2009 NC 4-H Volunteer Leaders’ Conference

The upcoming 2009 NC 4-H Volunteer Leaders Conference is quickly approaching!! This year's theme is: 4-H: Pearls of Wisdom, Diamond Dreams. The conference will be held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Conference Center, Raleigh, NC from February 6-8 2009. For more information contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597 or you can access the agenda and registration information online.

4-H Teen Lock-In

A teen 4-H lock-in is scheduled for Friday, January 23, 2009. The lock-in will be held at First Ward Recreation Center in Charlotte, NC. Cost for the lock-in is $15 per person.

Teens should plan to arrive between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. Please plan to eat supper before arriving. We will walk TOGETHER to the Time Warner Arena for the Charlotte Bobcats vs. Phoenix Suns basketball game. The game begins at 7:00 p.m. After the game, snacks will be served at the recreation center followed by a workshop, games, fitness activities and midnight movies. A light breakfast will be served the next morning. If you are interested in registering, please contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597 or amy_lucas@ncsu.edu ASAP.

The deadline for registration is December 30th. No exceptions!!

To download the registration form, click here.

4-H Scholarships Due January 12

Are you a graduating 4-H Senior looking for scholarship opportunities, then you have come to the right place. For 2009, NC 4-H is awarding over $38,000 to graduating seniors to pursue a higher education.

Scholarship applications are due to the local 4-H office no later than 5:00 pm on January 12th. All forms must be reviewed and signed by me. If you have questions, please contact our office at 336-372-5597 or e-mail me at amy_lucas@ncsu.edu.

To be eligible, you must be a current North Carolina 4-H member who is a graduating high school seniors . Applicants must have accumulated at least a minimum of 3 years of 4-H work. All Scholarships will be directly paid to the college or university. Recipients must be full time students. Applicants must be attending College in North Carolina with the exception of the 4-H Horse Program Scholarship.

For more information on each individual scholarship, visit the Scholarship Guide located on the NC 4-H website. You can also download the Application from this site.

Honor Club Application Due January 12th

Membership in the North Carolina 4-H Honor Club is bestowed upon those 4-H’ers who have exhibited outstanding 4-H citizenship and leadership throughout their 4-H career. An Honor Club member continues to provide leadership and service to the total 4-H program throughout life.

In order to be eligible for membership, the applicant must have completed three or more years of 4-H club work and shall be at least 16 years of age and not more than 20 years of age on January 1 of the year of application.

Honor Club Applications are due to your local Extension Office no later than 5:00 pm on January 12. These must be signed by me before they can be forwarded onto the state office in Raleigh.

For more information contact our office at 336-372-5597 or visit the NC 4-H website here.

2008 State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest

Recently several Alleghany County 4-Hers traveled to Salisbury to participate in the 2008 State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest. The Alleghany Senior Division Team finished in third place out of nine teams with a score of 885 points. Team Members included: Bridgette Sturgill, Dustin Lambert and Maggie Evans. Bridgette also came in fourth in the individual contest results and all team members will be invited to try out for a position on the 2009 State 4-H Dairy Judging Team. Great job to everyone.

December Clover News

The December Clover News in now available. Click here to see what is going on.

Elves & the Shoemaker: Only two tickets left!!

There are only two tickets left to the December 13th showing of the Elves and the Shoemaker. The show starts at 10:30 so we will be leaving the Extension Office at 8:30. Unless you have paid the Extension Office, your space will not be held. Call now!! Tickets are $12. You can contact us at 336-372-5597.

Food Show Deadline

Just a reminder if you are planning to participate in the upcoming food show this Saturday, December 6th, you must be registered by 5 pm on Wednesday, Dec. 3rd. Registration forms can be found in the November Clover News or can be downloaded here. If you have any questions, contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597 or you can e-mail me at amy_lucas@ncsu.edu.

NASA INSPIRE

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED!

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31, 2008.

The Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience, or INSPIRE, is a multi-tiered year-round program designed for students in ninth- to 12th -grade who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and careers. NASA INSPIRE is recruiting high school students to join an online community, where their interests can be nurtured and directed. From this online community, students will be offered opportunities to take trips to NASA, have a resident experience at a technology university, or even a summer internship at a NASA center.

