Author: rzeider

Check out these learning opportunities available statewide from South Carolina 4-H!

STEM Challenge Day

Mark your calendar for the 2024 Engineering Challenge on April 24^th at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds. Team and Individual Challenges for youth ages 9-18 will include Mystery, Robotics, Bridge Building, Coding, Visual Arts, Rocketry, and a new Agri-Science Poster Contest. Youth ages 5-8 may enter the Visual Arts Challenge. To find out more, connect with the Chester County Agent: Abigail Phillips atimmon@clemson.edu | 803-385-6181.

Physical Activity Project

New for 2024! South Carolina 4-H has created a physical activity project to encourage healthy bodies and minds. Participants log their exercise and connect with other students and learn proper techniques from experts! The project runs from March 4^th to May 31^st. There will be an Eventbrite link to come for registration.

Also keep your eyes peeled for registration for the Small Garden, Pullet Chain, and Honey Bee Project this spring!

In case you missed it, here are some events that took place this January:

Horse Bowl, Hippology, and Creative Contests:

SC 4-H Horse Bowl and Hippology contests were held Saturday, January 20^th at the Anderson County Clemson Extension Office. This annual event allowed South Carolina 4-H members who are 9-18 years old to show off their horse knowledge among their peers. Members with a passion for horses who were looking to improve their skills were able to express it through art in the SC 4-H Horse Creative Contest as well. Categories included drawing, photography, poetry and more!

Pinckney Leadership Roundup

The Pinckney Leadership Roundup was held January 20^th at the Brookland Baptist Conference Center in West Columbia. Registration included breakfast, lunch, a t-shirt, and a day of interactive workshops. Through this event, students could connect with like-minded individuals, learn from experienced leaders, and gain valuable insights to enhance their leadership skills. This opportunity was designed to empower middle and high school students to take charge and make a positive impact in their personal lives.

Discover the benefits of using Silvopasture Systems and register for the upcoming Webinar Series and Field Day.

Webinar Sessions

The two-part webinar series will address the establishment, management, and economics of implementing silvopasture systems.

Session 1 – March 7, 2024:

• 1:00 PM – “Introduction to Silvopasture Production Systems” by Dr. John Fike, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech University.

• 2:00 PM – “Animal Health and Environmental Benefits of Use of Silvopasture Systems” by Dr. Bruno Pedreira, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

Session 2 –  March 14, 2024:

• 1:00 to 3:00 PM – A roundtable with agricultural professionals, producers and Extension personnel will discuss relevant topics and share experiences and challenges related to silvopasture systems in South Carolina and the Southeast region.

Field Day

You can also join Extension specialists and agents for a
Field Day on April 11, 2024 from 8:30 AM to Noon.

The field day will focus on topics about the establishment and management of woodlands and forage systems and the challenges and successes in using a silvopasture system for commercial livestock production. This event will be held at Varnville, SC.

Register for these events:

• Webinar Series (free of charge)

• Field day (cost: $15)

Canning is an important and safe method of food preservation if practiced properly. The canning process involves placing foods in jars and heating to a temperature that destroys organisms that could be a health hazard or cause the food to spoil.

Participants will be engaged in hands-on activities utilizing current USDA recommended techniques for preserving foods for home use.

Persons with or without experience are encouraged to attend any workshop.

Participants will receive:

• Resource Guide
• Handouts and printed materials
• Knowledge of home canning materials
• Item prepared in class

Registration is required, so sign up today!

                          Register Here

Do you rely on a private well for your drinking water source? With more than 20% of South Carolinians falling into this category, it is essential that these wells are properly maintained in order to ensure safe drinking water.  Maintenance of the well is the responsibility of the well owner and can often get overlooked. If you feel overwhelmed when it comes to all the different well components, water quality testing, and treatment options, then you are not alone! The Clemson Extension Water Resources team recently developed numerous resources to help well owners on these very topics as part of the Be Well Informed program. This includes a three-part HGIC factsheet series – Residential Drinking Water Well: Well Components, Water Quality, and Water Treatment Options.

For a more in-depth overview for well owners, check out the new Be Well Informed Online Course. Here well owners are able to dive into three modules covering SC water resources, well maintenance, and water quality. This course is free for all and is self-paced! For more information and to sign up for the online course, Click Here.

If you have any questions regarding your well or other water-related questions, please contact:

Charly Greenthaler charlym@clemson.edu | 803-520-1679

During the school year, 4-H provides hands-on activities with standards alignment for classrooms. Exploring a concept through a craft, building challenge, or demonstration can reinforce knowledge and provide a break from traditional class lectures. Your 4-H agent provides the supplies, prep work, and clean-up to conduct these classroom visits.

4-H offers the following tracts for classroom engagement, but we are flexible and always eager to plan around individual teachers’ needs and interests:

• Embryology: Hatch chicken eggs with your class! All supplies are provided and the automatic incubator makes this project both unforgettable and easy! Traditionally conducted in the spring.

• Butterfly Life Cycle: Raise Painted Lady caterpillars and watch their transformation into beautiful butterflies. Pair with your life cycle unit for a simple yet engaging demonstration of vocabulary in action. Traditionally conducted in the spring.

