2010 North Carolina Junior Dairy Day

Who: Youth ages 9-18

When: Saturday, March 20 10am - 3pm

Where: Iredell County Extension Office

Cost: Free

You are invited to the 2010 North Carolina Junior Dairy Day on Saturday, March 20, at the Iredell County Extension Center. This event will give you hands-on experience with dairy youth activities, such as judging, showing, quiz bowl, and skillathon. You do not have to own cattle or have previous dairy experience to participate. We encourage anyone interested to come learn about the dairy activities and what they have to offer.

Transportation and lunch will be provided. We will be leaving the Extension Office at 8:30 and should return by 4:30. You must register by Wednesday, March 10. Register by calling the Extension Office at (336) 372-5597

Re-Connect with your 4-H friends!

The NC 4-H Alumni and Friends Association invites 4-H alumni, age 19-25, to a weekend at Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Camp on April 9-10. You do not have to be a member of the Alumni Association to come.

We’ll spend Friday evening re-connecting and scheming about how we can stay in touch with one another and with 4-H! In exchange for our low, registration rate of only $15, we’ll be participating in service projects around the camp on Saturday morning.

It’s sure to be a great weekend of networking and service to our favorite youth organization! We can only accommodate 40 people. Registration due date is March 31, and it’s first come, first served, so don’t delay!!

To register for this event click HERE!!

Spring Plant Sale

We are currently taking orders for the 2010 Alleghany 4-H Plant Sale.

The following types of plants will be available to purchase:
**Blackberries
**Raspberries
**Grapes
**Horseradish
**Blueberries
**Strawberries
**Cherry Trees
**Apple Trees

Click here for order form. For full plant descriptions click HERE. All orders and payment must be received by March 15th. The tentative delivery date of the plants is Friday, April 9th from 9am to 5pm. We ask that you mark your calendars with this date, but please call our office (336-372-5597) to be sure the delivery date hasn't changed.

*** (2-19) Entry updated with plant descriptions and order form changes ***

Form Updates!!!

It time again to update you annual enrollment, medical release and media release forms!!! You must do this before you can participate in any 4-H activity or program in 2010. We can notarize medical release forms here in the office at no charge.

Enrollment Form

Medical Release Form

Media Release

Feel free to contact us at (336) 372-5597 if you have any questions.

Youth Poultry Club Meeting Postponed

The Youth Poultry Club Meeting scheduled for February 22nd has been POSTPONED until March 25th. If you have questions or would like more information about the Youth Poultry Club, contact Mr. Stoneman at (336) 200-3799 or Amy Lucas at (336) 372-5597. The club is open to all youth ages 5 and up interested in learning about care and showing of poultry.

4-H Specialty Camps

The 4-H Camping Centers across the state offer a number of specialty camps in addition to regular camping opportunities. A few of these include Marine Science and Sailing Camp at the Eastern Center, Deaf Camp at Sertoma, Fur Fish and Game at Millstone and Whitewater Adventure at Betsy Jeff Penn. For a full list of specialty camps including ages and dates click HERE. Registration info can be found on the specific camp websites. For more information on camping opportunities, contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597.

Teen Retreat

Don’t miss out on a great weekend of amazing opportunities. The West Central Teen Retreat will be March 12-14 at Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Camp. Teen retreat is open to youth ages 13-18 (must be 13 by January 1, 2010). The weekend will be packed full of fun, fellowship and workshop opportunities focusing on the 2010 NC 4-H theme “We Are 4-H: Then, Now, Forever” Deadline to register is February 26th. To register or for more information, contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597.

Cost $75 – scholarships may be available.

Contact the Extension Office for more information

Alice in Wonderland

Who: Ages 10 and up

When: Saturday, February 27
Where: Barter Theatre - Abingdon,VA
Cost: $18

Come travel with us down the rabbit hole and discover a magical world called Wonderland. Don't be late for this very important date!! We will meet a variety of colorful characters on our trip including the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts. We will be leaving the County Office Building at 12:45 pm to travel to Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA. Please eat lunch before you come. You must register by Wednesday, Feb. 17th at the Extension Office.

Food Show Reminder

Just a reminder that all food show forms must be turned in to the Extension Office by 5:00 pm this Friday - 2/12/2010. The food show will be on Saturday Feb 20th at East Wilkes Middle School. We will be leaving the Extension Office at 8:30 a.m. The competition is open to youth ages 5 - 18. If you have any questions or would like more information about food show, contact Amy at 336-372-5597 or amy_lucas@ncsu.edu.

Once the judges have reviewed all entries, you will be allowed to taste test other dishes. All entrants will receive a mini-cookbook of all the recipes from the event. If you participate in this event, you will earn scholarship money you can use for summer fun programs or summer camp. For forms and rules click here. Happy cooking!!

What is 4-H?

Read all about it!!! Want to know more about what 4-H really is? Check out this special edition of the Clover News HERE. Not only does it explain all the nuts and bolts of 4-H but there is also a collage of some of the really neat things we did in 2009. If you would like more information about 4-H or how you can get involved in Alleghany 4-H, contact Amy at amy_lucas@ncsu.edu or call our office at 336-372-5597. We'll be happy to tell you more.

Life and Work on the Moon Art and Design Contest

NASA invites high school and college students from all areas of study, including the arts, industrial design, architecture and computer design, to submit their work on the theme "Life and Work on the Moon." Artists are encouraged to collaborate with science and engineering students. Such collaboration is not required but would help to ensure that the work’s subject is valid for the moon’s harsh environment.

Entries will be accepted in three categories: two-dimensional, three-dimensional and digital, including video. For the first time, entries in literature (poetry and short stories) will also be accepted. Judges will evaluate entries not only on their artistic qualities, but also on whether they depict a valid scenario.

Prizes include awards and exhibit opportunities. International students are encouraged to participate, but they are not eligible for cash prizes.

Entries are due no later than April 15, 2010.

For more information about the contest and to register online, visit http://artcontest.larc.nasa.gov/. Questions about the contest should be directed to Dr. Elizabeth Ward at Elizabeth.B.Ward@nasa.gov .

Dairy Quiz Bowl Practice

The next Dairy Quiz Bowl Practices will be February 10th (Wednesday) at 3:30 P.M. and February 25th (Thursday) at 4:30 P.M. We will be leaving the Cooperative Extension Office at 3:30 pm on 2/10 to travel to Yadkin County. Dinner will be served. You do not have to have prior experience or own dairy cattle to participate. Quiz bowl is open to youth ages 9-18. You must be 9 by January 1, 2010 to participate. If you would like more information contact the Extension Office at (336) 372-5597 or e-mail Amy at amy_lucas@ncsu.edu for more information.

West Central District Horse Bowl

The District Horse Bowl Competition has been postponed until Friday, February 12th at 6:00 pm at the Iredell County Extension Office. Only Junior teams will be competing. We will be leaving the Alleghany County Extension Office at 4:00 pm. Please make arrangement to eat dinner before you come or on the way down. No meal will be served during the competition. If you have any questions, please contact the extension office at (336) 372-5597. For directions to the Iredell Office click here.