Dawn Stuckey, Senior Agent, Hampton County 4-H Youth Development Agent
Hampton County 4-H Programs:
Hampton County 4-H Jr. Leadership program is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 cohort. The Jr. Leadership program is designed to expose high school sophomores and juniors to potential careers in Hampton County. Through site visits and meetings with professionals, students have the opportunity to learn the skills needed to develop a plan for life after high school graduation.
To learn more about the program, please contact Dawn Stuckey at dstucke@clemson.edu.
Hampton County 4-H Club News
Hampton County 4-H club fulfilled its mission to “Hands to Larger Service” by packing First Night Bags for the Hampton County Department of Social Services. Members packed bags containing toiletries, clothes, and comfort items to provide a displaced child with something of their own while they are being placed in foster care. The club would like to challenge other groups in the county to participate in this project. The club packed and delivered 5 bags to the DSS office.
Clemson Extension and Hampton County 4-H Provide activities for the 2026 Hampton County Watermelon Festival.
Tractor Driving
Saturday, June 20, 2026, marked the annual Hampton County 4-H Tractor Driving Contest for the 84th Hampton County Watermelon Festival. Youth from around the area had the opportunity to test their knowledge and skills for awards and prizes. This year’s winners were: 1st Place – CJ Ulmer, 2nd Place – Everett Ulmer, 3rd Place – Miles Stanley, and 4th Place – Jake Runkle. Participants completed a safety course and knowledge test, then a walk-through safety test and drove the obstacle courses. The contest focuses on knowledge, skill, and precision, and the participant with the highest cumulative score in each category earns the top prize.
This year’s sponsors for the contest were Hampton United Methodist Church, Bank of the Lowcountry, Murdaugh Kuboda, Green Acres Turf Farm, Brunson Ace Hardware, and J. R. Wilson.
C.J. Ulmer wins 1st place at the 84th Annual Watermelon Festival Tractor Driving Contest.
Everett Ulmer won 2nd place at the 84th Annual Watermelon Festival Tractor Driving Contest.
Miles Stanley won 3rd Place at the 84th Annual Watermelon Festival Tractor Driving Contest.
Jake Runkle won 4th Place at the 84th Annual Watermelon Festival Tractor Driving Contest.
Hampton County Watermelon Festival’s Children’s Day at the Park
Nearly 600 children and adults attended this year’s Children’s Day event at Lake Warren State Park. This event attracts a crowd of all ages and is anticipated annually by both patrons and vendors. Hampton County 4-H and Extension is always among the crowd. This year, 4-H and Extension Agents Dawn Stuckey (4-H), Rogan Gibson (Row Crops), Anna Sarah Hill (Horticulture), and Molly Jones (Water Resources) shared with attendees the benefits of pollinators and allowed them to plant a small watermelon greenhouse to take home.