Students selected for INSPIRE will:
--Participate in the INSPIRE Online Community.
--Learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, fields of study and careers.
--Compete for unique summer experiences at a NASA facility.
For more information, visit the NASA INSPIRE Web page:
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/programs/INSPIRE_Project.html

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS DURING THE HOLIDAYS!!

There is still time to show your support for our troops stationed overseas this holiday season. Bring your cards and letters to the Extension Office at 90 S. Main St. Sparta and we will get them sent out. The deadline is December 5, 2008 by 12:00 pm. What a great way to support our troops during the Holidays!! Get you letters in today.

For more information contact the Cooperative Extension Service at 336-372-5597 or e-mail Amy at amy_lucas@ncsu.edu.

CLOVERBUCKS FOR FOOD

Want to earn money to spend in the sourcebook, go to 4-H Camp or on other 4-H trips like Congress, Teen Retreat or Summer Fun? Here’s an easy way to help lower the cost and help people in our community at the same time. During the months of November and December, Alleghany 4-H will be working to collect food to benefit Solid Rock Food Closet located in Sparta. We are especially looking for items for the Backpack Program which helps children during weekends and school vacations. Backpacks are filled with food that the kids take home. Food is child-friendly, non-perishable, easily consumed and vitamin fortified. Examples of food that can be used in the backpacks include: juice boxes, pudding packs, granola bars, canned goods, dry milk and individual fruit packs.

For each item a 4-Her drops off, they will receive Cloverbucks that they can then be used towards upcoming 4-H programs and activities including camps, day trips and summer fun. Food drop off will be at the County Office Building 3rd floor – 90 S. Main Street beginning November 3 through December 15. For more information contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597.

2008 Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards

We’re looking for CONSERVATION HEROES!

2008 Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards

Each year the North Carolina Wildlife Federation presents the prestigious Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards, an effort to honor individuals, governmental bodies, organizations, and others who have exhibited an unwavering commitment to conservation in North Carolina. These are the highest natural resource honors given in the state. By recognizing, publicizing, and honoring these conservation leaders— young and old, professional and volunteer—the North Carolina Wildlife Federation hopes to inspire all North Carolinians to take a more active role in protecting the natural resources of our state.
The nomination period for the 2008 Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards is open through December 15, 2008. These awards are presented each year at a gala banquet. Award recipients receive a handsome statuette and certificate.

There is a youth conservationist category open to individuals under 18 years old!

For more details or to download an entry form, go to http://www.ncwf.org/.

November Clover News

The November Clover News is now available online. Click here to view.

Team America Rocketry Challenge

Applications are now available for the 2009 Team America Rocketry Challenge! Participation is limited to the first 750 teams who register by Monday, December 1. This year's challenge is to design, build and fly a one-stage model rocket that reaches an altitude of 750 feet, stays aloft for 45 seconds, and returns 1 raw egg unbroken. The egg must be placed in the rocket perpendicular to the direction of flight! The contest is open to youth in grades 7- 12 and homeschool students. Download the Handbook and Rules documents and get started on your rocket now! For more information visit the TARC website .

Barter Theater – The Elves & the Shoemaker

Come with us as we enjoy a day at Barter Theater in Abingdon, VA to see the Elves & the Shoemaker. The Shoemaker is struggling to keep his shop open during the Christmas holidays. He is old and tired, and his loving daughter worries that he will not be able to do the work he has promised in time. She makes a Christmas wish for him, the purest wish ever wished, and, sure enough, some small friends come to lend helping hands. The Shoemaker, his daughter, and even the elves come to find Christmas in a whole new way as they give and receive the gift of friendship during the holiday.

Space is very limited so call the Extension Office now to reserve your spot.

When: Saturday, December 13, 2008
Reservations: Call 336-372-5597
Cost: $12.00

We will be leaving the parking lot at 8:30 am.

4-H CENTENNIAL WEBSITE

We are excited to announce that the "public" NC 4-H Centennial website is now online. Please take a minute to visit and bookmark http://www.blogger.com/www.nc4h100.org site. This site will eventually be the central location for all NC 4-H Centennial materials.
Please note that the new website is still under construction (a scrolling graphic header will be added to each page and the story link will be updated to accept stories from site visitors). In addition, centennial materials are now being moved from our 4-H sites to the new centennial site. So, please keep checking the site - we plan to have all of the materials posted to the centennial site by the end of next week.

