Volunteers Needed!!

Volunteers are needed (youth ages 13+ and adults) who will be willing to help prepare and serve food as well as assist with set-up at the upcoming Informal Gathering hosted by Winterhawk, Kicking Deer, the Sesquicentennial Committee and the Town of Sparta. This event will be on August 15, 2009 at Crouse Park in Sparta. Come out for a exciting day of drumming, story telling, singing, dancing and much more. If you are interested in volunteering, please call 372-4107. More information can be found at http://www.ac150.com/.

Be part of the National Soil Project at Northeastern University!

You can help the National Soil Research Project at Northeastern University, Boston, where students are measuring the humic (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) contents of the nation’s agricultural top soils. HA and FA are vital organic components of healthy soils. They retain water, act as pH buffers, improve soil texture/porosity and regulate many other soil functions.

We’re concerned that our HAs and FAs are being destroyed over time, leading to poorer and poorer soils. Weak soils potentially can be re-built with HAs extracted from biomass and compost. To get a clear picture, HAs and FAs have to be analyzed apart from short-lived soil organic matter such as leaves and corn stover. The Northeastern University group has many years of experience in isolating and measuring HAs and FAs. Results to date on 150 samples indicate wide variation in soil HA and FA contents.

We need to double or even triple the number of samples to be analyzed. We can do that with your help! Your job will be to collect and mail a one-pound, dry soil sample to Northeastern University for analysis. Your mailing cost will be paid back if you ask.

If you would like to participate, contact g.davies@neu.edu for complete information. The Northeastern University team will publish the results and share them with you and your family on request. Your part in this great project will be something to be truly proud of!

Geoffrey Davies, Ph. D., D.Sc., FRSC
Matthews Distinguished University Professor Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology
Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115-5000
Web:<http://www.hagroup.neu.edu/>

Grayson Youth Livestock Show

When: August 15, 2009

Where: Elk Creek, VA

Deadline for Entry has been extended. For more information contact Kevin Spurlin at the Grayson Extension Department at 276-773-2729.

Entry form can be found here

Alleghany 4-H’er Inducted into Honor Club

An Alleghany County 4-H’er received one of the highest honors a 4-H’er can achieve during the annual state 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 20-24 and included a celebration of 100 years of 4-H in North Carolina.

Cate Hall, 19, daughter of Bonnie C. and Al Hall of Sparta, was inducted into the 4-H Honor Club. Cate, a student at Wilkes Community College, has been active in the 4-H program for nine years.

New Honor Club members were tapped during a candlelight ceremony Monday night, July 20. 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.

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

The 4-H program is the youth education program of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, based at North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T State universities. More than 239,000 young people between the ages of 5 and 19 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year with the help of 23,000 adult and youth volunteers.

For more information about 4-H in Alleghany and how you can get involved, please contact Amy Lucas at (336) 372-5597 or amy_lucas@ncsu.edu.

4 H delegate attends annual Electric Congress

A delegate from Alleghany 4-H attended the annual 4-H Electric Congress, July 13-15 at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Two hundred twenty 4-H'ers, adult leaders and Cooperative Extension Agents from 59 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 239,000 young people between the ages of 5 and 19 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year with the help of 23,000 adult and youth volunteers. Pictured from left are Amy Lucas, 4-H Agent - Alleghany County, James Hall, 15, son of Al and Bonnie Hall of Sparta and Wayne Huddleston, business relations manager, agricultural market, Duke Energy.

Open Youth Horse Show

The first Open Youth Horse Show of 2009 will be held on Saturday, July 25th. The gates will open at 7:30 a.m. and Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. Click here for the Show Program which lists all the classes for the day. The cost to participate in the show is $3 per class or $15 to show all day. Friday night (July 24th) there will be a show pre-registration as well as an open ring from 7 - 8:30 pm.

Alleghany County Fair

The 22nd Annual Alleghany County Agricultural Fair will be August 22-29, 2009. Click here for more information about the fair. There is a complete Schedule of Events, as well as Rules and Entry forms for the Demolition Derby, Livestock Shows and the Exhbibition Building.

We hope to see you and your family at the fair!

Youth Poultry Club Meeting

The Youth Poultry Club will meet on Thursday, July 23 at 6pm at the Stoneman House. The meeting is open to all youth between the ages of 5 and 18. Come out and learn about different breeds of poultry and how to care, raise and show them. Ryan Higgins will be the guest speaker at this meeting. He will discuss disease prevention and control.


For more information contact Steven Stoneman at 336-200-3799.

Blog Candy!

We have passed the 4000 hit mark on our blog, so it is time for some Blog Candy!!! What is blog candy you ask? Blog candy is a small package of goodies that a lucky winner will receive. This is a small Thank You for visiting the Alleghany 4-H Blog.

If you would like a chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment in the comments section of this post. The winning post will then be randomly selected. The deadline for entering is Tuesday, July 14th.

Good Luck!

Specialty Camp Spots Still Available

Still want to go to camp this summer??? Then don't miss out on these 3 'funtastic' opportunities at the Eastern 4-H Center!! All three camps are the week of July 19th.

Cloverbud Camp - The perfect first "stay away" from home for 5-8 year olds. Jam packed full of adventure. Canoeing, kayaking, swimming, games and fun evening activities. Cost $250.00

Marine Science and Sailing Camp - The beautiful Albemarle Sound serves as the backdrop for this amazing camp. Sailing in the sound is instructed by an experienced sailor. Cost $425

Camp Canvasback - In partnership with the NC Waterfowl Association, this camp encourages and educates young hunters on waterfowl conservation. Campers participate in activities that help them understand waterfowl biology, wetland ecology, hunting techniques, and other conservation practices. Cost ONLY $150

For more information on any of these camps contact:
Sara Lilley Phelps, Marketing Director (252) 797-4800, Email: sara_phelps@ncsu.edu

For full information on any of the camps click HERE.