4th Annual 4-H Holiday Poinsettia Plant Sale

It's time for the 4th Annual 4-H Holiday Poinsettia Plant Sale!!  We are offering 4 color choices in 2 sizes, as well as foil and bow options.  Click here for the description/order form.

The order and payment deadline is Friday, November 20, 2015.  The pick up date will be Tuesday, November 24th from 9am to 5pm.  

Help us help our local youth.  ALL proceeds are used to provide scholarship opportunities for 4-H Camp and other 4-H events.

For any questions or more information call 336-372-5597 or you can email Michele Hamm.

2015 Fall Plant Sale

We are now taking orders for our 2015 Fall Plant Sale.  Click here for the plant descriptions and order form.  

Help us help our local youth.  ALL proceeds are used to provide scholarship opportunities for 4-H Camp and other 4-H events.

October Clover News

The October Alleghany 4-H Clover News is now available online.  Click here to view

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Alpha Omega Corn Maze

Who:  Youth ages 8+ (5-7 with a parent)
When:  Friday - October 16     4 pm ~ 8 pm (leave from County Office Building)
Cost:  $12 (dinner is included)

We will be taking a trip this Friday, October 16 to the Alpha Omega Corn Maze in Yadkin County.   We'll take part in the 6 acre corn maze, barrel train, inflatable obstacle bounce, corn box, hay rides, hay bale maze and much much more.  The trip is open to youth 8 and up (5-7  with a parent - parents will be responsible for their own transportation and is open).  We will leave the County Office Building at 4 pm and return around 8.  Dinner is included in your cost.   You don't want to miss out on all the fun.

For more information or to register, contact the Extension Office at 372-5597.

State Council Conference

The State 4-H Council is looking forward to hosting everyone at State 4 -H  Council Conference,November 14-15, 2015 in Raleigh. Registration is now open! Please remember everyone must register in order to attend. We will not be able to accommodate on-site registrations. The conference will be held at the Jane S. McKimmon Center in Raleigh.

Full Time Registration (including Facility, Insurance, Saturday Lunch, Workshops (Saturday & Sunday) Saturday Evening Activity, Lodging, and Sunday Lunch) is $140 per youth (lodging 4 per room) Saturday Only Registration (including Facility, Insurance, Saturday Lunch, Saturday Workshops, and Saturday Evening Activity is $75 per person.  

To register you must contact the office (336)372-5597 

Deadline to register:  October 9

Horse Judging Short Course - Adults and Leaders

he 2015 NC Horse Judging Short Course will be held Oct 24-25th in Raleigh, NC.  Information about the course can be found at the following link: https://equinehusbandry.ces.ncsu.edu/equinehusbandry-horse-judging-short-course/

Cost for this highly informative 2-day course (complete with NC Horse Judging Manual) is $75.  Entries must be post-marked by Oct 3rd to avoid a late fee of $25.  

Collards in The Cafeteria

Check this out . . .

Nestled in the agricultural heart of North Carolina, Gaston County schools are attempting to source 10% of their produce locally. Students love the addition of fresh, local strawberries and watermelons to their menu, but how about collards? Collards In the Cafeteria follows the journey of this nutrient rich leafy green from the fields to the county's Central Kitchen, where they are cooked and processed in a Wonka-like fashion for cafeteria service the following day. Frank Fields, Director of School Nutrition, shares the secret of the final step; getting students to try and, perhaps, even love this classic Southern side dish.

COLLARDS IN THE CAFETERIA

New Wilkes County 4-H Blog

Wilkes County 4-H now has a new 4-H Blog to go along with their new 4-H Agent, Whitney Greene! Go visit their blog to see what exciting things they have planned.......

2015 YOUTH POULTRY POSTER CONTEST

NC State Fair

Entry Deadline: September 15, 2015

Contest Rules
1. Open to all youth, ages 5-18.

2.Limit one poster entry per exhibitor.

3.Youth will compete in their own age group as of January 1, 2015.

4.Posters must be 24x36 and include poultry related content. Examples include, but are not limited to: breed identification, diet, meal preparation, cage maintenance, poultry showmanship, and parts of a bird. The content should be age appropriate.

5.Poster must be completed by the youth who entered the poster. Minimal parent involvement for 5-8 year old age groups is acceptable.

Groups by Age: Lot No. 00001 (Ages 5-8 ); Lot No. 00002 (Ages 9-14);
Lot No. 00003 (Ages 15-18);

Posters will be received in the Poultry Tent beginning Tuesday, October 13th thru Wednesday, October 14th between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. All exhibitors must pre-register before bringing poster to the Fair. Posters will be on public display, so please make sure the information used is accurate. Please cite sources if applicable.