Edited to add: Above site is no longer available. For more information on the centennial visit: http://www.nc4h.org/4hcentennial/

Seat Clinic

Equitation for the adult rider and
The “biomechanics of the seat”
Instructor: Lisa Wagner
Saturday, December 13, 2008 9:00am-3:00pm

Lisa is a USDF certified instructor who has competed through fourth level dressage. She owns The Phoenix Farm in Salisbury, N.C. where she instructs riders of all disciplines and skill levels as well as volunteering her time as a 4-H leader.

Rockwater Farm
250 Troxler Rd. Rockwell N.C.
Registration fee $55 for horse and rider (lunch included)

Auditors $15

The biomechanics of the seat is about you, your mind, your awareness of your body and its subsequent impact on the horse. This clinic is designed to help riders understand how to develop better control and strength in their own body which greatly improves riding. Correct biomechanics directly influences all types of horses regardless of breed or discipline. The clinic includes mounted as well as dismounted (theory) sessions. Auditors-$15- Donated to local 4-H equestrian club.

This clinic is designed to help riders understand how to develop better control and strength in their own body which greatly improves riding. Correct biomechanics directly influences all types of horses regardless of breed or discipline.

Reservations required by December 2nd
Ann R. Furr, DVM (704)798-3460
drfurr@alltell.net

Goodness Grows Bike Winners

Congratulations to Caleb Evans (L) and Dustin Creed (R) who each won a brand new bicycle and helmet through the Goodness Grows in North Carolina Secret Word Scavenger Hunt. Our two winners were chosen at random by a mystery judge from almost 30 correct entries that were submitted during this year’s Alleghany County Fair. Thanks to everyone who participated and be sure to find the Goodness Grows table at next years fair for your chance to win.

This symbol identifies Goodness Grows In North Carolina products. Whether it is produce, meat, seafood, plants or packaged items, if the GGINC logo is on it, it represents North Carolina grown agriculture.

State Council Conference & Ambassador Retreat Reminder!!!

Just a reminder that the deadline for registration for State Council Coference and Ambassador Retreat is Wednesday - October 29 at 5 pm. Cost for either event is $75.00. Payment is due to the Extension Office by November 14th. Registration forms can be picked up at Extension Office or will be sent to you by calling 336-372-5597.

4-H Helping Hands November Meeting

The 4-H Helping Hands Club meeting has been moved to November 12th at 9:30 am at the Crouse House. The program will be on Scrapbooking and the sport will be Flag Football (weather permitting). For more information about the Helping Hands 4-H Club, contact Felcia Joyce at 276-579-3075 or the Extension Office at 336-372-5597.

What is Food Show?

Do you like to cook??? Come learn how to share your talents with local and district 4-Hers through Food Show. You will learn how to make healthy choices for ingredients as well as how to create an eye appealing presentation of your dish for judges. We will also be going through some sample questions that you may be asked along with looking at sample judging sheets.

Where: 2nd Floor Conference Room, 90 S. Main Street, Sparta
When: Friday, October 24, 2008
Time: 6 pm to 7 pm
Ages: 5-19

**Please RSVP by contacting the Coopertaive Extension Office at 336-372-5597.

4th Grade Farm Safety Day Success!

Farms are a great place for children to work and play but they can also be places where they can be seriously injured or killed. Homes in general hold many dangers to youth including but not limited to fire risks, ATV safety and what to do when a stranger contacts you online or on the phone. One way Alleghany Cooperative Extension along with Ashe Cooperative Extension is addressing the need to help youth learn about staying safe and healthy is by offering a 4th grade Rural and Community Safety Day. This year 124 Alleghany County fourth graders attended the event where they learned about farm animal, water, gun, environmental, household chemical, fire and ATV safety as well as the dangers of strangers and farm equipment. According to pre/post test results, youth showed an 11% improvement. Adult evaluations showed that teachers agreed this was a learning experience and appropriate for their age level.

