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!

Haven Blackwell
4-H Youth & Development Agent
Cherokee County

The Cherokee Charter Academy 4-H Club continues to demonstrate what it truly means to pledge “hands to larger service.” Throughout this school year, members have actively participated in a variety of meaningful and educational experiences, including submitting entries to the fair, exploring the art and science of beekeeping, marching in local parades, and serving their community through hands-on projects.

One standout example of leadership came from 4-H’er Tristan Wilkinson, who took initiative by writing to his school’s administration to propose hosting a food drive and organizing a Thanksgiving meal for school families. Inspired by his idea, the administration partnered with the 4-H club to bring the vision to life. Together, they organized a food drive, packed bags of groceries for families in need, and prepared a Thanksgiving meal for those who may not have otherwise had one. We are incredibly proud of Tristan for his courage and leadership, and of the entire club for stepping up to serve in such a meaningful way.

The momentum doesn’t stop there. The Cherokee Charter Academy 4-H Club still has a full semester of exciting activities ahead. Members are looking forward to visiting the Gaffney Visitor’s Center, attending South Carolina 4-H Legislative Day, building birdhouses for a local senior home, going fishing, participating in a farm tour, and wrapping up the semester with a family picnic.

Through leadership, service, and hands-on learning, these 4-H’ers continue to grow as confident, capable young leaders in our community. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish next!

If you are interested in starting a 4-H club at your school, please contact Haven Blackwell at daynab@clemson.edu or (864) 649-8252 for more information.

Once again Union 4-H had the opportunity to participate at The Grand American, in Orangeburg, SC.  The Grand American is one of the nations largest wild racoon hunting competitions. This event has been held for over 50 years and is a mainstay in the competition hunting community. People from across the nation will come to meet old friends, purchase supplies from vendors, find a new puppy, talk with sales representatives, and of course compete.  Over 20,000 visitors will enjoy the festivities over a two-day period, which is always the first weekend in January.  What a way to kick off the new year.  This is the third year Union 4-H has been invited to participate with it’s Forged in 4-H blacksmithing and shooting sports program.  This is a great opportunity to promote 4-H, interact with kids and parents, and put Union 4-H’ers on display as they do blacksmithing demonstrations.  These are long, and tiring days but they are also fun and extremely rewarding. It is a great way to get 4-H, Clemson Extension, and Union County in the public view in a positive way.  We look forward to next years trip to The Grand American.