The participant does not have to be present for submission of entry for judging. Limit one poster entry per exhibitor.

Posters will be judged on Thursday, October 15, 2015. Posters will remain in the Poultry Tent until the end of the Fair. Posters will be released on Oct. 26.

Ribbons and premiums will be awarded for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place poster in each group.
1st Place - $25 and Ribbon
2nd Place - $20 and Ribbon
3rd Place - $15 and Ribbon


Registration for this competition is by paper entry form only. Mail or deliver completed entry form in person to the North Carolina State Fair Entry Department, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607.

POSTER CONTEST REGISTRATION FORM

Dirty History @ The NC Museum of History

Don't miss out on this free program if you're going to be in the Raleigh area this weekend.. . .

Just sending a quick reminder to come and get the dirt at our FREE program 

DIRTY HISTORY THIS SATURDAY, August 8^th.

2nd Saturdays: Dirty History

Saturday, August 8, 1–4 p.m. (drop-in program)

North Carolina has dirt in its past. Find out about and play in the amazing variety of soils in the state, and learn about the father of soil conservation, Hugh Hammond Bennett. Also, visit the Dig It! exhibit at the Museum of Natural Sciences, and make a “dirt dessert” to take home!

Links about our garden programs: http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/SeeourExhibits/CurrentExhibits/HistoryoftheHarvest.aspx

https://www.facebook.com/NCMuseumofHistory?sid=29e284be398c39ff406dad4c31c322c7&ref=s

Possible NC Avian Flu Outbreak Information

The NCDA&CS Veterinary Division has released an article concerning a possible avian influenza outbreak.  Please note that this will affect poultry growers of all size models, large and small scale. 

Please use this link to the NCDA&CS website for the article.

Congress 2015

Congress is coming up this week.  Attached  are links
to information you will need to know.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

We will be leaving from the County Office Building at 2:30 on Friday afternoon.  We will return Tuesday by 5:00 pm.  Be sure to pay close attention to Dress Code.

CONGRESS PROGRAM

PRESENTATIONS & SCHOLARSHIPS

AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS

** for the Tuesday activity we were not chosen for any of the off site options so will be at the McKimmon Center.

DRESS CODE - INCLUDES DAILY DRESS CODE

**no strapless dresses or midriff showing for formal.

Blue Ridge Parkway Exploration

June 18 ~ 8:30 am—4:30 pm

Ages 7—18

Cost $5 ~ Bring a bag lunch & drink

Deadline to Register:  June 15

Join us for an exciting day with Ranger Jackie as we explore an 1800’s cabin and hike around one of the most beautiful places in Alleghany County.  We’ll find out what it was like to live during that time, including what you ate, what school was like, what you did for fun, and what you did when you were sick.   Bring your hiking shoes and water bottles for a full day of nature and exploration.  We’ll hike out to wildcat rock and look down into Basin Cove.  Who knows what we might see so don’t miss out on the great adventure. 

UPDATED Summer Fun Newsletter

We have added a couple more Summer Fun activities!  Spaces are filling up very fast, so make sure you get registered....

Updated Newsletter

Zoo Snooze Update!!!

It was just brought to our attention there was a misprint on the Zoo Snooze.  We will be leaving at 4 pm on August 5th and returning at 5 pm on August 6th.   This is an overnight trip to the NC Zoo.  Sorry for the confusion.

August 5-6
NC Zoo - Ashboro

4pm August 5th ~ return 5 pm August 6th

Ages: 7-12

Cost: $35 ~ Limit: 4

Bring $20 for dinner on the way & lunch in the zoo

 Slither and slide your way into the secretive world of reptiles and amphibians at the NC Zoo. Discover the differences between these animals and what they can tell us about our environment. Spend the evening exploring the world of these elusive backyard creatures with games, activities and presentations. Invite a toad to live in your yard by building a toad abode. 

SUMMER 2015 REGISTRATION FORM

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins

June 11th  ~  10:30 am—7 pm

Ages:  8+

Cost:  $20 ~ Limit: 10

Bring $10 for lunch

Deadline to Register:  Friday June 5

You don’t want to miss out as we travel to Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA to experience a "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” good time. 

Known by children of all ages, “Mary Poppins” is the story of a mysterious nanny who magically appears at the Banks household to care for young Jane and Michael Banks. Adventure abounds as she whisks them away to meet dancing chimney sweeps, shopkeepers and an array of colorful characters. Featuring eye-popping sets and costumes, breathtaking dance numbers and beloved songs such as the Academy Award-winning "Chim Chim Cher-ee," "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Feed the Birds," "Step in Time" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious". Come discover with Mary a world where "Anything Can Happen" if you let it!

