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!!

Camp for Christmas!!

2008 Campers take some time to get to know Gimlie, one of the camp’s horses, between riding and grooming lessons.

It’s that time again!! No, not for snowflakes and Santa, but for thinking about canoes, crafts and Richmond County 4-H Camp! What better present under the tree than a week of fun and excitement this summer!! If you pay the deposit before Dec. 19th, we will make you a certificate to open (maybe wrapped inside a new sleeping bag, etc?!?)

We will be camping at Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Camp in Reidsville, NC. We will depart on Sunday, July 26th and return on Friday, July 31st, 2009.

The camp is accredited by the ACA and is staffed by trained and dedicated young men and women from across the country and around the world. Youth aged 9-14 participate in horseback riding, canoeing, archery, climbing, swimming, arts & crafts, cookouts, campfires, nature exploration, team-building, high ropes, and much more. Adventure programs offer older youth (13 and 14 year olds) opportunities to gain compass, GPS and other outdoor living skills, plus participate in rock climbing, swift water canoeing and more. All these activities help youth improve their leadership and communication skills while making new friends from across the state.

If you are interested in more information about 4-H Camp, and to pay a $50 deposit or the whole camp fee of $315, call 997-8255 or email michelle_stumbo@ncsu.edu for a copy of the camp form! You can also check out what happened at camp this year in earlier posts. There will be an opportunity to receive $50 -$100 Camp Scholarships this year, and the application will be mailed to those having paid their deposits before April 1st!!! Merry Christmas & Happy Camping!!



2008 Campers learn water safety while having fun on the lake. Older campers even get to try their hand at swift water canoeing.