, one hog and one house at a time.

It is all part of the new campaign that National 4-H has announced the launch called “Revolution of Responsibility.” This campaign will tell the 4-H story in far more compelling terms than ever before. It showcases the stories of real 4-H'ers making a real impact in their communities, and gives a voice to the uncommon dedication and barrier-breaking commitment of the young people who are 4-H. That’s the kind of revolution the world needs now. Go online to http://www.4-h.org/about/revolution/ to see more of the stories.

Start Off the New Year as a 4-H Volunteer!!

2010-12-29T13:29:00.000-08:00

The Person County 4-H Program would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!! We had a lot of fun during 2010 and I hope that all of the youth that attended even one 4-H activity learned a lot. We are currently busy planning our activities and events for the 2011 year. If you have any suggestions or would like to volunteer, simply call our office at 336-599-1195 and let us know. Hopefully, with everyone's help, 2011 can be an even more productive and fun year!!!

Christmas for Critters

2010-11-24T09:57:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, December 11th, the Woodland Lakers 4-H Club will be hosting a Christmas for Critters event at the Person County Animal Shelter. From 10am – 12:00pm, they will be there collecting donations for the animals of the shelter. We are asking Person County citizens to drop off collars, leashes, dog & cat food, treats, shampoo, blankets, kitty litter, etc. If you would like to drop off items before that day, you can drop them off at the 4-H office at 304 South Morgan St, Room 162.

Christmas Fun Day

2010-11-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

It is almost time for our annual Christmas Fun Day event. This is a fun day full of Christmas crafts for youth ages 5-12. During the morning period from 9am-12pm, we will have the youth ages 9-12 come and complete several bigger crafts. In the afternoon from 1pm - 4pm, we will then have the 5-8 year olds come and complete smaller, easier crafts. All of the youth will get to take home all of the crafts that they make including a gingerbread house. This is always a fun day and it gives the parents time to do a little Christmas shopping while there kids are having fun. The cost is $15 and you must pre-register.

Teen Leadership Conference

2010-11-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

On November 20th, five youth from Person County 4-H program traveled to the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Camp for this year's Teen Leadership Conference. They had the opportunity to participate in several different workshops, based on leadership and ambassador classes. This event was a little different this year because normally it is a state conference but due to costs, we only got together with the South Central District for this event. Each district got to complete some district business during their meeting time. This gave the youth time to plan the Teen Retreat for this coming year, which will be March 18-19 at Sertoma 4-H Camp. Before then, the district will get together on January 8th in Guilford County for Winterfest. Overall, it was a jammed-packed day full of fun, learning and time to socialize with youth from another district.

Veterans Appreciation Dinner

2010-11-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

On Monday, November 15th, the Person County 4-H Program will serve as youth volunteers for this year's Golden Corral Veterans Appreciation Dinner from 4pm - until. The youth will help be greeters, open doors, carry trays, help people find a seat, and just go around and simply thank the veterans for their service. There is no way that we can show our true appreciation to the brave men and women who have fought for our country, but it is our pleasure to help out at this wonderful event. So, if you are available, come out, wear your 4-H or green shirt and come say thanks to the our brave veterans.

Farmer Appreciation

2010-11-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

This year's Farm City Week is going to be celebrated from November 15th - 19th. One of the events that we do every year is our annual 4-H Farm City Week Poster Contest. This contest was open to all of the 4th graders in the county. The theme for the contest and the week is "Farmer Appreciation". We hope that the youth and adults across the community will remember how important farmers and agriculture is to not only Person County but to our way of life. So many products, besides just food, are provided by a farmer. There are many misconceptions about farming especially during hard economic times. Therefore, during our Farm City Week Banquet which will be held on Wednesday, November 17th, we will have Mike Walden, NCSU Economist be our guest speaker. At this event, we are also asking all of attendees to bring some can food or non-perishable items to help continue with our "Hungry to Help" food drive for the Christian Help Center.

New 4-H Club

2010-10-26T06:45:00.000-07:00

We are getting a new 4-H club started in the southern part of Person County. We have an excellent leadership team for the club including a former 4-H'er. The club will be a basic community club, but many of the youth are interested in horses and it will be held at a horse farm. Youth will have the opportunity to participate in the 4-H Horse Program while exploring other individual interests. Some of the horse-related activities available include horse shows, hippology, horse judging, and the horse expressive arts contests. If you are interested in participating in the club or any of the above activities, please give our office a call at 599-1195.

2010 NC State Fair

2010-10-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

Person County youth excelled at the NC State Fair. The fair just wrapped up and there were a lot of different activities going on between October 14th-24th. Some Person County 4-H youth entered their chickens in the Youth Poultry Show while some entered their meat and dairy goats. Overall, the kids did very well bringing home a lot of different ribbons in the animal contests. But, there were also a few youth that entered a variety of crafts in this year's State Fair, from basket weaving, egg decorating, picture drawing, and other crafts and hobbies. One of the funnest contests is the hay bale decorating contest where 4-H clubs across the state get the chance to decorate a hay bale hoping to win first prize of $375. Person County did not participate this year, but there is always next year. And, if you didn't get a chance to see the county exhibits, then be sure to stop off in the Educational Building next year to see which county won first prize. Person County has to decorate an exhibit booth in 2012 and we are going to need some creative ideas.

Live United: Support United Way

2010-10-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

4-H is just one of the many agencies in the community that is supported by our local Person County United Way. And, as one of the agencies, I can honestly say that we would not be able to do what we do without their support. Every dollar raised stays in this community and there are very few organizations and fundraisers that can say the same thing. During these hard economic times, it is easy to say “I don’t have the money” or “I support this other cause” but before you say either one of those things, think about that person that receives help from the Christian Help Center, those in the hospital that receive blankets from the Needleworkers, those kids that learn to read thank to books provided by the Partnership for Children, or those youth gaining life skills through 4-H or the Scouts program. These are just a few of the organizations that need your support. So, live united and give to your local United Way. Call 599-5899 for more information on how to make a donation or go online to http://www.pcunitedway.org/

Person County 4-H Achievement Night

2010-10-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

On October 8th, 4-H'ers in Person County were recognized for their 2010 accomplishments at the annual 4-H Achievement Night. The theme for the program this year was “We Are 4-H: Then, Now and Forever”. A total of sixteen project record books were presented for judging and eight 4-H'ers were named County Champions in the various project areas. These winning project books will be forwarded to district competition. Winners at the district level will receive medals and cash awards. In addition to the project record winners, the out-going County Council officers were recognized and received their 4-H Officer Pins. An installation ceremony was held for the 2010-2011 4-H County Council Officers, which include Michael Chaney, President; Zachary Chaney, Vice President; Mikala Halbrook, Secretary; Jaslyn Harris, Reporter; and Spencer Irby, Sergeant-at-Arms. All of the Person County 4-H'ers are to be commended for an outstanding year. We are very proud of their accomplishments. Not forgetting our wonderful 4-H volunteers, Adelaide Beeker, advisory council member and volunteer for our County & District Activity Day events, was recognized as Volunteer of the Year. Other special volunteers included Chuck Gentry, who volunteers tirelessly for the Person County 4-H Shooting Sports program and teaches hunter education classes as well as Johnny & Dorothy Lunsford, who were recognized for their support and dedication to the 4-H program that enabled a youth to participate in the NC 4-H Performing Arts Troupe.

