Eastern NC Livestock School

Who: Youth ages 9-19
Where: Eastern Carolina Ag and Education Center, Rocky Mount, NC
When: March 5-6 2011
Cost: $20 per youth
Deadline to Register: February 23, 2011

Purpose: Provide youth and adults an opportunity to learn more about 4-H Livestock projects from start to finish. A mixture of intense classroom and hands-on activities will equip individuals with information needed to have a quality 4-H Livestock project.

Instructors: Instructors who are experts in their field have been asked to conduct this training. This event will be specifically designed for cattle, hogs, sheep, and meat goats. Participants will only be allowed to attend one of the four schools. This an annual event so participants may attend other species schools in the future. *Instructors may adjust the agenda as deemed necessary to provide the best educational opportunity.

Beef - Bob May, Wisconsin ; Swine - Lynsee Shaffer, Indiana
Sheep - Mark Johnson, Illinois; Meat Goats - John Lastly, Oklahoma

For more information and registration form click HERE.

Food Show

It’s time to show off all your culinary skills at the upcoming Food Show! The Area Food Show including Ashe, Alleghany, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties will be held on February 19 at East Wilkes Middle School and is open to youth ages 5 and up. There are three age categories to participate in: Cloverbud (ages 5-8), Junior (9-13), and Senior (14-18).

Categories include snack/appetizer, main dish, vegetable/soup/salad and desserts.

The theme for this event is “4-H Hungry to Help: The Kitchen Is Open!”

Transportation will be provided. Setup will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 9:45 a.m. Your dish must be cooked ahead of time. Judging will begin at 9:45 a.m. While judges taste all the wonderful recipes, participants can enjoy different hands-on activities. Participants will be judged on recipe, taste, table setting and nutrition. All participants will receive a cookbook of all the recipes featured at the event. You must fill out a registration form to participate. A link to these forms can be found HERE or contact the Extension Office. There are sample questions listed of things the judges may ask you. If you would like more information about food show, please contact the office at 372-5597.

Deadline to Register – Weds, Feb. 16th

4th Annual NC Operation Military Kids Visual Arts Contest.

NC OMK is excited to announce the 4th Annual NC Operation: Military Kids Visual Arts Contest. *The contest is open to all North Carolina youth. (You do not have to have a parent in the military to participate).

*Age categories are 5-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-15, and 16-19. Designed to introduce youth to the Visual Arts as a part of the 4-H Expressive Arts Curriculum, youth will utilize their skills and their artistry to capture their views of America and patriotism.

This year’s themes are:

- Images of America
- All American Kids
- Flags, Freedom and Families
- Honoring Those Who Serve

Contest rules and guidelines can be found at HERE

Eligibility of Photos: All photographs must have been taken by youth between the dates of May 1, 2010 and the time of entry. Photos may be submitted only one time and in only one division and class to the North Carolina Operation: Military Kids photography contest.

Eligibility of Artwork: All artwork must have been created by youth between the dates of May 1, 2010 and the time of entry. Artwork may be submitted only one time and in only one division and class to the North Carolina Operation: Military Kids Visual Arts contest.

Entry Deadline: ENTRIES must arrive in the North Carolina 4-H Youth Development Office, postmarked no later than Friday, April 29, 2011.

Host Families Needed

Host family applications for 4-H families who wish to host exchange students from Costa Rica, Argentina, Finland, and Norway are due no later than JANUARY 31, 2011. For more information and applications to be a host family please click HERE.

Please remember that all inbound month long students are required to stay with families that have a host sibling of the same gender, within 2 years of the same age, and have similar interests.

January Newsletter

The January edition of the Alleghany Clover News is now available online.  Click here to view.

Due to the inclement weather, there may be a delay in receiving your newsletter in the mail, so be sure to pass the word that it is available here and on our Facebook page.

Alleghany 4-H Ski Trip

Are you 12 years old or older & want to learn how to ski or snowboard? Here’s your chance! Alleghany 4-H will be taking a trip to French-Swiss Ski College at Appalachian Ski Mountain in Blowing Rock on Saturday, February 5th. Cost will be $25 for skiing and $30 for snowboarding. Cost includes transportation, lift ticket, equipment, skiing/snowboarding lesson and snack. You will need to bring money for dinner. We will be leaving the County Office Building at 3:30 pm and will return around 1 am. Space is limited so contact the office to register or for more information. You must register by January 21st.

Outbound Exchange Opportunities

Below are the 2011 Outbound Exchange Opportunities. There is a very quick turn around so if you are interested contact the office ASAP. The exciting opportunities include travel to Japan, Argentina, Costa Rica, Australia or Finland, or you can host an Exchange student from another country. North Carolina 4-H offers you some fantastic opportunities through the 4-H International Exchange Program. For more information and forms click HERE or contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597. Deadline for Outbound Exchange Opportunities is January 17, 2010.

Ages are as of date of travel.

Japan for 8 weeks (includes 4 weeks of language school) recommended age 15 to 18. Approximately $4900.00. Departure June 9- Return August 4

Japan for 4 weeks. Ages 15 to 18 if never hosted. Ages 13 to 18 if hosted. Approximately $3900.00. Departure July 6, Return August 4

Australia for 4 weeks. Ages 16 to 19. Youth will stay on a sheep or dairy farm. Approximately $5000.00. Departure June 15, Return July 14

Costa Rica for 4 weeks. Ages 15 to 18. Approximately $2,900.00.
Departure June 18, Return July 16

Finland for 4 weeks, Ages 15 to 19. Approximately $3600.00. Departure June 25, Return July 27.

Argentina for 4 weeks. Ages 15 to 19, only seven delegates will be selected to travel from the United states as this is a pilot program. Approximately $3900.00. Departure July 7, Return August 7 .