Farmer's Luncheon Honors Farmers!!

If you went by the Richmond County Cooperative Extension Office yesterday at this time, you would have noticed many people working hard on the grills, burners and deserts getting things ready for the Farmer's Luncheon! AND A LINE FORMING!!

Cooks Earl Graves, Tommy Peacock, Robert Hill, Myers Waddell, Neal Martin, Gene Shaw, Jamie Lambeth and David Dycus worked hard to prepare a fantastic meal, which included the Farmer's Luncheon Debut of Chevon, or goat meat! Everyone really enjoyed the meal and we want to thank thos who had a hand in preparing or providing it! Special thanks to First Health, Pee Dee Electric, and Purdue Farms for their donations to help make the event a success. Click Here to check out pictures of the event!

After everyone had their fill (or overfill!!) of all the great food, all the agricultural agencies gave a quick update, including Cooperative Extension, USDA Farm Services Agency, Soil & Water Conservation District, USDA Rural Development and North Carolina Department of Agrictulture. Dr. Sharon Morrissey of Richmond Community College spoke and invited everyone to a forum on Agricultural Education to be held in late January.

The Keynote Speaker for the event was Mr. James Haynes, Richmond County Manager. Mr. Haynes spoke on the values and character traits that agricultural live instills in youth and how being raised in a farming community helped lead him where he is today.

Richmond County Farm City Week is nearing its close, and we want to invite everyone to the Cole Auditorium at Richmond Community College for the Farm City Banquet. The Banquet begins at 6:30 and cost $10 which you can pay at the door. Extension's own Carol Capel will be providing a bit of musical entertainment and should not be missed!

Farm City Parade Rings in the Holiday Cheer!!

It may have been a bit cold on Saturday morning, but many people braved the weather to come out and celebrate Farm-City Week in Ellerbe! The Annual Farmer's Parade started at 11:00 and included entries ranging from our Grand Marshall, Mr. Paul Wilson, Jr (pictured with wife Mrs. Betty Wilson,) to marching bands, to candy throwing 4-H'ers, to tractors, all decked out for the event! More than 115 floats and other entries were a part of this year's kick-off event. It was really a great event for all involved, and I think many kids took home more candy than on Halloween!!

Farm-City Week began as a way to bring people from urban and rural life together to celebrate the hard work that farmers and folks in the agricultural community provide for our country. It is held the week of Thanksgiving to help get everyone in a mood to be thankful for all that we have, and maybe because this is the week where we eat A LOT of the hard work of farmers!

This year Richmond County 4-H was at the parade site to educate youth (and some brave adults) about agriculture and where some common products come from. Carolina the White Beveren rabbit made her debut appearance as an educational animal and Henrietta the chicken, who is a veteran teacher, was a little shy, but still showed her feathers for the crowd. Kids were also able to make a free Houseplant Scare Crow, almost guaranteed to keep away spiders, flies and house cats! The craft materials were provided free of charge due to a generous gift from Richmond County Farm Bureau!! THANKS!!!

To check out pictures from the parade and the 4-H booth, CLICK HERE!!

Science Adventures Helps Youth Understand Nature & Teamwork!

We had another great, if hectic, year of 4-H Science Adventures at Millstone 4-H Camp. Around 600 Richmond County 5th graders recently spent a day at camp learning about science and teamwork. The program is geared towards giving teachers and students a day of learning about natural resources and the environment in the natural beauty and fun setting of Millstone 4-H Camp!

The program was successful again this year with 96% of teachers surveyed finding that the project was a useful addition in helping their class meet requirements set by the NC Department of Public Instruction Standard Course of Study. Also, 93% of reporting teachers noticed an improvement in class participation and student attitudes.

Thanks to all the volunteer instructors who give their valuable time to participate in this event. They include: Richmond County Beekeepers Marv Powell and David Auman, Victoria Hudson of the Richmond County Health Department, Morrow Mountain State Park Staff, Ben Cooper of Richmond County Soil & Water Conservation, Scotland County Soil & Water Conservation, Pee Dee Wildlife Refuge Staff, William Terry and Ben Shutt of Millstone 4-H Camp, Weymouth Woods State Park Staff, Sandhills Research Station staff members Mark Thompson and Jeremy Martin, Alan Clark of the NC Forest Service, Paige Burns and Tiffanee Conrad-Acuña of Richmond County Cooperative Extension, and Lauren Irby of Chatham County Cooperative Extension.

