2011 4-H Photo Contest

Get ready for the 2011 4-H Photo Contest!

NEW THIS YEAR: We are now accepting and encouraging digital entries! 
In an effort to reduce costs to participants, we are no longer requiring a
print entry. Instead, you may email high-resolution digital images to
rebecca_kirkland@ncsu.edu. Please use NC 4-H Photo Contest 2011
for the subject line in each email.

Participants can submit their entries now through Wednesday, June 15,
2011. Winning entries will be displayed at 4-H Congress in July. The
purpose of this exhibition is to provide a showcase of 4-H members'
photographic accomplishments. After Congress, the winning photos will be
displayed at meetings and events throughout the year.

Contest categories this year include our standard "4-H in Action"
and "Nature's Beauty" categories, with a new category this year of
"Patterns." Each category will be divided into a Junior (Ages 9-12)
and Senior (Ages 13-19) division.  For more information,
including rules, entry forms and winning entries from previous years,
please click here .

For any questions contact the Wilkes Cooperative Extension
Service at 336-651-7331.  

Wilkes County Youth Attend Teen Retreat

The West Central District 4-H Teen Retreat was held March 11 – March 13 at Betsy -Jeff Penn

4-H Camp in Reidsville NC. A delegation from Wilkes County attended the retreat. Those attending from Wilkes county were Brooke Yates, Anna Venturini, Gabby Venturini, Moriah Boggess, Weston Shew, Angel Shumate and Jonathan Owens. During the weekend youth had the opportunity to participate in workshops on citizenship, leadership and financial literacy. Participants also completed a community service project, cleaning up trails at the camp. District officer elections were also held during the weekend. Jonathan Owens of Wilkes County was elected the new secretary treasurer for the West Central District, Jonathan will be replacing current secretary treasurer, Brooke Yates also of Wilkes County. The new officers will be installed at the annual candle lighting ceremony during 4-H Congress July 18 -21. For more information on how you can become a part of 4-H you can contact the Wilkes Cooperative Extension Service at 336-651-7331.

Poultry Poster Contest

Start working now on your poster for the 2011 Poultry Poster Contest. The theme for this year's contest is "The History of The Turkey". Youth will be judged in the following age categories: 9-10, 11-13, 14-19. Ages 5-8 will be awarded on the county level only. Posters should be standard size 22"x 28" . For more information click here , or contact the Extension Office at 336-651-7336.

It’s time to show off all your culinary skills at the upcoming Food Show! The Area Food Show including Ashe, Alleghany, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties will be held on February 19 at East Wilkes Middle School and is open to youth ages 5 and up. There are three age categories to participate in: Cloverbud (ages 5-8), Junior (9-13), and Senior (14-18).

Categories include snack/appetizer, main dish, vegetable/soup/salad and desserts.

The theme for this event is “4-H Hungry to Help: The Kitchen Is Open!”

Setup will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 9:45 a.m. Your dish must be cooked ahead of time. Judging will begin at 9:45 a.m. While judges taste all the wonderful recipes, participants can enjoy different hands-on activities. Participants will be judged on recipe, taste, table setting and nutrition. All participants will receive a cookbook of all the recipes featured at the event. You must fill out a registration form to participate, come by the the Extension Office to get one. There are sample questions listed of things the judges may ask you. Forms must be completed by February 16 if you plan to participate.If you would like more information about food show, please contact the office at 336-651-7331.

The Wilkes County 4-H program held it’s annual 4-H Achievement Night on Monday January 31, 2011 at the Stone Center. The event brought together 4-H youth, volunteers, Cooperative Extension staff and supporters for a night of food and fun. Judy West, Extension Agent, FCS/4-H welcomed the group and recognized special guests and Extension staff; Jamie Stroud and Vickie Shew, 4-H staff and Bill Hanlin County Extension Director. 4-H youth and volunteers were recognized for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the 4-H program during the 2010-year. In keeping with the NC 4-H community service initiative, the theme for the event was “4-H is Hungry to Help”. Each day hunger disrupts the lives of 1 in 5 children in North Carolina. To combat hunger the NC 4-H Youth Development program and the Food Banks of North Carolina, have teamed up to promote awareness of hunger in North Carolina and to make an impact in local communities through a new hunger awareness initiative entitled “Hungry to Help.” To help in Wilkes County donations of non-perishable food items may be brought to the Extension Office or the Brushy Mountain Smokehouse, collections will be distributed to local food banks.

