Auction Nears!

A benefit auction and plate sale for the 4-H program in Richmond County will be held on March 6th at Browder Park in Rockingham, North Carolina. Proceeds will be used locally to support leadership and youth development through programs ranging from school enrichment programs, to summer camps, to Summer Fun classes, to leadership trainings, to club activities.

As you can see, we have collected a wide variety of items! There will be something for everyone at the Auction, from fishing poles & cowboy hats to prom dresses & punch bowls! We also have a large number of gift certificates to auction, including dinners at your favorite local restaurants, nights away from the house at some of the best places to rest your head in Richmond County, and even $100 off a used car!

BBQ or chicken plates from Jordan’s Catering will be available for sale at $7 from 11 am to 7 pm. Five or more plates can be delivered if preordered by Feb 27th. Please call or stop by the office to purchase tickets or order a delivery. A limited number of plates will be available for purchase on the 6th, so get your tickets early! FirstHealth of Richmond County will be sponsoring drinks for those that plan to eat onsite.

If you would like to mail a donation, please make the check payable to Richmond County 4-H and mail to PO Box 1358, Rockingham, NC 28380. If you would like to donate any items, you can bring them to the Cooperative Extension Office at 123 Caroline Street, or call 997-8255 for an item pickup. All donations are tax deductible.

Thank you for helping us make the best better for Richmond County youth!

They Just Keep Growing!!!

After nearly 21 days of turning and monitoring, our eggs are almost ready to become chicks! The "due date" is next Tuesday, March 3rd. Students and teachers in 24 classrooms are getting ready to see if their hard work has paid off with live chicks hatching in their classes.

If you look closely at the pictures, you can see the blood vessels and the embryo taking up even more of the egg.

When the chicks hatch, they will use what is called a "pipping tooth" to break the shell from the inside. They do this all on their own & don't need any help from us humans! We are looking forward to seeing the chicks for the first time early next week, and will be sure to post pictures here for all of you to see!

HAPPY HATCHING!!!

NC 4-H turns 100 years old in 2009! A program that began as corn clubs for boys and canning clubs for girls has grown into one of the largest youth development programs in the state, nation and world. Not many organizations can say that. Whatever role you have had in the 4-H program, we want to take time this year to celebrate that role! Click here to see pictures of the fun!

4-H Achievement Night was held on Feb 9th at the Richmond County Cooperative Extension Office. County Council officers Nathan Ezzell, Ryan McInnis, Courtney Miller and Grayson McQueen presided over the evening. 4-H'ers received awards for all of their hard work throughout the 2008 year and were encouraged to participate even more this year! We are very proud of all of our 4-H members in Richmond County and look forward to what they will do next.

Not only were our 4-H members honored for their hard work and success, but our wonderful 4-H volunteers were awarded for all that they do to make 4-H a wonderful program. 4-H doesn't work without the help of many, many people and we could never do enough to thank them for all they do.

In honor of the North Carolina 4-H Centennial Celebration, everyone enjoyed birthday cake and party games. Anyone not attending will get their certificate in the mail in the coming weeks. For more information about 4-H, please contact Michelle at 997-8255 or michelle_stumbo@ncsu.edu. You can support the Richmond County 4-H program by supporting the United Way of Richmond County and during the upcoming 4-H Auction & Plate Sale on March 6th at Browder Park in Rockingham, NC. The Plate Sale will go from 11 am to 7 pm with the Auction starting at 7 pm.