4-H'ers Participate in Youth Voice 2010

2010-09-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

August 27-28 marked the inaugural North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) Youth Summit – YouthVoice 2010, which was held in Greenville, North Carolina. Held in conjunction with the annual county commissioners meeting and sponsored by the NCACC, over 80 youth and adults from 74 counties attended the event. During YouthVoice 2010, attendees had a chance to interact with County Commissioners, attend the annual Horn of Plenty event sponsored by NC Cooperative Extension, participate in workshop sessions and attend NC SPIN.

In addition, the youth attendees debated and decided on the top ten issues facing youth. These issues stemmed from ones that 4-H’ers and youth in every county identified and compiled. One youth from every county was invited to attend YouthVoice 2010. The Person county delegate who was selected to attend was Spencer Irby, son of Deborah Irby of Rougemont. From over 60 issues, the delegation attending YouthVoice 2010 determined the top 10 issues facing youth in North Carolina. The State 4-H Council officer team shared the top ten issues with the County Commissioners.

These ten issues include:

1. Teen Pregnancy

2. Substance Abuse

3. Drop-outs

4. Violence

5. Recreation

6. Socio-economics

7. Education Issues/ School Funding

8. Lack of youth voice in community

9. Health Issues

10. Lack of things to do

NC 4-H Stories

2010-09-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

Read 4-H'ers stories about being in 4-H and even send in your own stories. Over the next decade, the most vital innovations in communities are likely to be lead by young people – 4-Her’s. At http://www.nc4hstories.org/, you can read stories about how 4-Her’s have gotten involved in their communities and made real impacts on societal, civic, economic, and cultural issues. Read stories about today's youth, caring volunteers and 4-H alumni, who are creating a culture of creation. Also, share your own story. Just click on the Share Your Story link at the website above and tell us about how you’ve participated in your community and /or how your 4-H experience is making a difference in your life or the lives of others. Tell us what you love about 4-H. Tell us (and others) about the cool experiences you're having in 4-H. We’ll post your story so others can read it! Each month, we will draw a name from those submitting stories and give away a 4-H t-shirt to one lucky "story" participant.

Teen Court Banquet

2010-08-19T08:43:00.000-07:00

The Person County Teen Court Program recognized adult and teen volunteers with an awards banquet this past Tuesday evening. All volunteers were awarded a volunteer certificate. We also honored outstanding adult volunteer, Merritt Buchanan, who has been volunteering with Person County Teen Court for the past several years as well as helping recruit youth from the middle schools. Also recognized was outstanding teen volunteer, Jaslyn Harris, who has been volunteering for the past few years as well. Each was awarded with an awards plaque.

Teen Court is an alternative system of restorative justice where first–time offenders are tried by their peers for misdemeanor offenses. Offenders admit guilt or responsibility and are held accountable for their action. Student volunteers take the roles of clerks, bailiffs, attorneys and jurors. Teen Court is a “hands on” opportunity for offenders and volunteers to learn about the legal system. District and Superior Court judges and attorneys volunteer to serve as teen court judges. Person County Teen Court has been up and running for approximately two years and is held in the Person County District Courtroom every second and fourth Tuesday of each month during the school year.

Person 4-H"ers attend NC 4-H Electric Congress

2010-08-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

This year, three Person County 4-H’ers attended the 62nd Annual State 4-H Electric Congress July 12=14 at UNC-Wilmington. Michael Chaney, Mikala Halbrook, and Zachary Chaney are the Person County 4-H’ers who earned the right to attend this annual event. They were among the 250 4-Hers, adult leaders, Extension agents, and power company representatives from across North Carolina selected to attend the three-day event. Progress Energy provided the trip and helped sponsor the 4-H Electric Congress. Jennifer Grable, Person County 4-H Extension Agent, also attended the 4-H Electric Congress along with other agents and leaders from all across North Carolina.

North Carolina 4-H Electric Congress is an educational event designed to recognize excellence in the Electric Program throughout the state. Electric Congress travels from region to region of the state, thus allowing for a variety of programming opportunities for everyone. Four-H members present project reports, participate in workshops, meet their Power Company Representatives, and interact with other electric winners. Group activities included several different electric projects and a workshop on the importance of conserving energy. Also on the agenda was a trip to Fort Fisher and Carolina for a day of fun in the sun and a little cruise around the area.

The 4-H Electric Congress was sponsored by three power companies – Progress Energy, Duke Power and Dominion North Carolina Power – and by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service at NC State University.

Youth Enjoy 4-H Camp

2010-08-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

The week of August 1-6, the Person County 4-H program took 18 kids to the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Camp in Reidsville. We had a fun-filled week, providing the kids with all kinds of activities and experiences. Some of the more traditional activities included canoeing, horesback riding, swimming, archery, rock wall climbing, and a variety of crafts. The youth had a blast and made a lot of new friends from a total of 6 different counties across North Carolina. As you can see from the picture, they loved to goof around and provided me with a great week of camp.

4-H is helping our Coral Reefs but how will the oil spill affect it?

2010-06-17T06:52:00.001-07:00

Marine scientist Meaghan Johnson is fighting a battle few ever see - she's slowly bringing Florida's coral reefs back to life, reports CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella. Thirty feet below the surface Johnson showed Cobiella row after row of coral alive and growing after decades of being battered by disease and warmer water. All of it was planted here by scientists and each fragment started out as only a couple of inches tall.

It all started in Ken Niedemeyer's backyard in the Florida Keys. His daughter needed a 4-H project so they decided to try growing coral. "Good thing I never read about it because everyone said it couldn’t be done," Neidermeyer said. Their technique worked. They took it to researchers and nine years later it has blossomed to this - the largest man-made nursery project with 5,000 coral colonies growing underwater from Fort Lauderdale to the Virgin Islands. Scientist clip and plant new coral just like pruning a tree, and anchor it with underwater glue. When the coral is big enough, it's moved to a reef to replace dead or dying coral. "It's just amazing what happens," Neidermeyer said. "A lot more habitat for fish, for juvenile fish, for large fish, for invertebrates."