Décor focused on “feeding the hungry” and those attending brought in non-perishable food items. Over 350 lbs of food were collected and donated to Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission (BROC). Ms. Dare Stromer and Ms.Karen McNeil were the guest speakers from BROC. They spoke to the group about the importance of hunger awareness in our county and how 4-H’ers can help.

County Commissioner, Charles Sink and Cooperative Extension Advisory Board President, Ms. Nila Johnston presented the achievement awards.

One new club, The Liberty Kids, led by Michelle Griffin was chartered and recognized this year. Gabrielle Venturini was honored as senior 4-H’er of the year, Kyle Rhodes as Junior 4-H’er of the year and Elizabeth Carter, Trenton Rhodes, Lucca Venturini, and Rose Lovette were Cloverbud (age 5-9) 4-Her’s of the year. 4-H youth are awarded 4-H’er of the year based on their accomplishments in project work, presentations, club activity, community service, and county participation. Seven youth who are active in the Red Dirt Diggers gardening club received certification as Junior Master Gardeners in Growing a Vegetable Garden; Andrew Meeks, Eli Meeks, Addison Meeks, Alyse Venturni, Anna Venturini, Gabrielle Venturini and Jonathan Newman.

4-H is volunteer driven and many were recognized for outstanding service.

Ms. Arbie Alison was honored for receiving the North Carolina 4-H volunteer lifetime achievement award. Arbie has been an active volunteer with 4-H on a county, district and state level for over 12 years. She will receive her state award in Raleigh Saturday February 5. Mr. Watson and Ms.Dawn Ward were also recognized for their commitment to 4-H in leading the 4-H Explorer club for 13 years. Officers for the Wilkes County 4-H Volunteer Leader Association were also recognized for providing leadership for over 42 4-H volunteers. Dave Venturini, President, Susan, Venturini, Secretary, Arbie Allison, Treasurer, and Michelle Griffin, Vice President.

The Brushy Mountain Smokehouse, Wilkes Farm Bureau, and Arlena and Lamar Creasman sponsored the achievement night.

Wilkes County 4-H would like to thank all 4-H youth and volunteers for all their hard work and look forward to what 2011 have in store. Wilkes County 4-H is a United Way supported agency. For more information on how to become a volunteer or involve your child in 4-H contact the Wilkes Cooperative Extension Service at (336) 651-7331.

REMINDER !

Wilkes County 4-H Achievement night will be held Monday January 31 at the Stone Family Center. Dinner will begin at 5:30. Our guest speaker will be Ms. Dare Stromer, director of Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission focusing on why we should be "Hungry to Help" our community. Remember to bring a non-perishable food item as your ticket in the door to be distributed to local hunger serving agencies. Join us to celebrate the accomplishments of all our 4-H'ers in 2010!

NC 4-H International Exchange Program

Host family applications are now being accepted for the NC 4-H International Exchange Program. This year NC will be hosting delegates from Norway, Costa Rica, Argentina and Finland. The commitment is a month long students are required to stay with families that have a host sibling of the same gender, within 2 years of the same age, and have similar interests. The ages of the students coming are 15 to 19 years old.All of these programs require that families be willing to engage the youth in 4-H activities while they are in America. The host family application, references and disclosure forms must be completed by to me by January 28. In addition, all in-home interviews will also be conducted for those wishing to participate in the program.
Applications, reference forms, disclosure forms and supplemental data sheets may be found here For questions or additional information please do not hesitate to contact the Wilkes Cooperative Extension office at 336-651-7331.