Rowan 4-H April Newsletter

From the 4-H Agent,

Laura Allen:

Hope you are gearing up for an exciting Spring and Summer with Rowan County 4-H!

In this newsletter find information on:

-County Activity Day information (4-H Presentations & Talent Show), due by April 10

-4-H Port-a-Pit fundraiser, pre-order by April 22

-Rowan County 4-H Evaluation & Needs Assessment for 4-H families & community members

-Summer Fun registration

-Broiler & Pullet Project (pullet project registration ends on April 10)

-Horse Eligibility Cards for district & state 4-H horse shows

-4-H Event Grant application (due by April 15)
& more

Please click "view entire message" at the end.

Click here for Rowan 4-H page on Facebook

Click here for Rowan 4-H page on Instagram

Making the Best Better,
Laura

IMPORTANT!

4-HOnline is OPEN for 2026 enrollments! If you plan for your child to participate in 2026, please get enrolled NOW. If you are a returning 4-H volunteer, ENROLL NOW!

**As you re-enroll, please UPDATE your child's saved information and please make sure it is accurate and correct.

**If your child is in a shooting sports club, you MUST select all the "projects" related to the disciplines they will be participating in, as there are specific additional waivers for shooting sports.

Upcoming Meetings

County Council: for youth ages 12-18 years old as of January 1

**If your child is 12-18 as of Jan 1 and they are interested in County Council, please email Laura to get on the County Council email list for all reminders and updates for this group!

-Next County Council meetings:
-April 21, 6:30-7:30 PM at Tractor Supply in Salisbury for Paper Clover Week

PALS: These meetings are for any parent, alumni, leader or supporter of Rowan County
4-H. If you are interested in 4-H or new to 4-H, you are invited to attend these meetings as well! Please come share your ideas for 4-H and help us find ways to support Rowan County 4-H.

Next meetings:

-April 20, 7 PM on Zoom
https://ncsu.zoom.us/j/97048670134

Help our 4-H program & our intern by completing the
NEW
Rowan County 4-H Evaluation & Needs Assessment

Intern Reagan has created a 4-H Evaluation & Needs Assessment.

Please take 15 minutes to complete the form. If you are reading this, then this evaluation & needs assessment is for you to complete!

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE ROWAN COUNTY 4-H EVALUATION & NEEDS ASSESSMENT

**If your family is not involved in 4-H or your child is in 4-H but not in a 4-H club, then you will be directed to questions that apply to you and you will skip the club questions.

Did you know that around 77% of people experience some level of anxiety about public speaking, a fear known as glossophobia? Do you want to help your child practice public speaking starting at a young age to help conquer this fear? If so, get them registered to participate in our County Activity Day competitions!

Click here for all details about 4-H Presentations & Talent!

Must pre-register in 4-HOnline "events" by April 10.

Event will be at our office on the evening on Friday, April 24.

**Rowan County 4-H will NOT be offering 4-H Expressive Arts this year or moving forward. You are encouraged to participate in the Rowan County Fair and NC State Fair 4-H arts & crafts competitions where you can win ribbons AND money!

We need ALL hands on deck to help us with this event!

Ways you can help:

-Have your 4-H'er reach out to local businesses, schools, friends, family members, etc. to order plates. They can go in-person or call. If you need flyers printed to take with you, contact laura_allen@ncsu.edu to get some printed for you to pick up at the office.

-You as the parent/guardian can reach out to those you know to sell plates.

-Use this list of local businesses to sign up to contact local businesses so we don't all talk to the same people. Add any businesses you know of!

-Adults & responsible teens can sign up to work at the event on May 6. Click here to sign up to work the event. We need delivery drivers, plate makers, etc.

-Share the flyer & plate ordering link on social media!

CLICK HERE TO PLACE AN ORDER!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE FLYER!

Paper Clover Week at Tractor Supply

April 17-May 3

Visit the TSC in Salisbury and donate to 4-H! 100% of all donations go to 4-H, with 90% of the donations at this store coming directly back to Rowan County 4-H!

Sign up to work during Paper Clover Week!

4-H families: The goal is to have 4-H’ers, volunteers, and/or parents selling paper clovers at some point each day. The clovers sell so much better when 4-H’ers are there talking to people! Let’s show up and bring in more donations than ever before!

The goal is also for each club to work at least one of the days listed below, only one club per time frame. Members of clubs can also divide up and work on different days.

Each group needs to work at least 1-2 hours, but can work more or less depending on your schedule.
IT IS OK FOR MULTIPLE CLUBS/GROUPS/FAMILIES TO SIGN UP FOR THE
SAME DAY, BUT PLEASE PICK DIFFERENT TIMES.