But they're now facing a new threat - BP oil. Every day, Johnson anxiously checks the forecast for the Gulf "loop current," the system that seasonally carries water, and anything in the water, eastward through the Florida Keys. "It's definitely devastating to watch what's happening in the gulf and know that it could come here," Johnson said. "I think we are all worried about what's going to happen in this project." There's little they can do to protect the nurseries. If the oil is weathered and weakened enough, Johnson thinks the young coral just might pull through. "Those are our little babies, you know," Johnson said. "We put those guys out there. And it's nice to come back in a month or two and see them actually growing. And feel like, 'Wow, I did that. You know, I'm helping. I'm doing something good.'" With oil coming a little closer every day, she's hopeful at least some of that "good" will survive.

June is Dairy Month

2010-06-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

Person County 4-H is celebrating the fact that June is Dairy Month. A couple of interesting facts about the dairy industry include:

- North Carolina ranked 31st in milk production, 31st in number of milk cows, 20th in milk output per cow and 23rd in number of licensed dairy operations during 2009 in the United States.

- Each dairy cow in North produced an average of 2,339 gallons milk in 2009.

- Total amount of milk produced in the state during 2009 amounted 105.24 million gallons (or 884 million pounds of milk).

- In 2009, North Carolina dairy cows produced enough milk to make 5.44 pounds of cheese or 2.56 pounds of butter.

- To produce this much milk, an average cow consumes 50 gallons of water, 20 pounds of grain and feed concentrates and 55 pounds of corn silage.

McKayla Chambers, Woodland Lakers 4-H Club member, entered a poster into the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association for the Dairy Makes Cents poster contest. To vote for a winner, go online to http://southeastdairy.org/file/jdm/posters/index.html .

4-H Embryology

2010-05-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

Which came first? It is a long age-old question that has been debated for many years. Chickens hatch from eggs, but eggs are laid by chickens, making it difficult to say which originally gave rise to the other. Well, the second grade classes at Woodland, Oak Lane, Bethel Hill, and Stories Creek got to debate it as well. Over the past few weeks, they have been participating in the 4-H Embryology project. Twenty-four eggs were delivered to each school at the beginning of May along with the incubator, egg turner, thermometer and other curriculum resources. The kids were introduced to the process of embryology earlier through their butterfly and tadpole projects. But, it is much more hands-on and fascinating to watch a baby chick hatch out from an egg. We hatched out a total of 35 chicks this year.

4-H Summer Fun Program

2010-05-24T06:45:00.000-07:00

The Person County 4-H program has completed their Summer Fun Program. We have a lot of exciting workshops and field trips planned for this summer. They are all reasonably priced and are on a first come, first serve basis. Workshops can fill up fast, so download the registration form and fill it out. All forms must be completed and money is due before registration will be accepted.

County Activity Day & Visually Impaired Workshop

2010-05-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

On the morning of Saturday, May 12^th, the Person County 4-H Program held our annual County Activity Day, where 4-H’ers of all ages are given the opportunity to put their public speaking skills to work. Each youth, age 5-19, is eligible to make a presentation on a topic of their choosing within a wide range of possible categories. Each youth puts together their presentation using poster boards and a variety of props. The topics presented included Fire Safety, Dental Hygeine, Snakes, Fruit Dip, Mini Pizzas, Bagging a Gobbler, Making a Rag Blanket, etc. All of the youth that gave a presentation will go on to compete at the North Central District Activity Day, held on Wednesday, June 23rd at Person High School. At the very beginning of County Activity Day, 3 youth showed off their talent in the 4-H Entertains Talent Contest. We had three talented youth sing and dance and will also have the opportunity to go on to compete at the district.

At noon, the Person County 4-H County Council, along with the Person County Lions Club sponsored their Annual 4-H Visually Impaired Workshop. It was a wonderful event where 4 visually impaired guests came together with the 4-H’ers for a day of fun, food, and crafts. We started off the day with lunch and introductions of all of our guests, 4-H’ers, and volunteers.

Some of the various crafts that were done included putting together a sun mobile, decorating a tote bag and coin purse, and made a flipflop decoration. Each of the guests also had the opportunity to win a round of Bingo. At the end of the day, each guest took home a lot of goody bag, plenty of fun memories of the day, along with all of the crafts they had made.

Thanks to the Sam Davis, Social Worker for the Visually Impaired, the Person County Lions Club and all of the 4-H’ers and 4-H volunteers who make this wonderful event possible.

First NC 4-H Club

2010-04-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

“Better conditions in agriculture will be brought about as you boys study and apply yourselves to present day problems. The yield of corn in North Carolina is approximately fifteen bushels per acre. If you boys would like to do something about it, the Extension Service will help you organize a corn club and attempt to teach you how to increase the yield of corn.” With these words, spoken by I.O. Schaub to a group of Hertford County boys in May 1909, North Carolina’s first 4-H Club was born. Beginning in the 1890s and early 1900s, 4-H Clubs were sprouting around the country, particularly in the South. The clubs’ goal was to improve young people’s agricultural education. The Hertford County club, arranged in Ahoskie, began as a Corn Club with fifteen members. Corn Clubs originated in Mississippi with the purpose of increasing yields of corn.

On July 1, 1909, an agreement was made by North Carolina’s land grant colleges—State College and North Carolina A&M - as well as the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support the agricultural demonstration work of boys and girls clubs. Schaub was appointed the state’s first club agent. Jane McKimmon, North Carolina’s first home demonstration agent, started a Tomato Club in 1911 for girls. Also in 1911, Charles Parker, one of the Corn Club charter members produced a record-breaking twenty-five bushels of corn on one acre. The clubs became official 4-H clubs in 1918, and their focus expanded to embrace many areas of rural life including education about soil, farm animals, tools, housekeeping, and cookery. In 1919, Hertford County hosted the first joint 4-H boys and girls camp on the banks of the Chowan River at Winton. By 1939, there were 1,156 organized 4-H Clubs in the state and 2,280 in 1955.

Today, more than 187,000 North Carolina youth participate in 4-H. The Hertford County 4-H offers services such as clubs, special interest programs, summer camps, school enrichment and after-school childcare. All programs work toward helping members develop and improve the 4-Hs: head, heart, health, and hand.

4-H Goes to the Moon!!

2010-04-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had the opportunity to teach 7th graders at Northern Middle School about rockets and Newton's Laws of Motion. Each of the youth had the opportunity to build their own rocket and then in the afternoon, we went and shot off the rockets from the football field at the school. Rockets are just one of the many science curriculum that 4-H has available for the schools.