Sidesaddle Demo and Social

When: November 15, 2008. Noon – 4 pm. Gate opens at 11:30 am.
Where: Rohan Arabians, 853 Brookhollow Rd., Efland,
NC. 27243 (2 miles off I-40/I85 at Exit 160. Follow Signs to the Event)

http://www.rohanarabians.com/
Cost: $10/person ($8/person/group of 5.) Please preregister groups. Children 12 and under and all ASA and SEA members:HALF PRICE.
Presentations:
• Introduction to the Sidesaddle: What Are Those Horns For Anyway?
• Does This Make Me Look Fat? Fitting the Sidesaddle to Rider and Horse
• The Elegant Sport: Riding Aside in Any Discipline

• How Safe Is It? : A Training Demonstration

English Tea and Social: Roundtable Q&A , Door Prizes, Tea, Finger
Foods and Social. (Cost included in entry fee)

Youth Video Contest

Voices and Visions from the Next Generation of Conservationists

Are you interested in the future of the environment and biodiversity?
Do you have new ideas about how to address the challenges to biodiversity ranging from climate change to habitat and species loss to globalization?

Share your ideas and solutions with us through the video contest, Voices and Visions from the Next Generation of Conservationists, hosted by the National Council for Science and the Environment.This video contest provides a forum for the next generation to share their actions, perspectives, and passion for biodiversity as part of the 9th National Conference on Science, Policy, and the Environment: Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing World December 8-10, 2008. The conference aims to develop a new conservation strategy for the 21st century. Winners will have the opportunity to share their ideas and perspectives with these individuals and other youth participants.

We invite individuals and small groups (up to 5 people) between the ages of 12 and 19 to submit a short video (up to 5 minutes) focusing on the unique perspective, solutions, and passion the youth of today have in regards to the current and future challenges posed to biodiversity. The video can involve anything from neighborhood or field projects to skits to oral presentations to picture productions displaying how you and other youth are, will, or want to:

§ Encourage individual and collective action to address biodiversity challenges,
§ Use or develop new tools and strategies to protect biodiversity,
§ Be engaged in addressing the loss of biodiversity,
§ Bring knowledge and raise public awareness about the biodiversity challenge.

Rules: The video submission must be no longer than five minutes from start to finish, have significant relevance to the theme, and must comply with all terms and conditions. Participants must mail a CD or DVD to:

National Council for Science and the Environment,

1101 17th St. NW, Suite 250,

Washington D.C. 20036

They should include a high quality version (if possible) as well as a web streamable version (no greater than 1GB). Submissions must be postmarked by October 31, 2008. Technical specifics and other details can be found online in the terms and conditions.

The winning videos will be showcased at the Voices and Visions from the Next Generation of Conservationists reception and award ceremony at the conference on December 9, 2008, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Winning videos will be projected on the main screens as well as individual laptop computers throughout the reception room. Winners will receive one complimentary registration to the conference, a pass to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and select winners will have their video displayed during the 2009 DC Environmental Film Festival. Honorable mentions will have their videos posted on the NCSE website as recognition of their achievement. For more information please visit the website at:

www.ncseonline.org/conference/biodiversity

Kid's Science Challenge

Can you make a skateboard that can climb stairs? Can you make ice cream that's cold but tastes hot? In the Kids' Science Challenge, we'll see ideas like these turned into realities. Each student who submits a winning entry gets to visit and collaborate with a scientist.

The Kids' Science Challenge is a nationwide competition designed to engage 3rd to 6th-graders in practicing science––and discovering how much fun it can be. Students will be able to submit experiments and problems to real scientists in very exciting, kid-friendly fields and then follow along as scientists and engineers attempt to do the experiments and solve these problems.

One Grand Prize will be awarded for each Scientific Field: Each winner shall receive the grand prize associated with his/her submission, in one of the following categories:
(i) Water Ecology: Research voyage on San Francisco’s Marine Science Institute vessel
(ii) SETI: Tour of the SETI Institute
(iii) Flavor: Tour of the Cadbury flavor research laboratory
(iv) Skateboarding: Skateboard factory tour and a demo by professional skateboarders for the winner’s school.