4-H’ers will receive $5 in Cloverbucks per day worked
(limit of 4 annually, max of $20 total annually).
Keep in mind that there is a Paper Clover Week each Spring & Fall.

More details instructions will be sent to participating clubs & families who sign up in advance!

HORSE: If you want to stay up-to-date on all things related to the NC 4-H Horse Program, click here to sign up to receive their newsletter. Click here to access the main page for the NC 4-H Horse Program to learn more.

If interested in participation in 4-H Horse Bowl, Hippology, or Horse Judging, please contact Mrs. Laura. Practices have already begun.

UPDATE: If planning to show in the NC 4-H Horse Shows this year, please complete the 2026 Horse Eligibility Card.

All NC 4-H Horse Show (district & state) information can be found here.

LIVESTOCK: Rowan County 4-H will begin practicing in April for the 2026 NC 4-H Livestock Judging contest, held in in late July/early August. This opportunity is led by 4-H volunteer Eric Deal. Contact Mrs. Laura if interested.

DAIRY CATTLE: The NC 4-H Dairy Quizbowl contest was held on March 7, 2026 & the NC 4-H Dairy Judging contest will be April 10. If interesting in participating in 2027, please contact Mrs. Laura.

POULTRY: The 4-H Poultry Judging contest is held annually in July. Practices typically start in April/May. This is led by the Rowan 4-H Agent & Rowan Livestock Agent. Contact Mrs. Laura if interested.

If you are interested in participating in or learning more about ANY of these opportunities, please contact the Rowan County 4-H Agent at laura_allen@ncsu.edu.

4-H Shout Outs

According to the 2022 Ag Census, Rowan County ranks 8th in the state in milk production. The dairy industry has a rich history in our county and 4-H helps educate the next generation on dairy knowledge and practices. Congratulations to our Rowan County 4-H'ers who showcased their dairy knowledge as they competed on March 7 in the NC 4-H Dairy Quizbowl and Dairy Skillathon contests. They had a great showing! The "Holy Cows" team of Tallulah Ennis, Ei Knox, Kyann Race, Anna Waller and Mary Waller placed 2nd in the state in the Dairy Skillathon Jr. Division contest. Additional participants included the "Moo Cows" team of Aislinn Watts, Lynlee Propst, Marie Basinger, Jesse Basinger and Lainey Plott. Congrats to all these kids and special thanks to 4-H Volunteers Calli Plott and assistant Carolyn Ennis for coaching them!

Congratulations to Rowan County 4-H'ers who competed in the NC 4-H Hippology contest in Raleigh on March 14! Participants included: Cloverbuds: Aaliyah Land-Lynch; Juniors: Siobhan Fahey, Kyann Race, Addie Webster; Senior Rookie: Abigail Wood. The Junior team placed 3rd out of 18 teams! Thanks to 4-H Volunteer Naomi Race and assistant Carrie Webster for coaching them.

Special thanks to the County Council members who attended the recent Rowan County Power in Partnership Farmer's Appreciation Breakfast (in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce) to lead the 4-H Pledge.

On March 28, Rowan 4-H had 13 youth attend the South Central District Teen Retreat, held in Union County. We had the largest county delegation in attendance. David Croyle helped lead the event as the current District Reporter and Abigail Wood was elected as the incoming District Reporter. Youth attended workshops, participated in the district officer election process, completed a service project, and met other 4-H'ers from across our 19-county district. Rowan 4-H also won the Spirit Stick competition, which hasn't happened in at least 9 years. Our intern Reagan also got to experience her first Teen Retreat. It was a great 4-H day!

A total of 10 Rowan 4-H volunteers recently attended the NC 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Association Conference held in Greensboro. Congratulations to the Hot Shots 4-H Club for being recognized as the State Volunteer Leadership Team Award winner during this event. Congrats to Rowan volunteers serving as district VLA officers: Past President: Cassie Foster; President-Elect: Crystal Croyle; Secretary: Drew Waller; Treasurer: Brittany Waller; Financial Officer: Cheryl Oster.

Rowan 4-H Volunteer Reporting for 2026

If you are registered as a 4-H Volunteer in 4-HOnline it is super important that you report your hours and contacts! This greatly assists Laura with her Extension reports every year, since your hours and contacts must be reported!

Please go to go.ncsu.edu/2026rowan4hvolunteercontacts and complete your reports. Reports are due 10 days after the end of each month (January contacts due by Feb. 10). Email reminders will be sent to those who should be completing reports. It should only take about 5 minutes!