Matthew McClellan: 4-H helps youth excel

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 24, 2017

By Matthew McClellan

Rowan County 4-H agent

With summer winding down and school getting ready to start again, let’s put a bow on our summer 4-H activities, give some final shoutouts to some incredible youth and tell you about some of the opportunities coming soon in Rowan County 4-H.

I’m going to start this segment with a huge congratulations to Micah Furr. Micah was selected for the North Carolina 4-H Honor Club at N.C. 4-H Congress at the end of July. This honor takes years of dedication to the 4-H program at every level to be selected.

Micah was one of four Rowan County 4-Hers to win eligibility to compete at the Southern Regional Horse Show in Perry, Georgia. Rowan 4-H was well represented with Micah, Hannah Barringer, Jaysa Causby and Nicole Lackey all finishing in the top 10 of the gaited pleasure category.

Also happening at N.C. 4-H Congress were state presentation finals, in which Rowan County had two competitors. Nathan Gobble brought home the silver medal in the wildlife and forestry category. Sam Oster was a state winner in the agricultural science category. Nathan’s presentation was on hunting and deer management, and Sam presented on peanuts.

These are huge accomplishments. Think, if you will, about speaking in front of a room full of complete strangers at the age of 13 and 16. Now, imagine speaking in front of that full room of strangers and knowing that you are being judged on the material that you are presenting. This is the scenario that these two young men walked into and excelled at.

Along with presentations, N.C. 4-H Congress hosts the state AIRE competition. This is a job skill and interview competition in which youths gain skills in resume preparation and interviewing. Rowan 4-H had one competitor in the mock AIRE competition, Christian Stebe. Christian isn’t old enough to compete for the national trip selections but gained valuable experience and will compete well in future years.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that we also had two delegates to 4-H Congress. Anthony Blandino and Holly Wallace attended N.C. 4-H Congress and took part in all of the leadership training, community service and state 4-H business sessions.

As part of 4-H Congress, Holly and Anthony took part in the Hands to Service project in which they helped package food to be distributed through food banks across North Carolina. The 4-H delegation packaged 80,000 meals, some of which will help families here in Rowan County.

I want to mention a couple of things coming up in 4-H world that you may want your children to take part in. First, 4-H will hold a pet show at the Rowan County Fair this year, and we’d love to have new 4-H members take part.

Animals in the pet show don’t have to be registered, and this is meant to be a fun activity. Youths will be interviewed about their pet and get to show off their animals. To participate in the pet show, youths do need to be members of 4-H (which is easy and free). Just fill out the membership forms, and then enter the pet show. All entry materials can be obtained from the 4-H office.

Also coming up this fall isa Fall Festival with a pumpkin decorating contest, sewing contest and several other fun competitions. Again, this program is open to all 4-H members; more information can be obtained from the 4-H office.

If you’d like to have your child take part in anything you’ve read about here or the many other 4-H opportunities that I don’t have space to list, come by and see me at the Cooperative Extension office, 2727 Old Concord Road, or give me a call at 704-216-8970. I’d love to hear from you and help you find a place in Rowan County 4-H.