4-H having strong summer after ‘green light’

This is part of a series of stories about United Way of Richmond County’s agencies. Their annual Day of Caring event will kick off on Friday, September 17, 2021. Each Saturday, look for stories featuring each of their agencies leading up to the event and learn how to get involved at http://unitedwayrichmondnc.net/.

ROCKINGHAM — After getting the green light for in-person activities in June, 4-H of Richmond County has been busy hosting events for over local children.

This summer, 4-H partnered with Richmond County Schools for their summer program to plan daily STEM activities and field trips for K-5 students.

“It was all hands-on,” said 4-H Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development Catherine Shelley. “Instead of just reading a science book all summer, the kids just made something.”

That included activities such as modeling rollercoasters using marbles and tracks, building robots and flying kites. A field trip to Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve allowed for children to learn about birds and trees during a hike.

4-H clubs such as the Livestock, Barnyard, Cooking Clovers (virtual) and Shooting Sports Clubs have still been able to meet regularly. From January to May of this year, all of their activities were virtual.

Millstone 4-H was able to operate through this summer at 50% capacity. Overall, Shelley said that 4-H has been able to have their normal amount of participants at their programs.

“Our Livestock Club is in full swing,” Shelley said. There are shows every Saturday between now and the state fair.

Shelley said that seven families are showing goats, and four families are raising turkeys to present at the fair.

The Shooting Sports club will be in “full swing” by Sept. 11. All 4-H enrollment and activities are free.

The Richmond County Goat Show will be held on Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. The Egg-Cellent Egg Contest entry deadline is Sept. 10, and the program runs from Sept. 14 to Nov. 14.

October 3-9 is National 4-H Week. Shelley said that there will be many service projects available throughout the county that will be announced.

Individuals can enroll in 4-H activities at https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in. Shelley said parents can feel free to contact her at 910-471-0528.

“Once parents call me, and they can figure out what their kids are interested in, then I can give them a better path of ‘I think you should come to the Cooking Clovers Club, or we might have this upcoming event that might fit your kids needs,’” Shelley said.

Their annual fundraiser was not held in 2020 due to COVID-19, but Shelley said that any contributions, whether it’s financial, time or talent, are always appreciated. 4-H’s programming isn’t limited to the summer; they have year-round programming.

“Whatever your talent that you are capable of doing, and loving working with kids, we would love to talk to you,” Shelley said.

You can find more information about Richmond County 4-H at https://richmond.ces.ncsu.edu/richmond-county-4-h-clubs/or by calling 910-471-0528. United Way of Richmond County Executive Director Michelle Parrish can be contacted at michelleparrish@bellsouth.net or 910-997-2173.

United Way’s local service organizations

The other United Way agencies are as follows:

• Leak Street Alumni

• Pee Dee Pregnancy Resource Center

• New Horizons Life and Family Services

• Sandhills Children’s Center UW

• Back Pack Pals

• Richmond County Rescue Squad

• Samaritan Colony

• Salvation Army

• Richmond County 4-H

• Red Cross

• Richmond County Schools Exceptional Children’s Department

• Boy Scouts of America

• Richmond County Aging Services

• Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills

• Our Daily Bread