To register you must come by the office:  90 S Main St., 3rd Floor, Sparta, NC

Nuts about Nature

When:  June 9th ~ 10 am - 2 pm

Who:  Ages: 5-8

Cost: $10 ~ Limit: 10

Bring a bag lunch & drink

Deadline to Register:  Friday, June 5, 2015

**Meet at the Lions Club**

Come explore nature with us through games, stories, crafts, trail walks & more. Who knows what we’ll discover as we explore different ecosystems. We’ll flip over logs, look into dirt, and turn over rocks in search of animals and the signs they leave behind. 4-Hers will be nature investigators that learn how all things in nature are connected.

You must come to the office to register @ 90 S Main St., Sparta.

Contact the office for more information:  372-5597.

4-H SUMMER FUN 2015

We are now registering for 4-H Summer Fun 2015.   You don't want to miss out on some great adventures - Barter Theatre, Outer Banks Coastal Trip, Magic of Electricity, Chef & Child, Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Camp and much more.  Visit the link for more information.  Spaces fill up quick so don't wait!!

4-H SUMMER FUN 2015

REGISTRATION FORM

ENROLLMENT FORM

MEDICAL RELEASE

4-H Teen Camp - Outer Banks 2015

When:  June 22- 25, 2015

Who:  Ages 13-18 (Must be 13 as of January 1, 2015)

Cost:   $200 (Registrations canceled by June 5th will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations after June 5th will not receive a refund) – Scholarships may be available.   A $50 deposit may be used to hold your spot.  Balance due must be paid by June 1.

Registration Deadline:  June 1, 2015

This is an exciting new camp for our teen 4-H members that will take us to the coast.  Join us as we learn about dune ecology, marine biology, North Carolina coastal history, team building and leadership skills.  Activities will include a dolphin research boat excursion , tour the Bodie Lighthouse, Wright Brothers Memorial, Corolla Lighthouse and Jockey’s Ridge.  We are also planning some great leadership and team building workshops and much, much more!!!

Spaces are very limited.  We are traveling with several other counties of 4-H'ers. 

For more information or to register, contact the Extension Office @ 336-372-5597.  

REGISTRATION FORMS

Farmers Market Vendor Meeting

Farmers Market Meeting for Vendors - Wed, May 6 (2-3 pm) or Thurs, May 7 (10 - 11 am). You do not have to attend both. This is a required meeting to: learn about new Farmers Market policy,Farmers Market State regulations, meet the new Farmers Market Manager & tour the new facility. Please RSVP to Aaron Ray Tompkins @ 336-372-5597 or aaron_tompkins@ncsu.edu

NC District 4-H Horse Show

We are quickly approaching the district 4-H horse show which will be held on May 16-17 in Raleigh.  You can still send in your entries with a late fee so be sure to get those in as soon as possible.  

You also have the opportunity to show the same weekend at the Wake County all youth open horseshow.  All show details can be found under "2015 North Central District 4-H Horse Show & Wake County All Youth OpenShow Details" at this link:

 http://rockingham.ces.ncsu.edu/categories/4-h-youth-development/

VERY IMPORTANT -- Every 4-H club that is showing must volunteer in some capacity at the District 4-H Horse Show in May.  You can sign up online using this google spreadsheet.  Click on this link -- https://docs.google.com/a/ncsu.edu/spreadsheets/d/1UpYhd-U8hcKTIZLLNNgPyxIVQzdz3nvFZlRIbWcS0EM/edit#gid=0

and it will take you to the spreadsheet.  Please fill in your name and club (county if independent member) where you would like to volunteer.  There are 3 tabs at the bottom so be sure to look at all of those.  Let me know if you have any trouble opening the spreadsheet.**

If you cannot access the spreadsheet online or want me to sign you up, please contact me and we will get you signed up for a volunteer time.

Thanks so much, 

Morgan

2015 4-H Plant Sale

We are currently taking orders for the 2015 Annual 4-H Plant Sale....

The following types of plants are available to purchase:

• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Flowers
• Herbs
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Rhubarb
• Vegetables

CLICK HERE to print your plant description / order form or you may pick one up at the Extension Office.  Call 336-372-5597 or email Michele Hamm for more information.

Order & Payment Deadlines:

For Blueberries ~ Monday, March 23rd

For All Other Plants ~ Friday, April 17th

Payment is due at the time the orders are placed

** We can now accept credit/debit cards for payment, with a small fee of 3.75% or less charged.  Phone orders can/will be accepted with a credit/debit card purchase**

Pick-Up Dates:

For Blueberries ~ April 1-2 (9am-5pm)

For All Other Plants ~ April 23-24 (9am-5pm)

ALL proceeds are used for scholarships for Alleghany County youth to attend 4-H Camp and other 4-H Programming.