At kidsciencechallenge.com http://kidsciencechallenge.com, you'll find online games, fun videocasts and great prizes. Plus, any kid can track the progress of the competition. There are also curriculum-based activities for classrooms and after-school groups to follow along. With online activities and free hands-on science kits to the first thousand entries, kids can:
• test their local water supply
• decode a "message" from outer space
• find out if they or any of their friends are "super-tasters"
• try their hand (literally) at doing a fingerboard "Ollie," and learn about gravity and friction while they're at it!

For official rules and entry form click here.

National 4-H Week - October 5-11

4-H youth from across the nation will be “Keeping It Green” as they celebrate 2008 National 4-H Week October 5-11 by raising awareness about environmental issues and initiating environmental projects that make a positive difference in their communities. During the week, you can help spread the word by wearing a 4-H shirt, inviting a friend to a 4-H meeting or just by spreading the word about 4-H. 4-H is a community of 6 million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. National 4-H Headquarters, which operates out of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is the federal partner of 4-H programs implemented by the Cooperative Extension System of the nation’s 106 land-grant colleges and universities and in local communities through 3,150 county Cooperative Extension offices. Learn more about the 4-H by visiting the local 4-H office at 90 S. Main St., Sparta, NC or by calling Amy Lucas at 336-372-5597.

Hugh Shelton Leadership Scholarship

This is one of the USA's most prestigious scholarships for student leaders. It is awarded to an entering college freshman, valued at $10,000 per year, renewable upon satisfactory academic progress and leadership involvement. High school seniors should complete the application and mail it so that it arrives in the General H. Hugh Shelton Leadership Center office no later than 5:00 p.m. November 1 of each year. By December 1 the Gen. Hugh Shelton Scholarship Selection Committee will notify semi-finalists of the need to apply to the university admissions office and to complete additional information. (Students may wish to apply earlier to N. C. State). The Gen. Hugh Shelton National Student Leadership Scholarship Selection Committee will notify finalists by February 1, to participate in a personal interview in mid-February.

The General Hugh Shelton Leadership Endowment provides:
$10,000 annual NC State tuition and fees, housing, etc.
Annual enrichment funds up to $2,000 for student leadership enrichment experiences.
Leadership Retreats
Leadership and Ethics Seminars
LeaderShape® Conference
Wilderness Leadership Experience
Study Abroad
Community/Global Service - Learning
Shelton National Leadership Forum
Leadership Internship with Corporation/Agency

For more information and complete rules and guidelines click here.

The Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards

This is a challenge for high school students (or the equivalent home school level) to design products using science and technology. The competition includes areas of competition in personal spaceflight, lunar exploration and renewable energy. To compete, teams develop their concept, submit a business plan, and become public Ambassadors for their ideas. Students get to compete for over $120,000 of prize money as well as the opportunities to connect with leading scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. The awards create a long term community for students and teachers that provides the resources and opportunities needed to develop and incubate commercial products. The competition is just the beginning of this journey. For more information on the Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards go to: http://www.conradaward.com/. For official rules click here.

4-H Paper Clover Promotion

National 4-H Council is thrilled to announce that 4-H has once again partnered with Southern States Cooperative retail stores to run the “4-H Paper Clover” campaign, an exciting fundraising promotion where consumers purchase a paper clover at the register for $1. From Sunday, October 5 to Sunday, October 19, Southern States Cooperative will be selling paper clovers to their customers for $1 at the register at select Southern States locations. Fifty cents from each $1 donation will go to the local 4-H program and the remainder will go to National 4-H Council.Southern States stores in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia will be participating. For a list of all the participating stores click here.

Help choose ice cream flavor for 4-H Centennial

It's official -- the Top 10 flavors in our North Carolina 4-H Centennial Ice Cream Cone Test have been selected! In partnership with the NC State Creamery, North Carolina 4-H wants your help in selecting the flavor that will be featured as 4-H celebrates its centennial in 2009.

The top three flavors will be made in small batches at the creamery for a final taste test, and the Grand Champion will be announced this spring, just in time for a North Carolina heat wave and all the 4-H Centennial birthday parties across the state.

To help us choose, please follow the link to the survey below and select the flavor that sounds like winner to you.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=2J7JtyKpmtaKAIuPULwqXg_3d_3d

The survey will be open until Oct. 31, so pass this link along to your faculty, staff, youth, volunteer leaders, friends and family. The more votes we have, the closer we will be to finding a flavor everyone is sure to enjoy.

