Haven Blackwell
4-H Youth & Development Agent
Cherokee

The Cherokee County 4-H Clovers in the Kitchen Cooking Club kicked off the year in September with a fun first meeting. Members rolled up their sleeves, learned how to make Pecan Pie Mini Muffins, and enjoyed spending time together in the kitchen. The tasty recipe was a great way to begin a year of cooking, learning, and trying new things.

The club was also invited to participate in the 2nd Annual Cherokee Flavor Fest, a community-wide celebration held at the Institute of Innovation. Businesses and organizations were invited to set up stations to display and serve their delicious products. Guests could peruse the food tables, visit with local groups, and take part in a silent auction. The event also featured lively entertainment, including singing, line dancing, and clogging.

Clovers in the Kitchen members brought their Pecan Pie Mini Muffins to share with the community. Along with offering a sample of what they had made, members had the opportunity to tell guests about 4-H and the club’s activities. Some members came out for the second night in a row to help share their creation and represent 4-H at the event.

It was a wonderful way for the club to put its new cooking skills to use and connect with the community. Clovers in the Kitchen has started the year strong, and members are looking forward to a great year filled with new recipes, hands-on learning, and opportunities to share what they create.

Laura Haddon
4-H Youth & Development Agent

The new 4-H year is off to an exciting start in Spartanburg County! Since the new club year began on September 1, more than 200 youth members and 30 adult volunteers have enrolled in Spartanburg County 4-H. We are excited to see so many young people getting involved, learning new skills, building friendships, and discovering opportunities to be #BeyondReady for their bright futures!

This year, Spartanburg 4-H is offering 16 community clubs covering a wide variety of interests, including sewing, cooking, fishing, livestock, STEM, leadership, and more. In addition, we have 7 in-school and homeschool co-op clubs connecting 4-H opportunities with youth in their schools and homeschool communities.

And we’re not done growing! We are currently working to add 6 additional clubs as volunteers and meeting venues become available. Our goal is to continue creating opportunities for even more Spartanburg County youth to participate in 4-H and find a project or club that sparks their interest.

Help Us Grow!

As Spartanburg 4-H continues to grow, community support is more important than ever. We are looking for:

• Volunteers who are willing to share their time, talents, and interests with youth
• Meeting venues where clubs can gather safely and regularly
• Monetary donations to help provide supplies, activities, and opportunities for our members
• Product and supply donations to support hands-on 4-H projects and programs

Whether you can volunteer your time, provide a place for youth to meet, donate supplies, or make a financial contribution, there are many ways to help Spartanburg 4-H grow!

If you have questions about joining 4-H, becoming a volunteer, starting or supporting a club, or making a monetary, product, or venue donation, please reach out to Spartanburg County 4-H Agent, Laura Haddon. I would love to connect with you and explore how you can be part of helping the next generation learn, lead, and grow through 4-H!

Members of Midlands STEM 4-H Club have been busy learning about gardening, stewardship, and healthy living through hands-on activities in their school garden. Club members had the chance to harvest their sweet potatoes, which were planted at the end of last school year. The sweet potatoes were a great success, and members even had the opportunity to learn how to prepare a healthy sweet potato snack.

MSCS 4-H Club members then prepped their garden beds and planted their next round of crops, including green beans and squash.

These activities helped youth develop practical skills not only in gardening and nutrition, but also in teamwork and meal preparation. The school garden provides a continuous lesson on where food comes from and encourages healthy living.

Fairfield County 4-H Youth Development Agent, Chloe Margeson | cmarges@clemson.edu

The new 4-H year has officially arrived, with enrollment underway, offering youth ages 5-18 across the county opportunities to learn new skills, make friends and build confidence through fun, hands-on, engaging activities.

Clubs for the new 4-H year explore every 4-H program area, including STEM, agriculture, animals, leadership and more. Other events and programs throughout the year encourage youth to explore 4-H outside of their club experiences.

To learn more about joining 4-H, finding or starting a club, or becoming a 4-H volunteer, contact Fairfield County 4-H Youth Development Agent, Chloe Margeson at cmarges@clemson.edu.