• School Gardening: Learn how to start and sustain a school garden with the Clemson University School Garden for SC Educators course. The course includes the Garden STEM curriculum guide as well as options for purchasing raised bed kits. Those who have taken the course and maintain a school garden are eligible to receive transplants and seeds. Plant, nurture, and watch your success grow!

• STEM challenges and more: Want to plan a series of classroom visits around your science lessons? Let’s design a custom set of activities!

4-H recommends at least six hours of engagement (either from the 4-H agent or by using the supplies provided). If you or a teacher you know is interested in free, hands-on classroom engagement, please contact your 4-H agent Stephanie Eidt: seidt@clemson.edu | 803-589-8977.

Fairfield 4-H will continue the Take-Home Kit Club for the 2023-2024 school year. Each month a bag of supplies for a craft or science-themed activity will be available for individuals who Sign Up. Examples from last year include a rubber band harmonica, hand-sewn beanbag, and pony bead keychain. Activities are targeted for children ages 8-13, but any student in Fairfield County aged 5-18 can join this independent learning project.

Membership is encouraged but not required for participation. Membership runs from September 1^st through August 31^st  of each year. Cost is $15 and includes a t-shirt if enrolled before October 1^st. Membership is required for participation with in-person clubs, projects, and some summer camps. If cost is prohibitive, contact your 4-H agent Stephanie Eidt: seidt@clemson.edu | 803-589-8977.

Clemson Extension in partnership with Fairfield County’s Carolina Community Actions, Inc. recently hosted a food safety and nutrition program for twenty-two adults. The program focused on teaching participants about healthy eating on a budget while also emphasizing the importance of food safety.

The program included interactive sessions and hands-on activities to help participants learn practical skills for meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking. Participants also learned about the risks associated with foodborne illnesses and how to prevent them through proper food handling and storage. Overall, the program provided a valuable opportunity for participants to improve their nutrition knowledge and skills while also ensuring their family’s safety as well as their own.

Come join us and learn the basics of canning fruits and vegetables from local farms and home gardens through a unique canning workshop. Participants will engage in hands-on activities using current recommended techniques for preserving foods for home use. Those with or without experience are encouraged to attend. Participants will receive the item(s) they prepare in class, resource book, other printed materials, and knowledge of safe home canning methods.

Cost: $35 per workshop. Participants should bring their lunch and wear closed-toe shoes.

Class Size: Class is limited to 10 participants, with a minimum of 5.

Dates:

• Friday, September 29th Salsa
• Saturday, September 30th Salsa
• Thursday, October 19th Pressure Canning
• Friday, October 20th Pressure Canning
• Friday, November 10th Pressure Canning
• Saturday, November 11th Pressure Canning
• Friday, December 14th Jams, Jellies & Soft Spreads
• Saturday, December 15th Jams, Jellies & Soft Spreads

Location: FCL Homemakers Building 634 Dekalb St. Camden, SC 29020

Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Registration Required to join a workshop.

Beyond offering independently run camps and projects, Fairfield 4-H partners with community organizations to plan and implement activities for students. Check out 4-H’s summer collaborations:

The Fairfield County Library’s summer reading program theme was We’re All in This Together, celebrating connection and comradery. Miss Stephanie co-hosted two programs within this premise, exploring the countries of Japan and France (voted by visitors to the world tasting booth at the Library Summer Kick-Off). Students made themed crafts like origami bookmarks and sampled local cuisine to discover how these countries were both similar and unique as compared to their own community.

4-H also visited the Chameleon Inspirations Learning Center’s summer school. Students combined science and art by designing catapults, playing electronic music with Snap Circuits, and more. By encouraging students to make mistakes and get messy, they practiced problem-solving and persistence. Sometimes kids need a space where they can tinker!

For 4-H agents, summer means day camps! Kids with similar interests join together to receive direct experience with intriguing topics. In partnership with Chester County 4-H, Fairfield County 4-H offered two sets of cooking camps this summer: The Healthy Habits Summit for teenagers, and Cooking Like a Chef Camp for youth.

Through an intensive weekend under the guidance of professional chefs, high school students learn skills in the kitchen at the summit. They are then expected to lead activities at local Cooking Like a Chef camps. We are proud of the Chester 4-H teen leaders who volunteered their time to share their culinary knowledge.

The first round of cooking camps was held at the Chester market building, where students made Tex-Mex favorites (fajitas, refried beans, and red rice) and Asian cuisine (chicken fried rice, turkey wontons, and mango pudding). They practiced knife skills and learned about spices, raw meat protocols, and food groups. The second set of two-day camps occurred at the Mitford Community Center. Students made soups, salads, chicken pot pies, and quesadillas. The food was so tasty and healthy!

Although day camps have wrapped for the summer, Fairfield and surrounding counties offer year-round opportunities for students. Connect with your local agent Stephanie Eidt (seidt@clemson.edu | 803-589-8977) for more information. You may also consider checking out what are neighbors are up to (Richland, Kershaw, Lancaster, Chester, Newberry, Union, Lexington) and joining the fun!