350 4-H'ers gathered at Dorton Arena for a Hands to Service project repackaging food for hunger relief agencies. (Marc Hall photo)

4-H'ers attending State 4-H Congress this week in Raleigh committed to an ambitious goal of collecting 1 million pounds of food for North Carolina’s food banks as part of a campaign called Hungry to Help.

Conducted in partnership with the Food Banks of North Carolina, the campaign is designed to promote awareness of hunger in North Carolina and to help stop it. To get started, 350 4-H'ers gathered at Dorton Arena at the State Fairgrounds Wednesday to repackage 37,900 pounds of pasta from massive containers into smaller, family-sized portions.

Savannah’s agitation, a symptom of Asperger’s syndrome, melted away, and the youngster was calm. The change was so dramatic that Eileen Lowery of Kill Devil Hills knew her daughter needed another chance to ride.

Last week, 6-year-old Savannah got that opportunity at the 4-H Rural Center’s therapeutic riding program. With pink cowgirl boots and riding cap, Savannah took no time to adjust. Before the end of her first half-hour session, she was urging the horse Minnie Pearl to trot faster, much to the pleasure of mom and instructor Sam Iulo of Jarvisburg.

Read more from The Daily Advance

Congress will be held July 19-22 at North Carolina State University and other Raleigh locations. The annual event will attract more than 500 4-H club members, adult volunteers and 4-H agents with North
Carolina Cooperative Extension.

During the four-day event, delegates also will participate in competition, workshops, assemblies, recreation, fellowship and service to the community.

4-H Bryan Blake harvests blueberries as part of a Moore County extension project. (Marc Hall photo)

Eight teens and tweens wandered beneath and between the branches of blueberry bushes under a sweltering July sun in Moore County's Cameron community. Some mentioned the careers they'd like to pursue when they grow up: One said a hockey player. Another, an auto mechanic. And yet another, a veterinarian.

The pool's construction was funded through special state legislative appropriations in 2007 and 2008 to upgrade the state's 4-H centers and camps. Most of the camp renovation projects are complete or nearing completion this summer.

"The new pool is a 'zero-entry pool,' meaning that you can walk or roll into it on the shallow end. This makes it completely accessible to those with disabilities and meets all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)," said Larry Hancock, N.C. Cooperative Extension 4-H specialist for camps and centers.

Third graders at West Smithfield Elementary School were all abuzz recently over the opportunity to take their classroom outdoors to study plants, insects and soils. And N.C. Cooperative Extension agent Amie Newsome dressed in a bee costume was the center of attention, as she shared information about insects with the eager students.

Newsome and four other local extension and conservation professionals were on hand for some serious science lessons, all conducted outdoors, using hands-on learning activities. The Scientists in the Classroom program is like an on-campus field trip to help students learn, according to school parent and program coordinator Paula Woodall.

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Using a three-tiered experiment model, the experiment engages youth of all ages to learn at the simplest level how carbon dioxide can affect aquatic animals, plants and other living organisms in lakes, streams, rivers and oceans. These activities help facilitators lead discussions to help youth better understand climate change.

North Carolina Sen. Dan Blue and ABC-11 senior anchor Larry Stogner will receive 4-H Lifetime Achievement Awards. Dr. Chester Black, former state 4-H program leader, will be honored for his recent induction into the National 4-H Hall of Fame.

“We are thrilled to honor Senator Blue, Larry Stogner and Chester Black at the 4-H Lifetime Achievement Awards event,” said Dr. Marshall Stewart, state 4-H program leader. “These gentlemen epitomize the very best of North Carolina 4-H and set a tremendous example for our young people to follow.”

Fifty years ago, North Carolina 4-H’er Larry Dilda of Pitt County stood with President Dwight D. Eisenhower on the steps of the National 4-H Conference Center in Washington, D.C. for the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the dedication of the center. Dilda was a 4-H Conference delegate that year, and president of the N.C. State College Collegiate 4-H Club, 1959-60. Dilda stood with Anita Hollmer Hodson, a New York 4-H’er, who was also on hand at the historic event, marking the opening of the center and the first-ever National 4-H Conference.

