Dawn Stuckey, 4-H Youth Development Agent Hampton County
Hampton County 4-H programs have accomplished great things this year. Club numbers have increased, leading to the establishment of a Cloverbuds group for our youngest members. Cloverbud members spend time learning about the different programs in 4-H and building citizenship skills. This year, the Cloverbud club learned about club officer roles and running a business meeting by drawing for officers at each meeting. This will give them an idea of the responsibilities involved with each office as they progress through the program, from local club officers to state and national club officers.
Hampton Jr/Sr 4-H Club wrapped up the year with learning about taxidermy with Mr. Nate Mixson. Mr. Mixson demonstrated the process from start to finish with a ring-necked pheasant.
Jr Leadership Updates:
Hampton County 4-H Jr Leadership program graduated its first class of students on May 29, 2025. Ten sophomores and juniors from Hampton County High School and Patrick Henry Academy made up the inaugural class for the newly developed leadership program. Starting in September, students have participated in monthly sessions of career and leadership skill development through site visits and meetings with local business and governmental leaders. The 2025 Hampton County 4-H Jr. Leadership graduates are SaQuoia Sexton, Warren Williams, Daivon Glover, Trayveon Adkins, Jacob Corley, Taylor Terry, Kaseana Badger-Williams, Rebecca Sobey, Julianne Miley, and Elizabeth Shaffer.
Applications have been accepted and are being reviewed for the 2026 class of Hampton County Jr. Leadership. Students will attend orientation in August, and the program will begin in September. For more information about the 4-H Jr. Leadership program or Hampton County 4-H, please contact Dawn Stuckey at dstucke@clemson.edu.
83rd Hampton County Watermelon Festival Children’s Day
Once again, Hampton County 4-H shared in the festivities of the Watermelon Festival. Staying true to our agricultural roots, this year, 4-H Agent Dawn Stuckey and Commercial Horticulture Agent Anna Sara Hill provided activities on pollinators to youth attending the festival’s Children’s Day in the Park. Youth learned what crops depend on pollinators, which crops are better because of pollinators, and which crops do not need pollination, then constructed a mini greenhouse of sunflowers to take home. Over 200 families visited the Clemson Extension tent this year.
2025 Tractor Operator’s Contest
Another 4-H event at this year’s Hampton County Watermelon Festival was the 4-H Tractor Operator’s contest. Youth between the ages of 16 and 18 signed up to complete a safety course, a written test, an equipment identification walk-around, and an obstacle course. Participants were ranked based on a total score of all competition events to determine the top operators.
Do you like to spend your summer reading good books? How about listening to someone read a story to you? This summer, you can do both at the Hampton and Estill libraries! From June to the end of July, Hampton 4-H will be at the libraries every Tuesday sharing books and activities that teach us the patterns we can find in nature and how to use recycled materials to create something new. We started by creating a fun art project from recycled materials donated by our community members, and then we read the book Kenya’s Art for inspiration. We learned that many scientists who have changed the world started collecting and studying things when they were young. The book “What’s in Your Pocket” taught students how George Washington Carver, Jane Goodall, Mary Anning, and many other kids throughout history found all kinds of strange and wonderful things that changed the world of science. Several programs remain that will intrigue and inspire our youngest scientists to discover great things.
4-H Summer Fun at the Library
Do you like to spend your summer reading good books? How about listening to someone read a story to you? This summer, you can do both at the Hampton and Estill libraries! From June to the end of July, Hampton 4-H will be at the libraries every Tuesday sharing books and activities that teach us the patterns we can find in nature and how to use recycled materials to create something new. We started by creating a fun art project from recycled materials donated by our community members, and then we read the book Kenya’s Art for inspiration. We learned that many scientists who have changed the world started collecting and studying things when they were young. The book “What’s in Your Pocket” taught students how George Washington Carver, Jane Goodall, Mary Anning, and many other kids throughout history found all kinds of strange and wonderful things that changed the world of science. Several programs remain that will intrigue and inspire our youngest scientists to discover great things.
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