Thanks to the teachers and school administrators who give up time in the classrooms to allow this program to reach their students. Finally, thanks to the students who give their attention and a willing to participate in this program. We look forward to hosting the program again in 2009. Richmond County 4-H is proud to be supported by the United Way of Richmond County, as well as the wonderful citizens of the county! For more information about joining or volunteering with 4-H, please contact Michelle Stumbo at michelle_stumbo@ncsu.edu, or 997-8255!


Nature at work! We found this little lizard hunting the fly on a sign at the NC Zoo! 4-H'ers learned about Predator/Prey relationships like this one at 4-H Science Adventures!!

Livestock Show Circuit Banquet!

Richmond County 4-H'ers travelled the new stretch of Highway 74 last night to celebrate the 4-H Sandhills Farm Credit Show Circuit Banquet in Columbus County. The Banquet was held at Sandhills Community College. The Columbus County staff had a great dinner prepared to celebrate the achievements of the 4-H'ers who completed the required livestock shows during the fall show season.

Participating in livestock shows takes ALOT of time and dedication on the part of these 4-H members and ALOT of patience on the part of the parents! Thanks to all the 4-H members, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, agents, brothers, sisters, and general supporters for all of their help and assistance throughout the season! Click here to see the pictures from the event & check out the final standings below!

Richmond County had 16 participants , including: Savannah Chappell, Taylor Chappell, Abigail Hamilton, Brianna Hamilton, DeLani Reep, Madelyn Chappell, Jordan Carroll, Christin Deese, Elizabeth Deese, Sarah Maske, Ryan McInnis, Trey McInnis, Grayson McQueen, Abby Allen, Michael Ezzell, and Nathan Ezzell. Everyone did a fantastic job & we are so proud for all of the hard work that you have all put in this season!! We are looking forward to next year!!!!!

Goats

Richmond County Cloverbuds!

Savannah Chappell, Taylor Chappell, Abigail Hamilton, Brianna Hamilton and DeLani Reep.

Junior
1. Christin Deese - Richmond County!
2. Jordan Carroll - Richmond County
3. Carly Blair Godwin
4. Michaela McInnis
5. Bethany Thompson

Junior Intermediate
1. Ryan McInnis - Richmond County
2. Elizabeth Deese - Richmond County
3. Morgan Rockwell
4. Grayson McQueen - Richmond County
5. Theresa Fehlman

Senior
1. Nathan Ezzell - Richmond County
2. Paige Harrelson
3. Joanna Carter
4. Michael Ezzell - Richmond County
5. Abby Allen - Richmond County

Market Lambs

Junior
1. Drayton Hancock
2. Eugenie Vorder Bruggae
3. Bobby Seals
4. Ashley Wilson
5. Isabella Love

Junior Intermediate
1. Ruth Vorder Bruggae
2. Martha Vorder Bruggae
3. Samantha Naylor
4. Olivia Forbes
5. Stephen Bordeaux

Senior
1. Heather Goodrich
2. Jamie Bordeaux
3. Danielle Hunt

Beef Heifers

Senior
1. Katie Pesta
2. Sarah Herring (2nd place is an unbroken tie)
2. Nick Kiker
3. Dixie Acorn

Volunters Fall Into Training!

Not many of us are willing to set our alarms and get up bright & early on a Saturday to be trained to become a better volunteer. However, that is just what Ms. Mamie LeGrand did last Saturday as we met early and carpooled to Robeson County for the South Central Extension District's Volunteer Fall Day! Ms. LeGrand is a new 4-H volunteer who spent the day connecting and getting ideas from about 50 volunteers from across the district.

She attended two workshops, starting with the ACE Volunteer Program to reward volunteers for their hard work and motivate them to share what they learn with other volunteers, which was taught by Mom, also known as Eleanore Getz, a Cumberland County Volunteer. She next attended a workshop taught by Shea Ann DeJarnette, the Robeson County 4-H Extension Agent, on the Jim Collins book "From Good to Great." The workshop explained the theories and principles in the book and allowed volunteers to apply them to their 4-H volunteer work. The two remaining workshops were taught by Bobby Rogers, a Robeson County 4-H volunteer and Christy Strickland, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent in Robeson County and covered woodworking and kid friendly craft ideas.

After the workshops, and a delicious meal prepared by the brave Robeson Staff & Volunteers, a business meeting was held to elect officers and vote a changes brought about by Extension redistricting. The next District Volunteer Association meeting will be held at Volunteer Leaders Conference in February. To find out more, check out the pictures Michelle took by clicking here & the info the Robeson County Staff posted by checking out www.robeson4-h.blogspot.com! Everyone had a great time and is looking forward to February!