With more than 60 entries, this was a tough job for the selection committee. Sarah Kotzian and Sarah Ray would like to thank Gary Cartwright, Carl Hollifield and Randy Kotzian for all their hard work!

Congratulations to the counties who are in the Top 10. Though the ice cream flavors are not listed by county name, the Top 10 flavors suggestions were submitted by the following counties, in alphabetical order: Buncombe, Chowan, Gates, Henderson, Johnston, Lenoir, Madison, Orange, Tyrrell and Union. At the end of the voting, we'll reveal what counties submitted the winning flavors.

The Top 10 flavors are:* Centennial Pie A la Mode (Apple Cinnamon Ice Cream with Graham Cracker Bits and a Caramel Swirl)* 100 S'more Years (Chocolate Ice Cream with Graham Cracker Pieces and Marshmallow Cream Swirl)* Centenimint (Vanilla Ice Cream with Dark Chocolate Pieces and Mint Swirl)* Clover Crunch (Chocolate Ice Cream with Caramel Crunch Pieces and a Butterscotch Swirl)* Centennial Clover de Mint (Vanilla Ice Cream with Oreo Cookie Crumbles and a Cream de Mint Swirl)* 4-H Cinnamontennial (Vanilla Ice Cream with Apples and a Cinnamon Swirl)* Centennial 4-H Mint Blast (Mint Chocolate Ice Cream with Oreo Chunks and Marshmallow Cream Swirl)* NC 4-H Centennial Sweet Tea (Tea Flavored Ice Cream with Mint Tea Cookies and Lemon Swirl)* 4-H Campfire Delight (Graham Cracker Flavored Ice Cream with Hershey Bar Chunks and Marshmallow Cream Swirl)* Mint 2 Be Green (Mint Ice Cream with Brownie Chunks and Fudge Swirl)

West Central District Leader’s Fall Day

The WCD Leaders Fall Day will be held Saturday, November 8 at the Iredell County Extension Center. Workshops include: Lead by Example, Explore the World of Letterboxing, 4-H Poultry Science Opportunities, Water Watch, Building your Blueprint: The Nuts and Bolts of DNA, 4-H Service Learning Opportunities and 4-H Centennial Opportunities. This event is open to all Alleghany County 4-H Volunteers and Parents! It’s a great opportunity for new ideas and to meet other volunteers and parents from the new West Central District.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the day concludes at 2:30 p.m. To register, call Amy Lucas at 336-372-5597 by Friday, October 31! Space is limited in the van so if you would like to carpool please let me know. If riding, we will meet at the Extension Office at 7:30 a.m.

NC 4-H Ambassador Retreat

The NC 4-H Ambassador Program strengthens and expands upon a 4-H’ers current leadership abilities so that they may serve as positive role models for younger youth. To participate in the program youth must be at least 13 years old and have been a member of 4-H for at least two years. 4-H’ers may earn Bronze, Silver, Gold and Emerald Ambassador levels by completing workshops and a portfolio for each level. A retreat will be held November 15-16 at the Raleigh Convention Center and the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel. The cost for the weekend is $75, which includes 3 meals, lodging, workshop materials and transportation. If you are interested, call the Extension Office (336-372-5597). Registration deadline is Wednesday, October 29.

State Council Conference

State Council Conference (SCC) will be held November 15-16 at the Raleigh Convention Center and the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel. SCC is open to youth ages 13-18. Workshops will focus around the new state theme which is “We Are 4-H” and leadership. In addition to workshops, there will be a banquet and a dance on Saturday evening. This year, you will also be participating in a service project to help those 4-H families that were affected in Texas as a result of Hurricane Ike. The cost for the weekend is $75, which includes 3 meals, lodging, workshop materials and transportation. If you are interested, call the Extension Office. (336-372-5597). Registration deadline is Wednesday, October 29.

Youth Beekeepers Wanted!!

If you are between the ages of 5-18 and are interested in Beekeeping we want you! Anyone interested please meet at the Alleghany County Office Building Conference Room (2nd floor), 90 S. Main Street, Sparta, NC at 7:00 on Monday, September 15, 2008. If you would like more information, please contact Harold Edwards at 336-372-4158 or the Extension Office at 336-372-5597.

