Author: hpalece

It’s been an exciting and busy few months for York County 4-H, and we’re thrilled to share some of the incredible milestones, achievements, and upcoming events that have kept our 4-H family thriving.

A Look Back: Achievements and Milestones

Over the past six months, York County 4-H has seen tremendous growth and enthusiasm, with over 500 registered members taking part in various projects and events that span our five program areas: STEM, Agriculture, Healthy Lifestyles, Civic Engagement, and Natural Resources. Here are just a few highlights from recent months:

Summer Camps: Fun, Learning, and Adventure

This past summer, York County 4-H offered a variety of engaging and educational summer camps that provided youth with opportunities to explore new interests, build friendships, and develop important life skills. From agriculture-focused camps, where participants learned hands-on about animal care and gardening, to STEM camps that sparked creativity and problem-solving, there was something for everyone. One of the highlights was our outdoor adventure camp, where youth enjoyed fishing, team-building activities, and learning about natural resources. These camps not only helped 4-H’ers gain knowledge but also created lasting memories and fostered a love for learning in a fun and supportive environment. We can’t wait to see what next summer holds!

York County 4-H Banquet

On August 29th, we gathered at 145 Blackburn St. in York, SC, for the 2024 York County 4-H Banquet. This event celebrated the dedication and achievements of our 4-H’ers, with 177 awards presented to members who excelled in their respective projects. A total of 75 youth were recognized for their outstanding efforts, and we had the honor of hearing from McKenna Johnson, a York County 4-H Alumna who is now studying at Clemson University. She inspired everyone in attendance by sharing her 4-H journey and the impact it had on her life. We also heard from Gavin Lewis, our 2023-2024 Teen Council President, who reflected on the past year and looked forward to the bright future ahead for York County 4-H. 

Multi-Species Showmanship Clinic and Supreme Showman Contest

This summer, York County 4-H hosted a Multi-Species Showmanship Clinic, providing our youth with hands-on training in showing a variety of animals, including cattle, goats, poultry, and swine. Participants had the chance to work with experienced mentors, learning the skills needed to handle and present different species in a competitive setting. This clinic culminated in the highly anticipated Supreme Showman Contest, where our talented 4-H’ers showcased their skills in front of judges, competing for the prestigious title of Supreme Showman. The contest not only tested their knowledge and abilities across multiple species but also demonstrated their dedication, hard work, and versatility as livestock exhibitors. This event proved to be one of the most challenging yet rewarding opportunities for our 4-H youth to demonstrate their mastery of showmanship and animal care. Congratulations to Senior 4-Her, Mattie Johnson, for being awarded this year’s Grand Champion in our Supreme Showman Contest.

Fall Livestock Show

The highly anticipated Fall Livestock Show was held on September 6th and 7th in Rock Hill. This event continues to be a highlight for our members who raise livestock, as well as a fantastic opportunity for the broader community to see firsthand the hard work our youth put into caring for their animals. Over 100 youth from all over the county gathered to show their livestock. Shows included Dairy Cattle, Dairy Goats, Horses, Poultry, and Meat Goats. We were honored to have the continued support of Councilman Tommy Adkins, who backed this event, and Councilwoman Christi Cox, who showed her support for the Dairy Goat project. These relationships between our 4-H members and local leaders demonstrate the strong ties we’ve built within the community.

Introducing the 4-H Bluegrass Project

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new 4-H Bluegrass Project, a unique opportunity for youth to dive into the world of Bluegrass music while developing leadership skills and a sense of community. This project has been a dream in the making for nearly two years, and we are excited to finally kick it off! Bluegrass music holds a special place in many of our lives, and through this project, we hope to share that passion with the next generation. Participants will not only learn to play and appreciate Bluegrass music but also gain valuable skills such as teamwork, confidence, and public speaking. The project will culminate in a trip to the SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America) in Nashville, TN, where members will experience the heart of the Bluegrass community. This project is sure to be an unforgettable experience, combining music, leadership, and community service in true 4-H spirit!

Stay Tuned for More!

As we head into the fall, we encourage everyone to stay connected with York County 4-H through our newsletters and social media pages. With so many exciting projects, events, and opportunities on the horizon, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for our 4-H’ers. Whether it’s through leadership, community service, or showcasing their skills in competitions, York County 4-H youth are proving they have what it takes to succeed and make a positive impact.

Thank you to all of our volunteers, sponsors, and supporters for making these incredible experiences possible. Your dedication to York County 4-H helps ensure that we continue to “make the best better” for our community.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming events!