4-H Gala: Launching A Second Century

2010-04-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

The North Carolina 4-H Youth Development Program, one of the premier 4-H programs in the nation, showed its support of over 240,000 young people and 30,000 adult volunteers at our 4-H Lifetime Achievement Awards Gala. This year’s 4-H Gala focused on “Launching A Second Century”. It was a fun-filled event showcasing some of today’s most exciting young people through their project exhibits and show-stopping entertainment. Held on Tuesday, April 6th at the Sheraton RTP Hotel, the celebration began with the Chairman’s Reception and Silent Auction at 6:00pm, followed by dinner, entertainment and recognition of two individuals and one individual inducted into the NC 4-H Hall of Fame. Mistress of Ceremonies for this event was Ms. Nefertiti Byrd, the 2009 Miss Black North Carolina, who is a North Carolina 4-H Alumna. Recognized as 4-H Lifetime Achievement guests this year were The Honorable Daniel Blue, NC State Senator of the 14^th District; Mr. Larry Stogner, ABC 11 Eyewitness News Senior Anchor; and Dr. Chester Black, Former State 4-H Leader and Hall of Fame Laureate.

At this year’s event, Person County 4-H was represented by Michael Chaney and Mikala Halbrook. Michael Chaney, County Council Reporter, and Mikala Halbrook, County Council Secretary, were two of the few 4-H’ers chosen to attend. They were asked to present the TechXcite Program that teaches science and technology through the use of kits and modules, such as solar powered cars, bionic arms and circuits.. This curriculum was developed by the Duke Engineering School and was implemented in several schools within Person County. Michael and Mikala had the honor of meeting and presenting this program to all of the guests and honorees. "Through this opportunity, we not only gained knowledge and understanding of the science and technology field but we also had an awesome time in the process. This was an incredible experience and another example of the many exciting avenues of 4-H", said Michael Chaney, County Council Reporter.

Youth on Target 4-H Club competes in tournament

2010-04-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

The District 5 Hunter Education tournament is hosted by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission as an opportunity to showcase outdoor skils and demonstrate safety, the district tournaments test teams and individuals in rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader and archery markmanship, as well as an orienteering challenge and wildlife knowledge and hunter safety skills. The 2010 district tournament had over 200 teams and 1500 competitors. This year's tournament was held at the Alamance Wildlife Club on Saturday, March 27th and had 25 teams competing for the right to attend the state tournament in April. This was the second year that the Person County 4-H Shooting Program participated and they ended up taking 8 youth representing 5 different schools within Person County. If you are interested in getting involved in the 4-H Shooting Sports Program, contact the 4-H Office at 336-599-1195.

District Teen Retreat

2010-03-16T06:16:00.000-07:00

On March 5th-6th, eight 4-H'ers had the awesome opportunity to attend the 2010 Teen Retreat held at Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center. They participated in many leadership workshops, elected new district officers, and also had fun with some team building games and a dance. The youth choose to complete a community service activity and brought canned food items for the Greensboro Food Bank, not to mention donated $57 of their own money in order to purchase additional canned goods that weekend.

Go Green....We Did!

2010-02-24T19:50:00.000-08:00

The NC 4-H Volunteer Leaders Conference, held annually the first weekend of February at the Sheraton Imperial in the Research Triangle Park, was a great training opportunity for volunteers. Cheryl Chaney and Olivia Bottoms served as Person County's representatives. They had the opportunity to attend several different workshops, meet other volunteers from across North Carolina, gain leadership skills, obtain new program ideas for clubs and just have fun. We will be holding volunteer training workshops over the next few months on several different topics, such as record books, presentations, and other 4-H opportunities.

4-H Achievement Night

2010-02-05T18:55:00.000-08:00

On Friday, February 19th at 6:30pm at the Person County Office Building Auditorium, the Person County 4-H Program will be celebrating its' annual Achievement Night Program. We will be celebrating the 4-H'ers and their accomplishments from the past year. Any youth that submitted a record book will be recognized along with a Volunteer of the Year, Club of the Year, and 4-H'er of the Year. Some of the 4-H clubs will be setting up a table displaying some of the things they have done in the past year, not to mention we will be inducting our new 4-H County Council Officers. And, there will be a light reception following the program.

4-H Club Planning Meeting

2010-01-22T14:25:00.000-08:00

You may be asking yourself what is 4-H and why would I want to get involved. Well, 4-H is one of the most premier youth organizations around for both boys and girls ages 5-19 years old. 4-H offers something for everyone. On Tuesday, February 2nd at 6pm in the County Office Building Auditorium, we will be hosting a 4-H Club Planning Meeting where youth and their families can come and learn about all of the different opportunities that 4-H has available. Please RSVP by calling 336-599-1195 if you wish to attend our upcoming meeting.

Electricity Workshop

2009-12-22T13:54:00.001-08:00

On Monday, December 14th, two 4-H members from Guilford County came and taught an Electricity Workshop for 11 Person County 4-H members interested in learning about the 4-H Electric Program in North Carolina. They were able to make a flashlight, security box or a mini robot circuit board. The youth were shown a few different possible electric projects they could complete on their own as well as were told about attending Electric Congress, which is an annual conference for youth ages 11 and up interested in electricity which is FREE for participants to attend if they complete an electric record book or presentation or help recruit people into the electric program.

Christmas Fun Day

2009-12-22T13:41:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, December 5th, we had around 19 kids participate in our annual 4-H Christmas Fun Day where they had the opportunity to complete around 8 different crafts with the help of our 5 volunteers. Crafts included a popcorn wreath, reindeer hand print, candle, elf clay pot, bird feeder, picture frame, and a gingerbread house. Thanks to everyone who helped! If you are interested in participating next year, give us a call.

Farm City Week

2009-12-07T06:07:00.000-08:00

Most Americans, both farm and city, are blessed with an abundance of wholesome food and healthy living spaces, but not everyone. We can do better. We should. It's in everyone's best interest for our farms and cities to remain strong and viable. Neither farm nor city can exist in isolation. We need each other. Since 1955, the National Farm-City Council, together with state and local councils and committees, has encouraged building understanding of our interdependence between rural and urban residents. With this year's theme of "Farm Animal Care: Myths vs. Facts", Farm-City Week spotlights how American agriculture is dispelling myths and taking care of business. Agriculture, in fact, is an industry that includes a significant number of urban and suburban residents who help process, transport, sell, and distribute the bounty. "More than 24 million American workers, a full 17 percent of the total U.S. workforce, are involved in this process," said National Farm-City Council Chairman, Gene H. Hemphill. "As a result of this farm-city partnership, Americans enjoy the safest, most abundant and most affordable food supply in the world." Person County 4-H once again sponsored a poster contest for the 4th graders in the county. The winners were honored at our annual Farm City Week Banquet on Tuesday, November 17th. Congratulations to them!