State Photography Contest Winner

An Alleghany County 4-Her, Hannah Tucker, recently took third place in the NC 4-H Photography Contest, Nature's Beauty category with her picture titled "Morning Dew".

This year's winning photographs had basic qualities : good technique with lighting and exposure, focus and composition, ability to clearly illustrate the category and use of unusual subjects or presentation in a new or unexpected way.

Judging for the NC 4-H Congress Photo Contest is performed by members of the Department of Communication Services in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State University. This department is staffed by professionals in the field of communications who are accustomed to creating and/or using photographic images as part of their own work. Below is a listing of the criteria the judges use when choosing the winners of this contest.

Congratulations Hannah!!

To see other winners you can visit the NC 4-H Congress Photo website

Wilkes Area 4-H Livestock Show

The Wilkes Area 4-H Livestock Show is open to 4-H and FFA youth (ages 9-18 for competition, ages 5-8 for participation) All ages are of January 1, 2008.

The livestock show will be held Tuesday, October 14, 2008, at the Worth Tomlinson Rotary Fairgrounds in North Wilkesboro.

Weigh in is 3-4 pm with show starting at 5.

No clipping or washing allowed at show.

Entry forms are due no later than September 25. Late entries will not be accepted.

For complete rules and entry form please contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597.

State Fair Insect Collections Needed!!

We need your insect collections for the state fair. Prize money is available and we hope you will consider showing off all your hard work.

Age divisions are: cloverbud 5-8, juniors 9-13, seniors 14-18. All ages are 4-H age (age as of January 1). The entrant should be currently enrolled in the North Carolina 4-H Program.

The display boxes MUST by 18 3/4 inches wide by 24 3/4 inches long by 3 inches deep (outside measurements) and have a glass or plexiglass cover. Collections are best displayed when mounted along the horizontal axis.

Deadline to enter is September 24th. You can find more information on the NC State Fair website.

Bits, Bitting and Groundwork Clinic

**POSTPONED DUE TO HURRICANE HANNAH**
Saturday, September 6, 2008
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Ellis Event Center at Ellis Park
2056 E. Ridge Road
Salisbury, NC 28144
*** FREE ADMISSION ***

• The bitting process
• Types of bits and their uses
• Proper fitting and placement of bits
• What determines the severity of bits?
• Basic groundwork and its importance
• Groundwork exercises that must be done before riding

Presentation/Demonstration by Tim Potter, Ph.D, PAS

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL OR EMAIL:
Pam Hipp: 704-637-6016 / pamhipp@bellsouth.net
Please DO NOT bring your horses.
This is a presentation and demonstration and the presenter will bring horses for this clinic.

**POSTPONED DUE TO HURRICANE HANNAH**

4-H Forestry Invitational

The 2008 NC 4-H Forestry Invitational will be held on September 27, 2008, at Schenck Memorial Forest in Raleigh from 9am - 2pm. Registration deadline is September 17, 2008.

The state contest will consist of: Tree Identification, Tree Measurement, Forest Insect Identification, Forest Disease Identification, Forest Evaluation

All events, except the Forest Evaluation, are individual events.

Teams consist of 3-4 members.

If you would like more information contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597 or check out the 4-H Inventational website.

ASHE COUNTY OPEN HORSE SHOW

September 13, 2008

Rain Date : September 20th

Registration -10:00 a.m.

Show Starts - 11:00 a.m.

All ages, youth and adults

Entry Fees: Lead Line & Costume Class - $2.00
All Jackpot Classes $10.00 with a 40/20/10 Split
All Youth Classes $5.00 or all for $25.00
Location: Ag Expo Property (Hwy 163 between intersection of Hwy 221 and
Mt. Jefferson Road, West Jefferson)

All Proceeds go to Ashe Friends of Agriculture Ag Expo Center

For More Information
Prior to Race Call North Carolina Cooperative Extension,

Ashe County Center – (336) 846-5850

Day of Race Call Mike Johnson (336) 877-0557;

Talmage Lawrence (336) 877-6331; or

Charles Young (336) 877-6811

MILLSTONE '08

This year seven youth traveled from Alleghany County to Millstone 4-H Camp in Ellerbe, NC the week of July 29th thru July 4th. This was our first year going to Millstone, and I must say it was a week of adventures. It was a fun-filled week of canoeing, archery, horseback riding, arts and crafts, dancing, ropes course and hanging out with new friends. Watch our video to see some of the cool things we did.