On Friday, May 29, York County 4-H and the City of York welcomed families from across the community to York Place for the 2026 Summer Kick Off Event. What began as an idea to bring families together for an evening of affordable summer fun turned into an incredible community celebration, with 205 vehicles and more than 700 attendees joining us throughout the evening.

The event featured a wide variety of activities for all ages, including face painting by Mandy’s Professional Face Painting, Pep’s Party Animals petting zoo, giant inflatables and movie equipment provided by Morton’s Amusements, line dancing, a playground area, and a movie in the field to close out the night.

One of the highlights of the evening was the opportunity for families to connect with local organizations and resources. Community information booths were provided by:

• York County 4-H
• Yorkville Agricultural & Education Society
• Keystone
• York County Arts Council
• York Soil & Water Conservation District

Attendees also enjoyed exploring emergency response and public safety vehicles, including displays from:

• York County SWAT Team
• City of York Fire Department
• City of York Police Department.

A special thank you goes to Lifeway Church and The Church of the Good Shepherd for providing a free hotdog dinner for attendees. Their generosity helped ensure that families could enjoy a meal together while participating in the evening’s activities.

One of the most meaningful outcomes of the Summer Kick Off Event was the opportunity for Clemson Extension’s York County 4-H program to connect with new families throughout the community. The event provided a unique platform to introduce families to the wide variety of youth development opportunities available through 4-H, including leadership, agriculture, STEM, healthy living, and civic engagement programs. Many attendees were unfamiliar with the scope of 4-H beyond traditional livestock projects, and the event allowed staff and volunteers to share how 4-H serves youth from all backgrounds and interests. By building relationships, answering questions, and engaging families in a fun and welcoming environment, the Summer Kick Off Event helped expand awareness of 4-H’s impact and created new opportunities to reach and inspire the next generation of York County youth.

This event would not have been possible without the support of our community partners, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and local organizations who came together to create a welcoming and memorable experience for families across York County.

The overwhelming turnout demonstrated the value of community events that bring people together, connect families with local resources, and create opportunities for neighbors to build relationships. We are grateful to everyone who attended and helped make the 2026 Summer Kick Off Event such a tremendous success.

We look forward to continuing this tradition and welcoming even more families to York Place in the years to come.

Interested in learning more about York County 4-H? We invite families, volunteers, and community members to connect with us and discover the many opportunities available through Clemson Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program.

Kristin Kunde

York County 4-H Agent 
Cooperative Extension
Clemson University

120 N. Congress St.

York, SC 29745

w 803-639-9102

York County 4-H had an exciting start to summer programming this week, offering opportunities for youth of all ages to learn new skills, build friendships, and explore their interests through hands-on activities.

From Tuesday through Thursday, youth ages 9–13 participated in Cooking Camp at Winthrop University. Campers spent each day preparing breakfast and lunch while learning valuable life skills such as kitchen and food safety, proper knife skills, and the importance of local agriculture through farm-to-table activities. Youth gained confidence in the kitchen while working together to create delicious meals from start to finish.

A special thank you goes to our four teen camp counselors who helped make Cooking Camp an engaging and memorable experience for all participants. Their leadership, encouragement, and willingness to assist campers played a key role in the camp’s success.

While Cooking Camp was underway, youth ages 7–11 enjoyed CloverBUG Camp on Wednesday and Thursday. Campers participated in hands-on activities, games, and educational experiences designed to spark curiosity and creativity while building friendships and having fun.

Thursday evening marked the first meeting of our summer Teen Lead Lines Club. Teens had the opportunity to hear from Lt. Ramsey of the York County Sheriff’s Department, who shared valuable insights on servant leadership and the positive impact young people can have within their communities. Participants left inspired to develop their leadership skills and find ways to serve others.

The week concluded on Friday with our first Cloverbud Day for youth ages 5–8. The STEM-themed event encouraged our youngest members to explore science, technology, engineering, and math through creative, hands-on activities. Cloverbuds built and decorated birdhouses, experimented with LEGO building challenges, and worked together to complete a Forest Fort Challenge.

We are proud of all the youth who participated this week and grateful to the volunteers, teen leaders, partners, and families who helped make these programs possible. We look forward to many more exciting learning adventures throughout the summer with York County 4-H!