4-H Thanks Piedmont Electric

2009-11-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

On Monday, October 19th, Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation was presented with the 2009 President’s Cup, which is an award bestowed to an electric cooperative that has gone above and beyond to help their local 4-H programs. For the past nine years, Piedmont Electric has partnered with the Person and Orange County 4-H programs to host a local golf tournament to raise funds for 4-H. They have taken on the responsibilities of not only sponsoring the event but handling most of the registration, marketing, and donations for the event. Over the past 9 years, they have helped raise over $50,000 and have provided a lot of opportunities to youth of different backgrounds within three different counties. In Person County, this money has been used to provide scholarships for youth to attend camp that would otherwise not be able to attend as well as provide help with college scholarships. In Orange County, the money has gone to provide a leadership camp for 4-H'ers. Last year, the tournament was also extended to Caswell County, which has used the money to reduce the cost of camp. If it were not for the efforts of the Piedmont Electric organization, such a venture would be impossible. Piedmont Electric has also been extremely active in providing funds and opportunities to the youth within other 4-H program areas, such as our livestock shows. They are committed to being a good corporate and community citizen. On behalf of the 4-H program, we would like to extend our gratitude to Piedmont Electric for all of the hard work and dedication they have given to the 4-H program over the years.

NC State Fair

2009-10-26T06:38:00.000-07:00

Well, the fair has wrapped up and it has once again been a fun and exciting year. We didn't have as many youth involved in the fair as in the past but we had just as much fun and success. We started out the week with 2 individuals showing lambs, goats, and heifers in the Special Livestock Class. Then, on Tuesday, five more youth showed goats in the Breeder Doe Meat Goat class. And, then we finished up the week with more youth showing in the Youth Dairy Goat show. The turkey show did not work out this year due to an illness the animals contracted when they were babies, but there were a lot of chickens for everyone to look at. I was excited to take a look at the 4-H State Fair Booths and the Hay Bale Competition because we have to do a booth in a few years and I would love to have a club decorate one of the hay bales. I don't know about everyone else, but I had a WHOLE LOTTA HAPPY!!

National 4-H Week

2009-10-12T13:24:00.000-07:00

Person County Celebrates National 4-H Week!!!

Sunday, October 4th: Hands to Service Day & 4-H at NASCAR

Monday, October 5th: Wear 4-H Green
Tuesday, October 6th: Centennial Cookbook

Wednesday, October 7th: Biofuel Blast

Thursday, October 8th: Club Night at Palace Pointe Friday, October 9th: 4-H Birthday Party
Saturday, October 10th: Spend the Day with your Family

4-H Goes to the Dogs!!

2009-10-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful, sunny day for the folks attending Dog Day Out last Saturday, October 3rd. From the smallest to the largest dog, these four-legged creatures brought their owners out to Huck Sansbury Park for an afternoon of activities. The 4th Annual Dog Day Out event, sponsored by the Person County 4-H Program, included afternoon activities featuring the 4-H Dog Show and an obedience demonstration by dog trainer Heidi Schultz from Havenstar Dog Training and a K9 demonstration from the Sheriffs Department.

The Person County Animal Shelter was on hand Saturday to provide flyers and answer questions about the Strut-A-Mutt program. With this program, volunteers are invited to walk a dog selected from the adoption list at the animal shelter. Exercising and socializing these dogs also helps the walker receive physical activity along with hopefully aiding in the animal adoption program at the shelter as well. Additional informational booths at the event included Animal Protection Society of Person County, Havenstar Dog Training and the Person County 4-H.

While the dogs simply saw it as an event to socialize with their fellow canine, the folks came fully prepared for the 4-H Dog Show. “We were very pleased with the turnout. It was a great crowd and a great day for the event”, said Jennifer Grable, 4-H Extension Agent. There were about 42 dogs that participated in the variety of contest categories on Saturday. The winners are:

4-H Shooting Sports

2009-09-30T09:12:00.001-07:00

Next Saturday, October 10th, the Youth on Target 4-H Club will be representing Person County at the State 4-H Shooting Sports Tournament at Millstone 4-H Camp in Ellerbe, NC. Youth will be participating in the archery, rifle and shotgun competitions where they will be competing as a team as well as participating as individuals. This is the first time that Person County will be represented at this tournament and we are excited to have the opportunity.

Dog Day Out

2009-09-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

Be sure to mark your calendars for Dog Day Out an event on Saturday, October 3rd from 10:00am-12:00pm at Huck Sansbury Park. You are invited to bring your mutt and let him strut! The Person County 4-H Program wants to encourage pet owners and their pets to be healthier. This event will include an area of booths providing information to pet owners on how to take care of, groom and train your pet. There will also be the 4-H Parade of Dogs which is a dog show where you will have the opportunity to enter your canine friend in two of 20 different fun categories ranging from most beautiful to best trick. To register, simply cut out the form below and return it completed to the 4-H office at 304 South Morgan St., Room 123 Roxboro, NC 27573 or send required information to the 4-H Agent, Jennifer Grable, by emailing her at jennifer_grable@ncsu.edu All registrations are due by September 30th. Registration can also be completed online at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/person/pext_youth_4h.html …. so come on out. Join the fun and enter your dog in this free friendly competition designed to help you and your animal eat smart and move more here in Person County. Any and all dogs are welcome, regardless of pedigree.

Agricultural Field Day

2009-09-23T19:45:00.000-07:00

A special event for area 5th graders, hosted by the Person County Cooperative Extension Service and 4-H, was held on Friday, September 18th from 9am-2pm. Representatives from 21 local organizations spoke and presented information about a variety of topics including 4-H, dairy cattle, water quality, bees, quilting, wildlife, lawnmower safety, vegetables, and both traditional and modern agricultural equipment and methods. We had roughly 400 youth attend the all day event. Thanks to all of our many volunteers for our annual Agricultural Field Day.

The Agricultural Field Day is a wonderful addition to the classroom learning. We help reinforce the following NC Standard Course of Studies for 4th and 5th graders, just to name a few, helping make the transition a little easier for teachers at the beginning of this next school year.