Camp participants included: Natasha Hamm, Jordan Billings, Chip Moyer, Katie Lundy, Alesha Yates,Rachel Caudill, and Daniel Caudill.

North Carolina 4-H Centennial Ice Cream Cone-test

Calling all flavorologists! It’s time to get those brains concocting sweet treats for us to enjoy as we celebrate the Centennial of 4-H in North Carolina! In partnership with the NC State Creamery, 4-H is designing and producing our very own North Carolina 4-H Centennial Flavor, and we need your help! The winning county will receive an ice cream party with all the trimmings for 100. Don't forget! Entries are due to the Extension Office by August 22!!

Flavor Guidelines
Acceptable Flavor Combinations
• Only one background flavor (Examples: vanilla, chocolate, cheesecake, eggnog, lemon, strawberry, etc.)
• Only one inclusion (Examples: chocolate chips, cookie pieces, M&M's, cherries, etc.)
• Only one swirl ingredient (Examples:fudge, butterscotch, raspberry, etc.)
• Ingredients must be available as safe, legal food ingredients and readily available or easily prepared. Remember that many ingredients are available to the Dairy Processing Lab that are not readily available to the public.
• The ice cream does not have to incorporate all three above components. It may be a very creative background flavor alone, a swirl with no inclusions or any other combination.
• Example of an ice cream flavor that meets the above requirements : Sweet potato ice cream with graham cracker pieces and cinnamon sugar swirl
• No nuts or peanut butter may be a part of the combination.

Naming of the Creation
• The Ice Cream name should involve the North Carolina 4-H Centennial...be creative!
• The name must not be offensive or in poor taste

Judging Criteria
• Creativity
• Flavor acceptability
• Ability to Manufacture
• Name innovation
• Name / Flavor Harmony

You must submit an official ballot to be eligible. Please contact the extension office at 336-372-5597 or by e-email amy_pardue@ncsu.edu with any questions.

Alleghany 4-H’er Honored at Annual 4-H Congress

An Alleghany County 4-H’er received one of the highest honors a North Carolina 4-H’er can achieve during the annual 4-H Congress.

Congress is the high point of the 4-H year, bringing young people from across the state to the North Carolina State University campus and Raleigh for a week of activity. This year’s Congress was July 21-25.

Victoria E. Hall, 16, daughter of Bonnie and Al Hall of Sparta, was inducted into the 4-H Honor Club. New Honor Club members were tapped during a candlelight ceremony Monday night, July 21. Membership in the Honor Club is based on service to the 4-H program, leadership, moral standards, 4-H activities and project achievement. Less than one-half of 1 percent of North Carolina 4-H’ers are selected for membership each year. Members must be at least 16 years old and have a minimum of three years 4-H experience.

Victoria, who is homeschooled, is a member of the Nifty Needles 4-H club. She has been active in the 4-H program for 9 years.

Approximately 800 4-H’ers, volunteer leaders and North Carolina Cooperative Extension agents attended 4-H Congress.

4‑H delegation attends annual Electric Congress

A delegation from Alleghany County attended the annual 4-H Electric Congress July 14-16 at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Two hundred 4‑H’ers, adult leaders and Cooperative Extension agents from 60 counties attended the three‑day event. Since 1947, Progress Energy, Duke Energy and Dominion North Carolina Power have sponsored the annual congress to emphasize energy conservation and safe electricity use. The 4-H electric energy program is one of the most popular activities among Tar Heel 4-H’ers. The 4-H program is conducted by North Carolina Cooperative Extension at North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T State universities. More than 204,000 young people between the ages of 5 and 19 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year with the help of 19,000 adult and youth volunteers. Pictured from left are Amy Lucas – 4-H Agent, James Hall, 14, Victoria Hall, 16, both children of Bonnie and Al Hall of Sparta, Bonnie Hall and Wayne Huddleston, customer relations manager, Duke Energy.