Mallory Fulmer

As we move through the 2025–2026 4-H year, it’s been exciting to look back at just how much our Newberry County 4-H’ers have already accomplished. With 123 members currently enrolled, our clubs have been busy meeting monthly, learning new skills, and building friendships that extend far beyond the meeting room.

Our Teen Council has been especially active this year, giving back to the community in meaningful ways. Members had a blast passing out candy at the Newberry Health Truck or Treat, spreading smiles and sweet treats to families across the county. Teen Council members also participated in a self-defense class, building confidence and learning important personal safety skills. In addition, all Newberry County 4-H members helped spread holiday cheer by participating in the Prosperity Christmas Parade, proudly representing 4-H and celebrating the season together.

We also kicked off 2026 with a special New Year’s Camp, where 4-H’ers learned about traditions and superstitions from around the world while reflecting on personal goals for the year ahead. It was a fun and thoughtful way to ring in the new year, encouraging youth to dream big and set intentions for what’s next.

With strong participation, growing membership, and plenty of laughter along the way, this 4-H year is already shaping up to be one to remember.

Mallory Fulmer

While we’re proud of everything accomplished so far, the best is still ahead for Newberry County 4-H. With four more months of club meetings, plus spring break adventures and summer camps on the horizon, our 4-H calendar is packed with opportunities to learn and explore.

Spring Break will bring three exciting camps for our 4-H’ers. Forged in 4-H will offer a unique blacksmithing day camp experience, where participants can learn about metalworking, tools, and craftsmanship in a hands-on setting. Our Spring Farm Tour Camp will take youth around Newberry County to visit local farms, giving them a closer look at agriculture right in their own community. We’ll also host a Cake Decorating Camp, featuring a local baker who will teach participants creative icing techniques and decorating skills sure to impress.

Looking beyond spring break, we’re gearing up for even more statewide opportunities. Some of our junior 4-H’ers will attend SC 4-H Junior Weekend this spring, while our Teen Council seniors are already looking forward to SC 4-H Congress in July. We’re also excited to support a senior team of 4-H’ers at the Cooking: Life, a Chef Summit, where youth can showcase their skills and teamwork.

This spring, 4-H youth will also attend SC 4-H Legislative Day, where they will have the opportunity to connect with legislators and advocate for what 4-H means to them and their communities.

Behind the scenes, spring is also the busiest time of year for school programming. From February through May, 48 teachers across Newberry County will participate in the 4-H Embryology Project. Students will get an up-close look at the life cycle of a chick, from egg to hatch, creating unforgettable learning experiences in classrooms across the county.

Summer camps will be announced closer to mid-April, and we can’t wait to share what’s in store. From clubs and camps to statewide events and school programs, Newberry County 4-H is heading into a season full of learning, leadership, and fun — and we’re just getting started.

PCAG

Cherokee County Poultry & Rabbit Show

Kids Club

Homeschool Club

Homeschool Club practices bridge building for the SC 4-H Engineering Challenge

Sewing Club

Clovers in the Kitchen Cooking Club

Down on the Farm Day

Cherokee Charter Academy 4-H Club

4-H Teen Council

Laura Haddon
4-H Agent
Spartanburg County

One of the four H’s in 4-H stands for “Hands to Larger Service”.  Spartanburg 4-H members, parents and volunteers stay busy serving our local community throughout the year.

Our youth have a sweet friendship with the residents at Restoration Senior Living.  Teen Council can be found there several evenings throughout the year playing an exciting game of BINGO.  A Gingerbread House competition has become an annual holiday tradition of our Homeschool Club.  They bring the supplies, construct the houses on site, much to the residents’ enjoyment, and then the residents pick the winners!  Other youth have planted a pollinator garden and enjoyed a “Slip and Slide” event to cool off during the summer months.

In addition to serving the older members of our community, Spartanburg 4-H collects hygiene supplies for the Miracle Hill Rescue Mission in Spartanburg.  Our youth collect individual supplies and pack them into gallon-sized resealable bags and include an encouraging note to the recipients.

As the Spartanburg 4-H Agent, I get to observe this kindness, compassion, and generosity up close and am blown away by how eager our youth are to help their neighbors and keep their pledge to use their hands for larger service!