4th Grade

1.01 Observe and describe how all living and nonliving things affect the life of a particular animal

1.03 Observe and discuss how behaviors and body structures help animals survive in a particular habitat

1.05 Recognize that humans can understand themselves better by learning about other animals

2.04 Show that different rocks have different properties

2.04 Summarize methods for preventing the spread of germs that cause communicable diseases

2.07 Identify and discuss different rocks and minerals in North Carolina

4.01 Explain why organism require energy to live and grow

5th Grade

1.02 Identify and analyze the functions of the organisms within the population of the ecosystem

1.04 Discuss and determine the role of light, temperature, and soil composition in an ecosystem's capacity to support life

1.07 Determine how materials are recycled in nature

2.02 Investigate and discuss the role of the water cycle and how movement of water over and through the landscape helps shape land forms

2.05 Discuss how the flow of water and the slope of the land affect erosion

4.07 Determine how people use simple machines to solve problems

NC 4-H Congress

2009-07-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

100 Years Ago, 4-H first began in North Carolina in Hertford County. It began with corn and canning clubs but throughout the years, 4-H has slowly adapted and has even more activities to offer than ever before. During the week of July 20-24th, two Person County 4-H'ers joined roughly 800 other 4-H'ers during the annual State 4-H Congress. This year's event was even more special because of several activities celebrating the centennial birthday of 4-H in NC. The week began as usual with the County Flag Ceremon, 4-H Honor Club Inductions, and the Fashion Revue Contest hosted by Mrs. Linda Loveland, 101.5FM Radio Host and 4-H Alumni. On Tuesday, the week continued with the State Presentation Contest which one of our youth participated in while the other one attended the workshop sessions. However, that evening was the Homecoming Celebration where additional alumni members joined all of the 4-H'ers for a big birthday bash and Person County was one of the groups chosen to set up an exhibit booth that evening before the Rockin' Bash and State Officer Campaign Speeches. Wednesday morning, all 800 youth were sent out onto the streets of Raleigh for the Hands to Service projects. Person County was one of the counties sent to the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities where we had the opportunity to help spruce up some of their playground equipment and bench areas. While we were busy working hard, another Person County 4-H'er came in to town for the donor luncheon to receive a college scholarship from the NC 4-H Development Fund. Thankfully, that afternoon was a little free time where we took a nap to catch up on all of the sleep we had missed. However, that evening was one of the best of the week because it was the first performance of the new NC 4-H Performing Arts Troupe with one of our very own 4-H'ers. This year's performance highlighted the history of 4-H over the past 100 years and all of the entire cast and crew did an outstanding job putting the show together especially with only 6 days of rehearsal together as a group. Congratulations to them all!! On Thursday, we began to wind things down with some more workshop sessions, assemblies, and election of our new State 4-H Officers. In order to run for an office, you must have served as a County Officer and District Officer. And, then of course, the closing banquet, candlelighting ceremony and dance. It was a pretty busy week and I think that all 3 of us slept the entire weekend after we got back. I must be getting old!!

Kids in the Kitchen

2009-07-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

For the past 3 years, Bess Hester-Whitt, the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Person County has taught a 3-day cooking class for youth ages 9-11. Throughout the three days, they have the opportunity to make several healthy and inexpensive dinner options for their families. At the beginning of the three-day program, they learn how to select fruits and vegetables by visiting a grocery store, chop and prepare foods in a quick and concise manner, and cook all different parts of the meal from appetizers to entrees to desserts. The youth all take home a notebook full of recipes and helpful tips on how to continue with their cooking experience. This year, for the first time, Bess also offered a Level 2 workshop for older teens and for those youth who have already taken the first Kids in the Kitchen workshop. It was a full one-day workshop where they delved even deeper into the world of cooking and learned even more techniques to help them become chefs.

Birds of Prey

2009-07-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, July 8th, the Person County 4-H Summer Fun program held a workshop on Environmental Education. We did a lot of fun hands-on activities such as visited the new recycling plant, made pine cone bird feeders, decorate our very own tree cookie, played a water guardian interactive computer game, among other things. In the middle of the day, we were treated with a presentation from a guest speaker from the Carolina Raptor Center located in Charlotte, NC. Thanks to the Person County Parks and Recreation Department for helping arrange that event for the 4-H program. We were able to see several different birds of prey from and owl, hawk and falcon.

The youth were extremely worried about hawks and owls near their house being able to pick up their little dogs or cats. I, too, have had that concern before so I was pleasantly surprised that the hawks and owls only weigh about 3 pounds and would not be able to pick up animals such as dogs because my 12 pound dog weighs 4 times more and would be too heavy. The youth were also able to learn why owls turn their head up to 280 degrees in order to be able to look out for predators. You would understand if you were able to see the bone from an owl eye socket showing us that they can not turn their eyes from side to side like we can so they must turn their head. We were even able to pass around a pair of claws (talons) from a hawk that had once been housed at the Raptor Center that is now used for educational purposes. One of the scariest creatures we were shown was the ferocious owl shown in the picture above which was all of 1 feet tall.

Farm Tour

2009-07-23T07:20:00.000-07:00

During this summer fun workshops, we continued with our Farm Tour series. We decided to go to a new place this summer and visit Maple View Farms and their new agricultural center. The building had just been completed this past spring and is welcoming youth groups from neighboring counties. When we got there, we were taken around to their educational rooms where we received mini presentations on plant science, soil science and animal science. Each of the kids got to complete several hands-on activities and take home all of the little fun items that they had the opportunity to make. One of the best things that we got to do was to visit their farm outside. They had all different animals such as cows, chickens, rabbits, goats, mule, horses, and ducks. The kids were then treated to an old-fashioned hay ride around the property showing them the different parts of the dairy, tractor equipment, milking parlor, etc. And, if that wasn't enough, we enjoyed having fun on their new playground equipment. It was a wonderful day topped off with ice cream and milk from the Maple View Farm Dairy.

4-H Camp

2009-07-23T06:28:00.000-07:00

The Person County 4-H Program took 24 kids to Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Camp for a week of fun and excitement. The kids started Sunday night with a cookout and an opening campfire where they got to hear some stories and sing camp songs. It was a fun way to start camp. On Monday, we got up and began the week's activities such as swimming, canoeing, rock climbing, archery, crafts, and horseback riding just to name a few. At night during each day, there was a special fun activity such as water sports with a huge slip and slide, talent show, and a dance to close out the week on Thursday evening. Overall, there were close to 140 kids from 10 different counties from all across North Carolina. The youth got to get to know all of the other 10 kids in their specific group very well throughout the entire week. They became so close like a family that by the end of the week, they were all crying because they did not want to go home. It was once again an extremely fun week with a lot of the kids never having been to camp before. They were able to experience a whole new world and do things they had never done before along with learning a lot of new life skills and making a lot of new friends.

