Time for the Teens!

Originally posted by Shea Ann DeJarnette at www.robeson4-h.blogspot.com and modified by Michelle Stumbo.  Thanks Shea Ann!

If you ask our teens what their favorite thing about 4-H is, 9 times out of 10 they will say the trips. As you get older in 4-H you have more opportunities to mix and mingle with other 4-H members in other counties and around the state. This weekend provided our youth with one of these opportunities.
The 2010 South Central District Teen Retreat was held at the Days Inn in Moore County. Almost 60 youth from 15 counties turned out to take part in leadership workshops, elect district officers, compete for the spirit stick and just have a good time with their peers. Representing Richmond County at this year's retreat were Nathan Ezzell, Jade McCaskill, Courtney Miller, Katelyn Miller, Sarah Tyler and Hannah Webb, The event started with a district meeting conducted by our outgoing officers, President Dixie Acorn, Vice President Luke Hill and reporter Courtney Miller. The officers laid out the ground rules for the event, and gave everyone a heads up on what gets you spirit stick points. Spirit stick points included everything from behavior to participation, appropriate dress and enthusiasm. This year it also included the amount of canned food donated as part of the state 4-H project. More than 70 pounds of food were donated by our youth, at this single event, to go to area food banks.

After the opening meeting it was a brief break for lunch before we headed into our workshops.  The teens had the opportunity to choose from three workshops. In the first session, past officer Allen Monk and Bladen County 4-H Agent Angela Shaver taught Health Rocks!  This is a curriculum that lets youth know about the dangers of drugs and alcohol as well as ways to manage stress and peer relationships. You could also conquer their fear of public speaking in a workshop lead by Luke Hill. At the same time Dixie Acorn showed people how to use cabbage leaves, clay and spray paint to make butterfly puddles. After an hour the youth switched workshops and in round two could take Health Rocks!, butterfly puddles, or a workshop on icebreakers. The Ice Breaker workshop was taught but our own 4-H Agent Michelle Stumbo and her colleague (or partner in crime as they say of each other) Shea Ann DeJarnette. The two conducted several types of icebreaker activities with the group that can be used to start meetings, or other events that don't need to be started too formally.

After the workshops it was time to move into our hotel rooms, get changed and head to the bowling alley. Everyone had a good time knocking down the pins in a friendly competition. We had the chance to play two games and relax with our new friends before heading back to change and have dinner.
Dinner concluded and we went right into campaigning. Only one person was running for President, Vice President, and Secretary. However there was a little competition for reporter. Andrew Tuso from Moore County and Jordan Purser from Union County were in a head to head showdown for this position. The youth set up campaign booths and talked with all the delegates, giving out reminders of who to vote for.

Campaigning was followed by our traditional dance. Youth crowded onto the dance floor to socialize to the music, while others filled our game room to play cards, checkers, and anything else the 4-H agents picked up along the way. After the dance it was off to bed to get ready for an early morning.
By 8:30 our youth were checked out of their rooms and downstairs enjoying a hot breakfast. As soon as that was down it was time to vote for our new district officers. Each county has a certain number of votes based on the size of the 4-H program in their county and may split their votes however they like for candidates. While the votes were tabulated it was time for the skit portion of the spirit stick competition. Each county was to preform a skit based on 4-H and the state theme. The different counties were awarded points based on the skits which went to their overall total of spirit stick points.

After tabulating votes and spirit stick points it was time for all the big announcements. This year the spirit stick went to Scotland County. They will take it home with them and bring it back at next year's teen retreat.  The South Central District officers for 2010-2011 are Darren Lefler of Moore County, President; Laura Ashley Willis of Bladen County, Vice President; Jordan Purser of Union County, Reporter; and Tatiana Price of Cumberland County, Secretary. Congratulations to all our new officers and we are looking forward to their leadership when they are installed at the end of Congress. If you would like to see some of the highlights from Teen Retreat please click here for our video of the event or click here to check out the pictures.