Dilda was on hand again to celebrate the conference center’s 50th birthday. On October 9, the National 4-H Heritage Club charter members gathered on the steps of JC Penney Hall (called Smith Hall in 1959) to witness the reenactment of the 1959 ribbon cutting. Hodson and Dilda were present to resume their historic roles. Don Floyd, National 4-H Council President and CEO played the role of President Eisenhower and cut the ribbon that marked the beginning of National 4-H Youth Conference Center’s next 50 years.

By ordering before Dec. 31, you may purchase the cookbook at the pre-press price of $14.95 plus shipping and handling. After Jan. 2, 2010, the price will be $18.95 plus shipping and handling.

This is a great fund-raising idea. Order a supply at the pre-press cost and sell them for a profit. An order form is available online at www.nc4hfund.org. To save the cost of shipping and handling, you may pick up your pre-paid orders at 512 Brickhaven, Raleigh, NC 27695.

For more information, please contact us at sharon_rowland@ncsu.edu or 919.515.9267 or devona_beard@ncsu.edu or 919.515.1680.

Braving blustery, chilly weather, 30 delegates traveled to Hershey, Pa. to represent North Carolina at the 75th annual National Junior Horticultural Association annual convention. 4-H youth and adult leaders participated in a weekend of contests, field trips and workshops to share their interest in plants, meet new friends from across the country and learn about Mid-Atlantic horticulture.

As part of a 75th anniversary celebration, NJHA invited past alumni to return, and one of North Carolina’s Extension legends was honored. Larry Bass, retired 4-H horticulture specialist, attended and received an induction into the NJHA Hall of Fame. NJHA was founded in 1934 by Grant Snyder, and since that time, it has had annual conventions to educate youth about horticulture, careers, leadership and education. The 2010 convention will be held in Cleveland, Ohio.

"No," she tells them, "it's community service."

For Jessica, a home-schooled high-school senior from Germanton who belongs to the Trailblazer Teens 4-H Club, 4-H is about such projects as playing music at nursing homes and helping to get shoeboxes filled with goodies for children in other countries at Christmas.

"I've always had a passion for community service," she said.

Yesterday, it was about playing guitar at the Dixie Classic Fair in the Forsyth County 4-H Acoustic Band to celebrate 100 years of 4-H clubs in North Carolina. The 4-H Birthday Bash was held at the Clock Tower Stage at the fair.

Read more from the Winston-Salem Journal.

We encourage you to tune in to your ABC television network affiliate starting at 1:00 pm, Sunday, Oct. 4, to watch as 4-H takes to the high banks of Kansas Speedway with Jeff Gordon. The placement of the 4-H clover on the No. 24 Chevrolet was made possible through a generous donation by DuPont, sponsor of both the No. 24 team and of 4-H.

NASCAR is working with the producers of ABC to have a live interview, during the pre-race show at 1:00 pm, with North Carolina 4-H Alum and NASCAR Hall of Fame Nominee Ned Jarrett along side our own Dr. Marshall Stewart, NC 4-H State Leader. The race is scheduled for a 2:00 pm start time.

Read more in The Mount Airy News

The deep booming voice that led the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” to 4-H at the Do-Tell Storyfest on July 11 belonged to former Extension 4-H Agent Earl Smith. Many 4-H alumni came to the celebration of 100 years of 4-H in North Carolina with one goal in mind: To see Earl Smith, Henderson County 4-H agent from 1957 through 1977, who continued to work as the ornamentals, small fruits, turf and forestry agent until 1985.

The Do-Tell Storyfest, which attracted 500 people, celebrated 4-H’s centennial in 2009. The event attracted professional storytellers, authors, musicians, poets and performers enchanted audiences to downtown shops and the historic county courthouse.