![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_6053-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-05-at-3.13.29-PM-609x1024.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_5949-768x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOne of the highlights of the evening was the opportunity for families to connect with local organizations and resources. Community information booths were provided by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- York County 4-H<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Yorkville Agricultural & Education Society<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keystone<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- York County Arts Council<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- York Soil & Water Conservation District<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Attendees also enjoyed exploring emergency response and public safety vehicles, including displays from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- York County SWAT Team<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- City of York Fire Department<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- City of York Police Department.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_6062-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_6056-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_6061-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOne 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_0851-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/710059899_122179571648859070_179381301177703233_n-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_5951-768x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We look forward to continuing this tradition and welcoming even more families to York Place in the years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kristin Kunde<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
York County 4-H Agent
Cooperative Extension
Clemson University<\/p>\n\n\n\n120 N. Congress St.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
York, SC 29745<\/p>\n\n\n\n
w<\/strong> 803-639-9102<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4026,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[92582],"tags":[13303,93429,93447,93457],"coauthors":[93456],"class_list":["post-2129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-york","tag-4-h","tag-south-carolina-4-h","tag-york-county","tag-york-county-4-h"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4026"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2129\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2129"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2109,"date":"2026-06-05T18:16:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T18:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/?p=2109"},"modified":"2026-06-05T18:18:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T18:18:16","slug":"cooking-leadership-and-stem-a-great-first-week-of-summer-with-york-county-4-h","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/cooking-leadership-and-stem-a-great-first-week-of-summer-with-york-county-4-h\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooking, Leadership, and STEM: A Great First Week of Summer with York County 4-H"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From Tuesday through Thursday, youth ages 9\u201313 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_2212-edited.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_5986-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_6005-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Cooking Camp was underway, youth ages 7\u201311 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_6174-1-edited-scaled.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_6166-1-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_0825-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_0831-1-edited-scaled.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/06\/IMG_0829-1-edited-scaled.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The week concluded on Friday with our first Cloverbud Day for youth ages 5\u20138. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\u201313 participated in Cooking Camp at Winthrop University. Campers spent each day preparing breakfast and lunch while […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4026,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[92582],"tags":[13303,93429,93447,93457],"coauthors":[93456],"class_list":["post-2109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-york","tag-4-h","tag-south-carolina-4-h","tag-york-county","tag-york-county-4-h"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4026"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2109"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2109\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2109"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2106,"date":"2026-06-04T13:24:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T13:24:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/?p=2106"},"modified":"2026-06-04T18:12:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:12:43","slug":"stay-vigilant-new-world-screwworm-awareness-for-livestock-producers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/stay-vigilant-new-world-screwworm-awareness-for-livestock-producers\/","title":{"rendered":"Stay Vigilant: New World Screwworm Awareness for Livestock Producers\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
SEAN EASTMAN DVM<\/strong>, Clemson Livestock Poultry Health<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
CHRISTOPHER LeMASTER JR,<\/strong> Clemson Extension Livestock & Forages<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
USDA has now confirmed a case of New World Screwworm in a calf near La Pryor, Texas, roughly 50 miles from the border. Recent warnings have renewed attention on the New World screwworm, a pest with serious implications for livestock, wildlife, and even pets. While not currently established in our region, its proximity\u2014and history in the southeastern U.S.\u2014make awareness especially important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the beef industry alone, the potential economic impact is substantial. Estimates suggest losses could reach into the billions of dollars if the New World screwworm were to re-establish in the U.S. This threat also extends beyond cattle, affecting other livestock, wildlife, and even pets\u2014broadening the economic and ecological impact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What makes the screwworm particularly concerning is its life cycle. Adult flies are drawn to open wounds and lay eggs, and the larvae then feed on living tissue. This means even minor injuries\u2014dehorning, castration, puncture wounds, or something as small as a tick bite\u2014can create an entry point. Routine inspection of any wound is critical. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right now, the priority is recognition and reporting. We are in a surveillance phase, and early detection is key to control. If you suspect a case, report it. Doing so does not put an \u201cx\u201d on your back\u2014it\u2019s how we protect the industry as a whole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The good news is we\u2019ve dealt with this before. Screwworm was once endemic in the U.S. but was eradicated in the late 1950s through sterile fly production, which prevented reproduction and proved highly effective. Today, we have even more tools available, including expanded sterile fly capacity and additional treatment options with more approved labels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For now, stay aware and stay vigilant. Regularly check animals, monitor any wounds closely, and report anything suspicious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- If you suspect a case in a person:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>Report immediately to\u00a0South Carolina Department of Public Health via\u00a0the regional epidemiology office<\/a>\u00a0or the statewide emergency number (1-888-847-0902).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- If case is in deer and wildlife:<\/strong>\u00a0S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, (803) 734-3886<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- If suspected in domestic animals:<\/strong>\u00a0Clemson University Livestock-Poultry Health, (803) 788-2260<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- If case is in deer and wildlife:<\/strong>\u00a0S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, (803) 734-3886<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- If you suspect a case in a person:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>Report immediately to\u00a0South Carolina Department of Public Health via\u00a0the regional epidemiology office<\/a>\u00a0or the statewide emergency number (1-888-847-0902).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
![\"Sweet](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/05\/sweet-vernal-grass-819x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"Cows](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/files\/2026\/05\/IMG_0185-1-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n