By Sara Drake

Rowan Cooperative Extension

More than 600 4-H members, volunteers, family members and N.C. Cooperative Extension staff from 19 area counties attended the annual South Central 4-H District Activity Day held on May 2 at Cox Mill High School in Concord.

Children participated in a science fair, public speaking competition, talent showcase and agriculture-related events.

The top two winners in each age division and category for their respective county competed at this event. A total of 198 youth, ages 5-18, competed at the event.

The day began with presentation and public speaking contests, as well as 4-H Entertains.

Public speaking is a common fear among adults. 4-H District Activity Day gives youth the opportunity to practice public speaking and presentation skills. 4-H presentation and public speaking contests aid youth in learning how to research a subject, organize ideas, and practice public speaking and communication skills.

The 4-H Entertains program is a showcase of talent in which participants perform on stage in front of judges who critique their performance. Two acts were selected to perform during the awards assembly. All acts have the potential of being selected to perform at State 4-H Congress in Raleigh in July.

Rowan County participants were Anthony Blandino, Sara Blandino, Emily Gobble, Nathan Gobble, Sam Oster, Kaylee Patterson, Christian Stebe and Holly Wallace.

Sara Blandino – Participation ribbon for presenting on bobcats in Cloverbud 7-8 year old division.

Emily Gobble – Participation ribbon for showing how to groom a horse in Cloverbud 7-8 year old division.

Nathan Gobble – Gold medal for competing in 9-10 year old Electric category and Science and Technology category; gold medal in 9-10 year old science fair

Christian Stebe – Bronze medal for competing in 9-10 year old Electric category and Science and Technology category.

Kaylee Patterson – Participated in 11-13 year old Foods and Nutrition category

Sam Oster – Gold medal in 11-13 year old Peanut Foods category; played a clarinet solo titled, “Celtic Air and Dance #2” in 4-H Entertains; gold medal in 11-13 year old science fair

Holly Wallace – Silver medal in 14-18 year old Open Class

Anthony Blandino – Bronze medal in the Science and Technology 14-18 category

Rowan County 4-H had six first-time presenters at the district level this year –Anthony Blandino, Sara Blandino, Emily Gobble, Kaylee Patterson, Christian Stebe and Holly Wallace.

Rowan County Cooperative Extension was also asked to provide judges for the contest. Judging the Foods and Nutrition category were Becky Lyerly and Lovetta Miller.

Osco Deal and Michael Everhart judged the Livestock and Dairy Production category.  Providing feedback in the Cloverbud 5-6 year old category were Penny Collins and Laura Vella. Assisting the judges were extension agents Toi Degree, Thomas Cobb and Danelle Cutting.

For more information concerning 4–H opportunities, please contact Sara Drake, 4–H Extension Agent, at sara_drake@ncsu.edu or at 704-216-8970. For more information about NC Cooperative Extension, call the Rowan Extension Office at 704-216-8970, or visithttp://rowan.ces.ncsu.edu.