4-H Gives Back

2009-06-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

Every year, the Person County 4-H program tries to give something back to the community as a way of thanking it for all that it does for our program. This summer, they decided to host a 4-H Hands to Service day during its’ summer program. Fifteen kids signed up to be volunteers for the day helping out in small ways around town.

The first activity we did was to visit the new Recycling Center in Person County that officially opens up on Monday, June 29th. The kids got to learn a little bit about what can and cannot be recycled at this new materials recovery facility (MRF). They were even treated to an actual tour on the floor of the recycling center. The facility is made up of a series of conveyor belts and a mix of manual and automatic procedures to separate the materials and remove any unnecessary items. One of the best things about this new facility is that now you do not have to worry about separating out your recyclable materials because the workers at the facility will be in charge of doing that for you. However, the kids were reminded that you still need to clean out your items such as cans, glass jars, and plastic bottles because any materials covered with food or grease will not be allowed. For example, you need to clean out your peanut butter and jelly jars and they will not be allowed to recycle your pizza boxes do to the grease sitting in the bottom but you can cut off the top of the pizza box if it is grease free and recycle it. To continue to show support for this important cause, the 4-H Clover Club (pictured above), got together and decorated the glass display case at the county office building promoting their love of recycling.

That same afternoon, the Person County 4-H County Council, along with the Person County Lions Club sponsored their Annual 4-H Visually Impaired Workshop. It was a wonderful event where 5 visually impaired guests came together with the youth for a day of fun, food, and crafts. We started off the day with lunch and introductions of all of our guests, 4-H’ers, and volunteers. Some of the various crafts that were done included decorating their own fan, flower pot, and wind chime. The guests were also treated to an earful of music as they got to hear and play with a variety of musical instruments. At the end of the day, each guest took home a lot of good memories of the fun day, along with all of the crafts they had made and a few other goodies. Thanks to the Sam Davis, Social Worker for the Visually Impaired, the Person County Lions Club and all of the 4-H’ers who make this wonderful event possible.

One of the other initiatives that the kids worked on was writing thank you cards and letters for the NC Operation Military Kids (OMK) program. This program supports kids and families affected by deployment of a loved one. NC OMK recognizes that these children have significantly different needs than those of active-duty military-based families, as they are members of civilian communities. Therefore, the OMK program puts together Hero Packs filled with mementos for these military kids. The Person County 4-H program took part by writing thank you notes to these soldiers and their families thanking them for their service which is then included in the Hero Packs.

Embryology

2009-06-03T06:48:00.000-07:00

The 2nd graders at North Elementary just completed their 4-H Embryology project hatching out 11 baby chicks. Embryology is the scientific study of the formation, early growth, and development of living organisms. provides opportunities which have meaningful effects on the lives of youth and offers many educational experiences to assist them in developing their personal skills, interests, and abilities.

In Person County, the 4-H Embryology program is available to the 4-H clubs, within the Person County Public Schools system and to local afterschool programs. Children have a natural sense of curiosity about living things in the world around them. Building on this curiosity, students can develop an understanding of biology concepts through direct experience with living things, their life cycles and their habitats. This curriculum was developed with your students in mind. Many believe that students learn best through their experiences and interactions with the world. They learn by listening, observing, experimenting and applying their knowledge to real-world situations. 4-H Embryology teaches students about science and respect for life. Students hatch chicks in the classroom and witness the exciting miracle of life. Students take the responsibilities of caring for the fertilized eggs and then the chicks for a few days after they have hatched. Following each session, the hatched birds are given to local farmers.

The students and teachers at North Elementary have been participating in the 4-H Embryology program for the past 3 years and has had a wonderful success rate of hatching baby chicks. During the same time of year, the students also have tadpoles and caterpillars that they take care of throughout their life cycle until they are bigger and are ready to set free.

Teen Court Summit

2009-05-29T07:15:00.000-07:00

Person County Teen Court was represented at the 11th Annual North Carolina Teen Court Summit which was held in Raleigh, NC April 24-26, 2009. The following teen volunteers participated: Kimberly Daye, Allison Daye, Brittani Stone, Paulina Lopez, Madison Teasley, Jaslyn Harris, Trey McDuffie and Ben Townsend. Teen Court Coordinators Malinda Davis, Vicky Bentley and adult volunteers Alisa and Walter Clayton chaperoned the group. The summit served as an excellent opportunity to meet Teen Court volunteers from all over the state. Person County participated in the Mock Trial competition. Each team consists of two defense and two prosecuting attorneys, a bailiff, and a clerk. It was Person County’s fourth time attending and competing in the Mock Trials. The kids did a great job even though we did not place this year and are looking forward to next year’s competition.
Teen Court is an alternative system of restorative justice. It is a court where first time offenders are tried by their peers for misdemeanor offenses. Offenders admit guilt or responsibility and are held accountable for their action. Student volunteers take the roles of clerks, bailiffs, attorneys and jurors. Teen Court is a “hands on” opportunity for offenders and volunteers to learn about the legal system. Person County Teen Court has been up and running for approximately 6 years and is held in the Person County District Courtroom every second and fourth Tuesday of each month during the school year. Malinda Davis and Vicky Bentley serve as program coordinators, and they can be reached by calling the Cooperative Extension Service at 336-599-1195.

4-H Summer Fun

2009-05-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again!! We have finished our list of 4-H Summer Fun Workshops. It includes of different types of activities such as field trips, guest speakers, educational topics, as well as some plain old fun. You do not have to be a 4-H’er to participate. All classes are offered on a first come, first serve basis. Registrations will not be accepted without appropriate forms and payment. In order to register for the following workshops, complete the registration packet. It includes all of the forms that must be filled out and returned with the registration fees in order for the child to be registered.

4-H Interviews Country Music Stars

2009-05-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

Claire Turner, 4-H Network News reporter, was among the stars on the strip in Las Vegas as she provided coverage for the 2008 Academy of Country Music Awards.

4-H programs are indebted to the country music industry for creating a benefit 4-H CD titled, Clover Country. Clover Country features Grammy-winning song writer, Hillary Lindsey's "The Clown," which Lindsey exclusively recorded for the album.

The CD also includes hit songs from country music mega stars and 4-H alumni Sugarland, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Luke Bryan and Randy Owen (Alabama).

You can purchase the CD by going to the following website: http://clovercountrycd.com/

Visit the following links to watch interviews with Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and Jack Ingram.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j84Wpon_bwU&feature=channel (Taylor)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgtX_69aCi8&NR=1 (Keith)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZMf7Mv8z-Y&feature=channel (Jack)

Tune in May 17th for the 2009 ACM Awards!!