Kristin Kunde

York County 4-H Agent
Cooperative Extension
Clemson University

120 N. Congress Street
York, SC 29745

803-639-9102
kkunde@clemson.edu

The growing importance consumers have placed on knowing where their food comes from has resulted in an increase in small-scale and backyard farming. A series of learning sessions and workshops aimed to educate those who are or are considering on producing their own meat, milk, or eggs has begun in York and surrounding counties by Clemson Extension Livestock and Forage agents. To date, four poultry, one goat, and one dairy workshop have been delivered with over 100 participants attending at least one. These programs have been held in conjunction with the Clover and Fort Mill Libraries and at local farms. The goal for these initial programs is to help participants determine if small-scale or backyard farming is right for them and the steps that need to be taken to get started. More in-depth workshops are being planned so if you are interested please contact the York County Extension Office.

Tina Horne
Livestock and Forages Agent
State Dairy Program Coordinator
thorn@clemson.edu

43 new farmers from across the state of South Carolina visited York County on September 28, 2023 to learn more about agritourism.  The workshop, coordinated by the South Carolina New and Beginning Farmer Program and York County’s Agribusiness Agent, Ben Boyles, allowed farmers to see agritourism operations first-hand through guided tours of 3 York County agritourism farms.  Farm stops included Tatanka Bison Ranch, Black’s Peaches, and Five Blossoms Farm.  Participants also heard from the South Carolina Agritourism Association and learned more about how to incorporate this type of enterprise into their farm business.

With the demand for beef up, more dairy producers are crossbreeding heifers or less productive cows with beef.  With this shift and an increased interest in local grown beef, several livestock and 4-H agents are piloting a beef on dairy youth project to allow youth opportunities to grow and show these animals.

This project will allow youth who do not have beef or dairy cattle of their own or are looking for a shorter-term project than the current dairy heifer project an opportunity.  Milky Way farm is willing to provide animals needed for this project and share with us the list of individuals that currently buy these animals from them.  They do not currently raise enough steers to fill the orders for meat that they have requests for.

Youth who sign up for the project will need to have the ability to care for and raise an animal up to 1000 pounds. Application process will give priority to those who do not have cattle of their own. Youth will sign up and pay $500 for these animals that will be randomly drawn in May.  Youth will then feed, care for and show these animals for one year. These animals will be able to show at several local shows and the South Carolina State Fair during the dairy show.  This is a terminal project and all will be sold for beef in October of the following year.

This project will give more youth the opportunity to learn about animal agriculture and may be a bridge for these youth to the beef or dairy heifer project.  It may also provide more siblings to participate in a cattle project should a family reach the maximum of two youth per family if there is a shortage of dairy project heifers.

Contact:

TINA HORN
LIVESTOCK AND FORAGES AGENT
STATE DAIRY PROGRAM COORDINATOR
York County Cooperative Extension
Clemson University
120 North Congress St.
York, South Carolina 29745
w 803-944-2089
thorn@clemson.edu 

York County Extension
Hello York County,
The extension agents are as busy as ever with programs. I hope you enjoy reading about the many
things we have been doing and programs upcoming.
We welcome Tina Horn, who serves as the livestock & forage agent in York County and works statewide
with dairy farms. Please contact our staff directly with your questions from this contact page:
https://www.clemson.edu/york/

Paul Thompson
Urban Horticulture Agent/County Coordinator

Learn more about our available online courses here:  https://cpe.clemson.edu/

The South Carolina Dairy Heifer Project began in 1974 and is one of the oldest 4-H projects of its kind in the Nation. This project was designed to provide youth in South Carolina an opportunity to raise a dairy heifer and experience the dairy industry, and then sell their heifer at the South Carolina Dairy Heifer Project Bred Heifer Sale. Throughout the years, thousands of South Carolina youth have taken part in 4-H dairy work. These 4-H and Dairy Heifer Project alumni can be found in all “walks of life.” Many are outstanding farmers and leaders of the dairy industry, while others are doctors, veterinarians, and teachers. In nearly every case, these people look back on this 4-H dairy experience as an outstanding part of their youth.

As the dairy industry has changed and evolved over the years, so has the South Carolina Dairy Heifer Project. Due to COVID restrictions, the 2020 Bred Heifer Sale was held online for the first time with great success. Due to that success, the sale has been permanently moved to an online format and the event dates have been adjusted to better suit the needs of the dairy industry. Through all the changes, the South Carolina Dairy Heifer Project has continued to thrive and reach youth across the state. Thirty-seven heifers are currently in project and under the care of 4-H youth and eighteen of those youth are from York County.