County Activity Day 2015 ( aka presentations)

What:  County Activity Day
Who:  Youth ages 5+
Where:  County Office Building (90 S Main St, Sparta)
When:  Wednesday, May 13 (4-6)

County Activity Day will be Wednesday, May 13th at the Alleghany County Office Building beginning at 4 pm. Activity Days are the 4-H presentation competitions. These are open to any youth 5 - 18 and cloverbuds (5-8 yr olds) are non-competitive. You can win scholarships to attend other 4-H events and medals by participating.

You can present on any topic - there's a category for everyone!!!  In the past we've had state winners speak about  Radon, Healthy Lifestyles, Forensics, and Graffiti.

You MUST contact the Extension Office in advance and sign up for a time to present. Presentations will begin at 4 pm. For more information and to sign up call the office at 372-5597. For a full list of presentation categories visit the link below. By presenting at County Activity Day you may be eligible to present at District Activity Day on June 13th at A&T State University in Greensboro. 

If you are interested in attending 4-H Congress in July you must do a county presentation.

2015 Presentation Quick Fact Sheet

Presentation Rules

WHEP & Forest Contest Deadlines Approaching

WHEP (Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program)
May 9, 2015
W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir
Wilkesboro, NC
Registration Deadline: April 17

4-H Forestry Contest

September 19, 2015
Schenck Forest
Raleigh, NC
Registration Deadline: August 28

More details, the official contest announcements, and registration forms can all be found at http://forestry.ces.ncsu.edu/4h/. 

April Clover News

The April issue of the Alleghany Clover News is now available.  Click Here to view.

Upcoming Horse Shows

There are several shows coming up soon.  

Our Spring Holiday Classic Open Horse Show will be April 18-19 in Raleigh.  This is our fundraiser for our district 4-H horse program so your participation would be greatly appreciated!  You can also volunteer to help at the show, sell sponsorships and encourage vendors to attend.  **You can find all information at the new web site at: http://www.holidayclassicopenhorseshow.com/

Our district 4-H horse show will be May 16-17 in Raleigh in conjunction with the Wake County All Youth Show.  Our 4-Hers can show in both shows if they choose to.  All district 4-H forms are available at:     http://rockingham.ces.ncsu.edu/categories/4-h-youth-development/

Also, if you sell at least $100 in sponsorships for this show you will get a free stall for the show.

NC 4-H WHEP

WHEP – The 4-H Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program

WHEP is a national 4-H program that:

• teaches 4-Hers about the fundamentals of wildlife management
• brings 4-Hers together to develop team skills
• promotes and develops leadership skills among 4-Hers
• provides an opportunity for 4-Hers to work with natural resource professionals.

Although WHEP is a competitive event, its primary purpose is to increase participant’s knowledge of wildlife management while promoting life skills. The basis of the program is the NC WHEP Learning and Activity Guide, which covers wildlife habitat management concepts and helps participants prepare for the annual state contest.

What is NC WHEP?

2015 NC WHEP State Contest 
May 9, 2015
W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir Education Center
Wilkesboro, NC (Wilkes)
Registration Deadline: April 17, 2015

2015 WHEP Contest Memo and Registration Form

NC WHEP Activity Guide – 4th Edition 
revisions to the WMPs, January 2014  UPDATE! (replaces pages 44 & 45 in the 4th edition of the NC WHEP guide)

WHEP Assistance
Ideas to help train your WHEP team

10 Tips for a Successful Team

National WHEP Web SiteThe above link leads to a new web page

Horticultural Presentations

Please tell your young people (specifically your seniors 15+ by the end of the year) that this year the state winners in the horticultural categories of Horticulture Production and Marketing, Landscaping and Artistic Arrangement are all eligible to attend the National Junior Horticultural Association's annual convention in Orlando, Florida. Highly recommend this year, next year is Erie, PA (no offense Erie, PA). We cover registration, sometimes travel if we drive and youth cover lodging/sometimes travel.  We have a splendid time, make good friends, learn a lot, have many belly laughs and in short celebrate a deep and abundant affinity for plant material. 

BTW: Crop Science, Entomology and Soils are pretty wonderful categories too. 

On behalf of Liz Driscoll

4-H Youth Specialist

Departments of Crop Science, Entomology, Horticulture and Soil Science

NCSU Veterinary Medicine Open House

Spring is on the way and so is the annual OPEN HOUSE at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. This year's event will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 28.

This will be a fun and informative day--lots of horses and farm animals this year.

For more information visit the LINK..