2008 County Fair Educational Booths……....4-H Livestock Club
Project Record Books.....................................9-10 Year Olds - Jordan Carroll
11-12 Year Olds - Trey McInnis
13-15 Year Olds - Nathan Ezzell
2008 District Activity Day Presenters………Courtney Miller, Katie Miller and Kristi Reep
2008 Talent Show .........................................Maggi Chambers –(Singing), Chloe Eaton – (singing), Gabrielle Eaton – (Storytelling) and Alana McQueen - (Clogging)
2008 4-H Fashion Show……….......................Delani Reep & Kristi Reep
2008 4-H Congress Delegates…………............Nathan Ezzell & Courtney Miller
During last year’s Congress, Michael Ezzell was inducted into the NC 4-H Honor Club. This is a very elite group and induction is truly an Honor. Great job!
2008 4-H Livestock Showmenship Circuit……Abby Allen, Jordan Carroll, Madelyn Chappell, Savannah Chappell, Taylor Chappell, Christin Deese, Elizabeth Deese, Michael Ezzell, Nathan Ezzell, Abigail Hamilton, Brianna Hamilton, Sarah Maske, Ryan McInnis, Trey McInnis, Grayson McQueen, and DeLani Reep
2008 4-H Shooting Sports State Competition
2008 Junior Black Powder 2nd Place Winner.……………....Tyler Dove
2008 Senior Shotgun 2nd Place Winner…………………....…Mark Allen
2008 Senior Sporter Rifle 3rd Place Winner…………....……Austin Wiggins
Team Sporter Rifle 1st Place…………..……………………..........Richmond Rangers: including Aaron Wiggins, Austin Wiggins, Michael Smith and Mark Allen
Two Richmond County 4-H members even went to the National 4-H Shooting Sports Tournament in Nebraska. Tyler Wilson placed 6th and Aaron Wiggins placed 9th in small-bore silhouette.
2008 Junior Camp……………….......................Hailey Bass, Gary Boyette, Hannah Craven, Jackson Carter, Olivia Farrah, Andrew Greene, Brandon Greene, Aidan Kegebein, Andi Luther, Ronald Maynard, Victoria Jade McCaskill, Bradley McPherson, Katie Miller, Alyssa Rush, Mikala Smith, Luke Souder, Myers Souder, Andrew Tamura, Rusty Wadsworth & Hannah Webb
2008 Summer Fun Volunteers…………………..Nathan Ezzell, Ryan Hudson, Ryan McInnis, Grayson McQueen, Courtney Miller, Tabitha Reeves, & Logan Northcutt
4-H Leaders
These people have completed all required volunteer trainings and have submitted all required forms to be a 4-H volunteer! Several others in the county are well on their way to completing all the forms and the initial training and we look forward to honoring them next year. We would not have much of a 4-H program without the hard work of many people and we are honored to have these people in the program!
Jan Allen, Mark Allen, Jerry Andrews, Chris DeWitt, Randy Ezzell, Tracy Ezzell, Rosa Gales, Reva Horne, Mamie LeGrand, Valeria Lunceford, Leon McRae, Anne Miller, Albert Purvis, Joe Purvis, Hattie Reep, Naomi Reese

GREAT JOB EVERYONE! WE"RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE IN 2009!

The Eggs Have Arrived!!

Richmond County 4-H is partnering with 45 Richmond County School 1st and 2nd grade classrooms over the next several months to offer the 4-H Embryology program to students. Teachers at Fairview Heights, L. J. Bell and Monroe Avenue Elementary Schools got their eggs last Tuesday, and things are going great.

I am keeping some chicks-to-be in my office & they seem to be doing well! Tiffanee, our Livestock Agent, helped me candle some eggs today & I wanted to share the results with the world! We were able to see the blood vessels forming & the embryo really easily. All we used was a dark office & a strong flashlight. You can see our pictures here.


Teachers are provided training, curriculum, supplies, and support to complete the project, which involves caring for and hatching chicks in the classroom. These students will learn about many subjects, including bio-security, record keeping, life cycles and agriculture, during the 3-week project.

This project is supported by our friends at Richmond County Farm Bureau, United Way of Richmond County, and donations from the community. We are in the process of collecting donations & selling plates for our 4-H Auction & Plate Sale on March 6th at Browder Park in Rockingham. If you would like to make a donation of an item or service, or order plate tickets, please call us & we will be happy to help you!

If your class is participating and has any project ideas or pictures to share, simply post here or email to Michelle at michelle_stumbo@ncsu.edu.

Happy Hatching!!