The 4-H and FFA dairy project members exhibit their dairy project animals at fairs, shows, and events in nearly every region of the state. Millions of people have seen or learned about 4-H and FFA through these youth dairy exhibits at the many fairs and events in South Carolina. This offers a tremendous opportunity for 4-H, FFA, Clemson Cooperative Extension, and the dairy industry to educate and inform the public about the dairy industry and youth dairy programs. Many thanks go out to the industry for the support of the program. Heifers for the project come from project alumni and producers across the Southeast who have seen the impact the project has had and is continuing to have on our youth.

4-H is doing so much in York County! This summer we hosted many 4-H opportunities for the youth. We were able to have camps and teach youth about outdoor art, sewing, playing guitar, baking, insect identification, horses, cooking, and leadership. Our county sent 11 youth to Clemson for a week to learn about statewide 4-H opportunities, build relationships with 4-Her’s from other counties, and enjoy workshops on life skills and leadership. Our youth have also been working hard this summer to prepare for the fall livestock show season. Many of these 4-Her’s will be showed at the York County Fall Livestock Show on September 8th & 9th. To wrap up the summer events and celebrate all that our youth accomplished, we will be hosted a York County 4-H Awards Banquet. We enjoyed recognizing all the youth who spent time with us this year.

September 1st kicked off the 2023-2024 4-H Year and 4-H is continuing to grow. We have 11 active 4-H clubs with 6 more planned to pick up in the next two months. We will have 10 schools offering afterschool 4-H clubs this school year and many more participating in our 4-H Embryology, School Gardening, and Ecosystems projects. 14 youth were just named York County 4-H Project Ambassadors and we have 13 State 4-H Ambassadors this year from York County. Our programs would not be possible without our amazing volunteers. We conducted volunteer training in August and trained 22 volunteers for the 2023-2024 4-H year. Our kids are excited and motivated to do more for their community and our volunteers are prepared to support their efforts. I am so thankful for the energy and excitement that these 4-Hers are receiving from their community.
The Spirit of 4-H Award is a South Carolina 4-H honor recognizing an outstanding individual based off their ability to exemplify the four Hs: Head, Heart, Health, and Hands. Criteria that are used to select the recipient each year includes impact in the community, impact on the 4-H program, program responsibility, level of involvement in the county program, and level of involvement in the state program. I’m so excited to announce that Riley Cotton from the York County Happy Hooves 4-H Club was selected as this year’s Spirit of 4-H Award Winner. She truly deserves this recognition for all that she has done for York County 4-H. Read her 4-H Story Below.

Riley Cotton: 2023 SC Spirit of 4-H Award Recipient
As a member of their local 4-H horse club, Riley Cotton takes an active part in her club meetings, serving as the secretary. She has participated in many counties and statewide events. Riley has shown in the State 4-H Horse Show for many years and competes in Hippology. Riley volunteers at a local therapeutic riding center and helps with their annual Special Olympics team. She’s supported their local 4-H program by obtaining sponsorships for their county livestock shows. Riley gives back to their community and helps whenever she can. Riley possesses leadership qualities that are easily seen by those around her. She is passionate about 4-H and wants to see everyone succeed. She is a role model for the younger 4-Hers in our county and loves to share her passion for agriculture with the community. Riley has been a huge part of the success of 4-H in York County. Congratulations on being this year’s South Carolina Spirit of 4-H Award Winner.

Community Service

Our community service projects encompass the 4-H pledge to better our ‘community, country, and world’. Whenever you come to a York County 4-H Event, remember to bring ONE of the following:

• A Canned Good for local Food Pantries & Blessing Boxes
• A Soda or Soup Can Tab for the Ronald McDonald House
• A Dollar for the Samaritan’s Purse: Animals, Agriculture & Livelihoods Projects

All of our club leaders and volunteers can accept your donations and will ensure it is brought to the County Extension Office to be donated with the other items.

4-H Future Events

New 4-H Club Coming to York, SC:
We will be starting a general 4-H club in York, SC. This club will have a youth lead business meeting at the beginning, an educational program in the middle, and small group project time at the end of each club meeting. We are inviting any youth who are interested to attend. We want to extend a special invitation to anyone who has been showing meat goats, poultry, or rabbits to use this opportunity to join a 4-H club. This club will meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM at the York County Clemson Extension office. 

Spirit Night & Community Musicians Jam:
We will be having monthly spirit nights at Towne Tavern in York on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. A percentage of the proceeds that night will be donated to our York County 4-H Program. We hope that you will come out and join us on October 17th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. We are also inviting local musicians to come and enjoy time playing music together. If your child would be interested in playing with other musicians, please encourage them to bring their instrument.