4-H Shooting Sports Instructors

2009-04-27T11:03:00.000-07:00

A huge THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS to our four volunteers - Chuck Gentry, Jennifer Teasley, Bobby Shull, and Bentley Midkiff, who attended the NC 4-H Target Sports Instructor training on April 17-19 at Camp Sertoma!
Chuck, Bentley and Jennifer completed the course and became 4-H certified rifle instructors and Bobby Shull become 4-H certified shotgun instructor while I completed the course to become a 4-H certified pistol instructor. We hope to begin some more shooting activities soon, and are working on some additional opportunities for youth.
Now that we have more certified volunteers, hopefully, we can continue to train even more often.
If you are interested in participating in target shooting sports, becoming an instructor, or supporting the program, please call (336) 599-1195 or email jennifer_grable@ncsu.edu

4-H Livestock Show

2009-04-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

Colby Whitfield took home the trophy for the Grand Champion Market Steer as well as a Go-Getter Award for going above and beyond this past year preparing for his last show. Top Honors also went to David Thomas who had the Grand Champion Pen of Three Hogs, Brandon Clayton who had the Reserve Champion Pen of Three Hogs and Samantha Stewart who had the Grand Champion Dairy Goat in the 64th Annual North Central Junior Livestock Show and Sale held April 15-16 at the Central Carolina Holstein Association Barn in Orange Grove.

The 15 Person County youth that showed a total of 61 animals were among the 140 youth who participated and won awards in this year’s event, which drew 4-H and FFA members from 9 area counties. The North Central Junior Livestock Show and Sale got its start in Durham on April 24, 1946. Extension agents and vocational agriculture teachers work with the young people in various aspects of growing, grooming and showing livestock for sale.

At the beginning of every year, these youth begin working on their animal projects and begin training their animals. Care for the animal includes feeding, washing, building a pen, tagging, and providing any health related care. Some of the youth are busier than ever because they are showing 2-7 animals. It requires a lot of work and a lot of dedication on the part of the youth. But the reward is in their faces at the end of the show. They are proud of their accomplishments and their hard work has paid off. This show is a big part of the agricultural history of this county. It is all about the kids and their animals but it is also is about appreciating the agricultural industry and all that it provides for Person County. It is important for the youth to know where their food comes from and that it is not produced at the grocery store.

Extension Volunteer Banquet

2009-03-31T12:49:00.001-07:00

The 2009 Person County Extension Volunteer Banquet was held on Tuesday, March 31st. This is an annual event where we take the time to recognize and thank one special volunteer that has given time and time again to the Cooperative Extension Service. This year's volunteer chosen was Cathy Sharpe, who has served as the Pilgrims 4-H Club Leader for several years. Throughout the years, she has donated her time as well as the time of her children to "Make the Best Better" which is our 4-H motto after all. For years, she has helped promote the 4-H program at a variety of festivals in the community, always offering face painting with all of her artistic skill. She even recently became certified to teach archery for our Shooting Sports Program. I cannot imagine the time and effort that it takes to be a mother to six children, homeschool them, be a 4-H club leader and give back to her church and community as much as she does. Therefore, it was with great pleasure that we honored her as our Extension Volunteer of the Year.

However, not to be outdone by her mother and 4-H club leader, her daughter Charity Sharpe and fellow 4-H club member Hannah Reynolds were both recognized with a Special Youth Recognition. Both of these girls have given so much of their time and of themselves over the past 6 years that I have had the privilege to work with them. They have volunteered at numerous 4-H events as well as served as a club and county officer, turned in many record books, gave presentations, worked on the Ambassadors program, ran for district officer, and participated in the Try-It team, etc. It is with a sad heart that both of these girls will be graduating this spring and will soon be aging out of 4-H, but it is with a happy heart to have had the opportunity to have known and worked with them. I know that no matter what they decide to do, they will both have bright futures ahead of them.

Congratulations to all three and Thanks again for all that you have done!!

4-H International Exchange Program

2009-03-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

Local families are needed to host Japanese exchange students, ages 12 to 18, for four weeks this summer as part of a two-way exchange program sponsored by 4-H. N.C. 4-H is looking for 22 families to host students from Japan during the summer, July 24 – August 20. There are also opportunities to host Norwegian students, July 1-30, Costa Rican students, June 21-July18 and Finnish students, June 14-July 12. This is a great way for young people to learn about another country and culture.

The program is open to families with children of the same gender and within 2 years age of the exchange students. Families without children in this age range can be considered as hosts for the adult chaperones from Japan. All exchange students must have their own bed. Host families are responsible for all meals and transportation including pick up and return for the child. Health insurance is provided. Families must complete an application, submit 3 non-family references, and sign a disclosure in order to have a criminal background check for all family members 18 years old or older living in the home. In addition, local Extension staff must conduct an in-home interview with the family (all members present).

You don’t have to be a 4-H member to host; you just need a willingness to share your home and your world. There is no need to know Japanese. The students have all studied English and are anxious to use it.

The program gives host families a chance to share their culture, friendship, and family life with an exchange student and at the same time learn about Japanese life. The homestays only last a month during the summer vacation, but the effects last a lifetime.

This 4-H Japanese Exchange program is one of the largest exchange programs involving North American and Japanese youth in the world. Since it was begun in 1972 some 43,000 students have stayed with families in over 39 states, including North Carolina, and more than 7,000 American students have made reciprocal visits to Japan. Information about the 2009 Japanese Exchange Students may be found at the following website or calling the 4-H Office at 336-599-1195.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/randolph/4hprogram/exchange/index.php.

4-H at Oak Lane Science Day

2009-03-30T11:52:00.000-07:00

On March 20th, Oak Lane Elementary had their 1st Science Day inviting organizations from all around to participate in this event. Their guest speaker was Meteorologist Chris Hohmann from ABC11 Eyewitness News. After hearing him speak for a little bit, the youth were sent off to their classrooms where they learned about Amphibians and Reptiles, Skeletal/Muscular Systems, Recycling, Going Green, Solar Energy, Weather, Microbiology, and 4-H taught Electricity. I had the opportunit to work with the two 4th grade classes. We went through our 4-H Curriculum on the Magic of Electricity. The kids got to make a circuit, learn how a light switch works, and even learned how to make a flashlight with just a few supplies.

Shooting Sports Tournament

2009-03-24T08:42:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, March 21st, our Shooting Sports 4-H Club "Youth on Target" went and competed at the District Hunter Education in Alamance County. We sent three teams with youth from our local middle school, high school and Roxboro Community School. The youth did very well and had a lot of fun at their first competition. Congratulations to all of them!!