Events:
October 11th – 25th: South Carolina State Fair
October 16th: York County 4-H Advisory Board Meeting
October 21st: 4-H Day at the State Fair 4-H Members get in Free
October 21st: HappyHooves 4-H Club Sponsored Horse Show & Clinics, Clover, SC

Registration Deadlines:
October 1st: 4-H Membership with Free T-shirt
November 1st – December 5th: York County 4-H & FFA Swine Project

https://4honline.com/

Our mailing address is:
Clemson University Cooperative Extension
120 N. Congress St.
York, SC 29745

Health Extension for Diabetes is now available in York County and has had several graduating cohorts in 2023. This diabetes self-management and support program is offered in-person or online for those with a diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. During this program, participants learn about topics such as healthy eating with diabetes, the importance of physical activity, how to manage stress, and more to successfully self-managing their diabetes. For more information: https://clemson.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_07gV9gl3ZHOAohU

SC Farmer Resource Rodeo Connects Farmers and Resource Providers

The SC Farmer Resource Rodeo returned in 2023 as part of the annual South Carolina Local Food Summit. Sponsored by Clemson University Cooperative Extension’s South Carolina New and Beginning Farmer Program (SCNBFP), the rodeo showcased over 40 organizations that provide farmer support, including education and Extension staff, lenders, granting organizations, land and production resources, state and federal agencies, regulatory bodies, non-profit assistance and more. Participating farmers were able to learn about these organizations and connect one-on-one.

“We are so pleased to have had the opportunity to bring back the Resource Rodeo,” says Ben Boyles, SCNBFP director. “Farming can often seem like a solitary occupation, and farmers are not always aware of.  The vast number of resources available to them,” he continued. “Through this event, we are not only able to introduce farmers to invaluable sources of assistance but give them the opportunity to connect directly with resource representatives.”

All Aboard! Agritourism Workshop Coming to York County
Interested in adding an exciting revenue stream for your farm business? Agritourism might be for you! Hop aboard a charted bus as we learn all about agritourism trends and resources while touring 3 unique agritourism farms in York County, SC.

Topics will include on-farm sales, u-pick operations, tour logistics, hosting workshops and events, school tours, farm dinners, food sales, and more! Get your questions answered by experienced agritourism providers!

Workshop Tour Stops
• Tatanka Bison Ranch
• Black’s Peaches
• Five Blossoms Farm

Thursday, September 28, 2023 | In-person | 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Meet at Clemson Extension – York County
120 N. Congress Street
York, SC 29745
Workshop Contact: Ben Boyles http://boyles2@clemson.edu

SC New and Beginning Farmer Program Launches Level 3 Program

Now in its 13th year, the Clemson Extension SC New and Beginning Farmer Program (SCNBFP) has graduated over 500 new and aspiring farmers from its basic, beginning-level cohort program. The SCNBFP is excited to launch a new Advanced Level 3 Program in 2023 to offer a higher level of instruction for those who are still relatively new to farming but are looking to further their education in key areas of agribusiness and production. The SCNBFP Advanced Level 3 Program offers 20 full-day workshops and is designed so that qualified participants may choose whatever SCNBFP Advanced Workshops best suit their individual needs. These curated training events are the product of strategic collaborations within Clemson University as well as additional agricultural support organizations such as Soil & Water Conservations Districts, the Small Business Development Center, and farmer educators throughout the state.

“While our established core curriculum provides comprehensive training at a basic level, there is a need in South Carolina for continued new farmer education at a higher level,” says SCNBFP Director and York County Clemson Extension Agribusiness Agent Ben Boyles. “Our new Advanced Program provides a deeper dive into critical and/or niche topics appropriate for the experienced but still growing new farmer audience.”

The SCNBFP Advanced Level 3 Program runs from September 2023 through March 2024 with a series of full-day workshops hosted throughout the state, many at on-farm locations and several through online platforms. All workshops are also available on an individual basis to the general public not enrolled in the full program. More information about these workshops can be found here: 

https://www.clemson.edu/extension/newfarmer/workshops.html

York County Rural Health Agent, Hannah Shifflette, will be offering a diabetes self-management and support class, Health Extension for Diabetes, in York County starting in mid-February. This free 16-week program comprises 8 education and support sessions and covers topics such as nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and more concerning diabetes. The upcoming February class will be held in person. However, an online version of the class is also expected to be held in the spring. For Rural Health program updates in the York County area, the public can tune in to WRHI’s Palmetto Mornings radio show every 3rd Thursday of the month to hear from Hannah and Lancaster Rural Health Agent, Elizabeth Parker.